The Newport City Council got a look at a new townhome proposal at its regular council meeting Thursday April 18, following a public hearing before the Newport Plan Commission April 9. No decisions were made at the Thursday council meeting, with Newport City Planner Nathan Fuerst giving the council an overview of the concept plan.
Proposed by Twin Cities Land Development (TCLD) Holdings LLC for the southeast border of Newport in an area now zoned rural estate along Century Avenue and south of Loveland Park, Cherrywood Heights would have a net acreage 24.86 net acres, or 5.23 units per acre, being rezoned mixed use residential under the proposal. Two stormwater ponds are in the broad concept plan, the proposed development being situated on a bluff with a 30 foot setback.
Allowed uses for mixed residential under Newport’s Comprehensive Plan include single family homes, two family homes, detached townhomes, and attached townhomes, and multifamily residential developments, the 126 proposed units as presented being roughly a third of the maximum unit density allowed for such a site.
“One of the things to note is how this site will be platted,” Fuerst told the Council. “You’ll see that the units are platted on individual lots,” the rest of the area occupied by the building being common area.
With townhomes finding it harder to meet the HOA requirements for lot size, two deviations are expected to the general city ordinance standards for single family lots at the site, one for minimum lot width and another for minimum lot area. The deviations would be provided for under a Planned Use Development or PUD that allows some flexibility with zoning.
Among standards for a PUD are the following:
• Coordination between the plat and surrounding land uses
• Protection and conservation of woodlands, wetlands, and bluff lands in the Mississippi River Corridor Potential for more efficient use of land, energy, infrastructure, as well as water and natural resource
• Protection of the health, safety and welfare of the community as well as residents fo the PUD, and
• Benefit to the city and public interest
No EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet is triggered by the proposed development size, although the developer would have to do tree planting for permeable open space.
As to feedback from the April 9 public hearing, Fuerst said residents had questions on traffic caused by the development and intersection safety, along with construction, tree removal, and impact to wildlife concerns voiced. The proposed development borders Woodbury on the east, seeing involvement from that community as well. Two access points to Century Avenue would be included in the proposed development.
With much more to happen before plans reach completion, a lengthy discussion among the council members ensued April 18, no decisions being taken.
