Planning Commission Meeting Summary - December 22, 2025
Planning Commission Meeting Summary - December 22, 2025
The Planning Commission convened with eight of nine commissioners present, welcoming new member Scott Sealing. The primary focus of the evening was the approval of two rezoning requests (Stellar Apartments and Solomon's Porch Assisted Living) and the continuance of one item (Cedar Creek). The commission unanimously approved the rezoning for Stellar Apartments and Solomon's Porch, while the request for Cedar Creek was continued to a future date. Staff confirmed all items met city standards, except for specific buffer reductions supported by staff.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (8-0) with no pulled items, encompassing four routine agenda items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Paul Stull: The only designated speaker for the Stellar Apartments public hearing, though his specific testimony content was not recorded in the transcript. The comment was brief, leading to an immediate closure of the hearing.
- No public testimony was offered for the Solomon's Porch Assisted Living hearing or the withdrawn Cedar Creek hearing.
Discussion Items
- Stellar Apartments (RZ 25-0016): Senior Planner Emily Carrillo presented a proposal for 280 units on 15 acres in the R4 district.
- Commissioner Brigida (Position: Inquiry/Verification): Expressed a need to clarify the specific dimensional standards (Site 1 vs. Site 2) for the R4 zone to verify the unit count of 280 against potential per-acre limits.
- Staff Response: Senior Planner Carrillo and Chief Community Development Officer Chet Belcher confirmed the project falls under R4 'Site 2' dimensional standards, supporting the 280-unit count. Staff also clarified traffic mitigation triggers and neighborhood notification boundaries (200 feet for hearing vs. 500 feet for meetings).
- Commissioner Toronis (Position: Inquiry/Clarification): Requested clarification on the landscape buffer reduction request, seeking visual confirmation of the reduction from 75 feet to 28-35 feet. Staff explained that existing tree preservation and additional evergreen planting would adequately buffer the property lines.
- Cedar Creek Issue: The applicant requested a continuance; the hearing was not opened to prevent premature discussion.
- Solomon's Porch Assisted Living (RZ 25-0018): Planner Taylor Vandevelde presented a proposal for an assisted living facility in the C1 district.
- Project Details: The project includes 16 bedrooms per building (two buildings), 40 parking spaces, and 62% open space preservation. The buildings are one story (21 feet tall) to blend with existing office structures.
- Commissioner Discussion: No questions were raised by commissioners regarding staff presentation or project details.
Key Outcomes
- RZ 25-0016 (Stellar Apartments): Motion passed 8-0 to approve rezoning and preliminary site development plan as stipulated by staff. The application will proceed to the City Council on January 20, 2026.
- RZ 25-0017 (Cedar Creek): Motion passed 8-0 to continue the public hearing to a future date. No analysis or comments were discussed.
- RZ 25-0018 (Solomon's Porch): Motion passed 8-0 to approve rezoning and preliminary site development plan as stipulated by staff. The application will proceed to the City Council on January 20, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
I would like to call tonight's meeting to order. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the library. Undervisible liberty justice. So we begin our meeting this evening. I'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners present with eight of nine commissioners in attendance. Commissioner Breen unable to join us this evening. Also like to welcome our newest planning commissioner, Scott Sealing, to our his first meeting. So good to have you here, Mr. Sealing. Um before I get to that item in the agenda, just in case there's anyone in the audience, the public hearing on the Cedar Creek issue. There has been a continuance on that. We will not be discussing that when we get to that item in the agenda. So if you're here for that, um you're welcome to stay, but we won't be talking about it. So I want to thank everyone in the chamber for attending this evening's meeting. Planning commission meetings are an important part of the process for interpreting and applying the city's comprehensive plan and the unified development ordinance. It's important that our meetings are conducted with dignity and respect. That applies to every person in attendance. We strive to provide an atmosphere where the ideas and opinions of all participants are held in the highest regard. Finally, the actions of the issues we discuss here are ultimately under the responsibility of the city council. As a planning commission, we're here to help the councils, our elected representatives to be fully informed to make the best choices for our city. By statute, the planning commission strives not to engage with any party on the issues on our agenda prior to our meeting. Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or any other interaction, which we refer to as ex parte communication, commissioners will report that interaction when we reach that item on the agenda. We'll now move to the consent agenda. This evening we have four items on our consent agenda. Commissioners, do you need to pull any items for additional information or questions from staff? Uh seeing none, I will call for a motion on the item, please. Mr. Chair, I would move for the approval of the consent agenda. Thank you, Commissioner Brigida. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Chapman. All those in favor say aye. All opposed. That motion passes 8-0. This evening we had three originally scheduled public hearings. The first public hearing is the request for approval to rezoning for stellar apartments, which is located southeast of 133rd and Blackfoot Drive. Ms. Carrillo is with this evening to present the case. Yes, thank you. Welcome. All right. Thank you, Commissioner. Good evening. Emily Carillo, senior planner. As introduced, the following is a request for rezoning for and a preliminary site development plan for stellar apartments. The subject property is located in the vicinity of 135th and Black Bob Road, highlighted here on the screen. Just under 15 acres, the proposed multifamily development consists of eight apartment buildings that include amenities for a total of 280 residential units. The property was zoned to the C2 district in 1988.
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