Douglas Planning Commission tables decision on 90-unit condo plan after environmental, traffic concerns
DOUGLAS — Citing a handful of unanswered questions, including environmental and traffic concerns, the Douglas Planning Commission declined to take action on a large-scale proposed condo development Wednesday, Sept. 21.
More:Haworth plant in Douglas razed, city awaits federal help to tackle pollution
A public hearing was held to discuss the proposed Forest Gate development at 485 Ferry St. — a 90-unit, townhome-style condominium project. The location is just west of the former Haworth plant at 200 Blue Star Highway that was demolished in December.
Developer representative John Kavchak said the project fills a “structural need” for more housing.
“The proposed plan helps accomplish the city’s goals by providing high-quality residential housing to a wider year-round audience,” he said, adding that each unit would feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms and “high-quality finishes” including quartz countertops, upgraded plumbing fixtures and in-unit laundry.
There were a handful of public comments made by residents questioning the development. Two commenters said they didn’t think the development fits the city’s need for affordable housing and will be too expensive. The potential for additional traffic was also a concern.
There’s also the environmental health of the area to consider. The development would be constructed on the former Miro Golf Course, which used to be a peach tree orchard. Members of the public referenced a study by the state in 2003 that determined there was arsenic contamination in surface soil at the property.
According to city documents, studies in 2015 and 2017 found toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent, in the soil at the neighboring Haworth site, as well.
Residents expressed concern that heavy development in the area could lead to further environmental issues and pose health risks to those living nearby.
Commissioners and staff worried about the net density per acre coming in higher than permitted, a lack of a specific landscaping plan, missing right-of-way information, a missing wetland map and other issues.
Tricia Anderson of Williams and Works, which is serving as interim planning administrator for Douglas, advised the commission not to take action on the proposal. She said the developer’s submittal is a “good start,” but “a lot more information” is needed before moving forward.
“They should take in all of the comments expressed by members of the public here tonight, take some direction from the planning commission and from staff and provide us with a revised submittal that we can review and perhaps make a different recommendation on in the future,” Anderson said.
Commissioners agreed there were too many open-ended questions to move forward.
“There is so much here that still needs to be addressed,” said commissioner Jerry O’Malley. “It’s almost difficult to come up with a question (for the developer) until we have more information. I would say I’m a little bit stuck at this point until we have more delineation of this whole project.”
The vote to table passed 5-0. Louise Pattison abstained from the vote due to a previously identified conflict of interest with David Barker, one of the developers involved in the project.
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The hearing on Forest Gate was one of several during Wednesday’s meeting. The commission approved a site plan and recommended city council approve an expansion of condominiums at 424 Fremont St. A site plan for a development at 39 Washington St. was referred back to the interim zoning administrator for staff review.
It was also revealed at the start of the meeting that commissioner Paul Florian resigned, effective prior to the meeting.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.
