ROGERS — Planning commissioners rejected on Tuesday a permit for apartments near Scottsdale Center, citing traffic volume and the density of the complex.
The unanimous vote was greeted with applause from 16 people who spoke against the plan at the intersection of Olive and 40th streets. Don Spann, commissioner, was absent from the meeting.
At A Glance
Planning Commission
Rogers’ Planning Commissioners met Tuesday and approved:
• A plan for Mount Carmel Community, 2200 W. Laurel Ave., a residential multifamily-six units per acre zone.
• A plan for Allcare Pharmacy at 216 S. 13th St., a highway commercial zone.
• A plan for Kindergrove Daycare at 700 S. 28th St., an agriculture zone.
• A request for a temporary concession trailer at Frisco Station Mall.
Source: Staff Report
Tom Hopper, Scottsdale Center and Cambridge Park developer, owns the land. He said he thinks the property is right for multifamily housing.
Everyone who spoke against the complex said there was too much traffic on Olive and 40th streets.
"The traffic is messed up. People can't even back out of their driveways. It's just too much to ask to allow an apartment complex at that location," said Thurman Medcalf who lives in the area.
Other people said they were worried about how the apartments may impact property value. Several said they were concerned about students at Reagan Elementary School.
"I'm totally against the complex," said Jaimie Alexander, who said he had lived near the school for 10 years.
"I just barely found out about this meeting. Nobody notified me about the meeting. There is already too much traffic at Reagan school," he added.
"We live in a neighborhood and have a neighborhood feeling. I believe this just isn't the right fit for that location, Karen McDevitt said. "This would add 120 or more cars to traffic that is already bad enough."
The request was to include two properties zoned residential office with a 10-year-old planned unit development for the complex. The development had apartments as part of the plan. Multifamily housings is allowed in residential office zoning, according to the city zoning code.
The development of the property south of the Belk back parking lot has four three-story buildings with 24 apartments per building.
The expansion of the development is zoned highway commercial with two parcels zoned residential office. The "L" shaped expansion would begin north of Belk's back parking lot to West Olive Street then west to North 42 Street. There would be eight buildings with 24 units per building and a clubhouse. Hopper said a wrought iron fence would surround the complex and trees would be planted as a buffer.
Commissioners also had "heartburn" about the project, said Mark Myers, commissioner.
"I have a problem with 24 units per building. I can't support that kind of density," Myers said, to applause from the audience.
Jim White, commissioner, said he also had reservations about the project.
"It's a stone throw to Interstate 540 and I know the area out there is going to change, but we need to take a hard look at this before we make a decision," White said.
Mike Shupe, commissioner, suggested Hopper come back with a revised plan with less units per acre.
Hopper was given the opportunity to respond to commissioners and neighbors against the project.
"I appreciate everyone's concern. I develop much of the property around here, I know there is a lot of traffic in the area. I think a stoplight at Olive and 40th streets is good idea. In my opinion, this is the best use for this property. These will be quality apartments. A recent study by Arvest noted that multifamily housing is what is needed now, not commercial development," Hopper said.
"Rogers is a good city and we have a fine planning commission. We need to work together to make Rogers a better place to live, and we can do that if we work together," he said when asked for comment regarding the rejected project.
The Pinnacle New Hope apartment complex at New Hope and Bellview Road near Pinnacle Hills Promenade was approved for a permit by the commission three months ago. That complex is in highway commercial zoning, which also allows multifamily housing.
Commissioners expressed concern about the density and location of the Pinnacle project, but eventually approved the permit.
Asked what set one multifamily complex near a shopping and entertainment center apart from a similar project a few miles to the north, commissioners said it was traffic.
"New Hope is a five-lane road and Bellview is four lanes. Olive and 4oth street are much smaller, about three lanes," Myers said.
"It would have added too much traffic to an already congested area, that's why we approved the one on New Hope and not this request," Myers added.
NW News on 03/05/2014