Title
Old Mail Road Townhomes - Preliminary Plat
Body
SUMMARY: The property owner of a parcel along Old Mail Road recently submitted and had approved a site plan for an eight-unit townhome rental development. They have now changed their mind and would like to have the units for sale instead of just for rent. They are proposing a development under Article IV Special Developments section of the Crossville Regional Planning Commission’s Subdivision Regulations. Under this section it allows for developments that are not typical or traditional. Under this section, smaller lots can be approved, with private roads, private utilities, and large common ground or open space.
They are proposing 8 townhomes, to be located on lots varying from 773 square foot to 904 square foot. The lots are almost equal to the footprint of the town home plus a little area to the front and rear. Each of the units will be served by a private drive, that does include an adequate cul-de-sac to allow school bus or fire truck access to the property. They will also be serviced by private water, which will be master metered at Old Mail Road, and a private sewer line that will have a private pump station.
Special items to address, either by variance or by special note in the minutes.
• Substandard setbacks on the townhome lots.
o Noted in minutes
• Substandard Lot Size
o Noted in minutes.
• Less than 5-acre lot
o Noted in minutes.
• Substandard width of a private road.
o Variance to allow a 25-foot-wide private road
• No public utilities for each lot
o Variance to allow private utilities.
• Greater than 10% increase in population density over regulated subdivisions.
o Variance to allow the increase in population density.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat and variances. Variances Addressed in order as listed:
• Private Road Width:
o Recommend approval due to the concept and size of the property, there is no way proper right-of-way could be provided. One of the reasons for requiring adequate right-of-way is in the event that the owners of the private road would request it to become public. While the Planning Commission cannot take action that would prevent a future Planning Commission in accepting a substandard road, Staff would like it noted in the minutes that they would advise against accepting a substandard road.
o Staff recommends this be approved due to the fact that a copy of the bylaws, which will govern the utilities and maintenance of them will be required to be given to the City staff and City Attorney prior to the approval of the final plat.
• Greater than 10% population increase
o Staff recommends approval of the population increase due to a previously reviewed and approved site plan of the same design. The only difference is ownership of the units. The City does not have this population increase cap for multifamily units but does for “Special Developments.” Staff’s opinion is that they should be the same. Since they are not, and the rental units have already been approved, a precedent has been set. Staff advises to approve the variance.
• Note: Upon extensive review of possible solutions to meet the need and desire for “workforce housing”, allowing developments like this one is one of the possible solutions. Plus, a copy of the bylaws must be submitted to the City Staff as well as the City Attorney, for their review to ensure the protection of the individual property owners and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of the private drive as well as the private utilities.
Recommended Action
NECESSARY PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Two Motions: First approve the variances. Second, approve the preliminary plat