Council tables Lenar 'Preserves of Boone Creek' development after extended public comment

Lenar representatives presented a 599‑home planned unit development called the Preserves of Boone Creek, proposing three housing product types, approximately three miles of trails, and multiple themed parks across roughly 300 acres. Lisa Wagner, an attorney for the applicant, introduced the team and said the proposal grew from earlier concept plans and extensive staff review.

Rick Murphy, LAR’s planning lead, and Rich Olson, the site planner, described three neighborhood pods: traditional single‑family on deeper lots near Boone Creek, an active‑adult pocket to the west, and a more compact, price‑sensitive product. Olson highlighted a trail system, clubhouse, and a series of small “social‑node” parks designed to connect residents to open space and water features.

Council members and residents pressed the developer on density, open‑space accounting and traffic. Alderwoman Bassie noted the site’s future‑land‑use designation calls for “conservation residential development” and said the plan, as submitted, relied heavily on amenities (clubhouse, pool, courts) and stormwater basins that the city code does not count wholly as public open space. “This site plan does not include enough open space to qualify as conservation residential development,” she said, reading language from the city plan and code.

Rick Murphy and Rich Olson said the proposal averages about two dwelling units per acre and that, depending on the method of calculation, the plan provides roughly 37–46% open space. “We are preserving the wetlands adjacent to Boone Creek and adding buffers,” Olson said, adding the detention basins will be naturalized and serve as visual open‑space features.

Traffic and school capacity were recurring themes in public comment. Michael Worthman of KLOA, the traffic consultant, said the project is single‑family‑oriented and includes an age‑targeted portion that typically generates lower peak‑hour trips. He told council that planned access points on Bull Valley and Curran roads include left‑turn and right‑turn lanes, and that the city’s outside reviewer had concurred with the traffic findings.

Residents disputed both the density and timing. Several neighbors said existing streets already suffer speeding and cut‑through traffic; they asked for larger buffers, berms, and a slower build‑out or a smaller overall unit count. One resident urged the council to follow the example of a past mayor and delay action to negotiate a less intensive plan.

Lenar said it is prepared to work with staff and the council. “We came to the city and asked what you wanted and we listened,” Rick Murphy said, noting the team can adjust lot sizes, park distribution and design elements during the PUD process.

Outcome: The council voted to table the item with no firm date set, instructing staff and the developer to continue discussions on density, buffer treatments along existing neighborhoods, trail connectivity and infrastructure timing. The motion to table passed on a roll call vote, 5 in favor and 2 opposed (Alderwoman Bainy and Alderwoman Miller voted no). Alderman Bassy made the motion to table; the mayor announced the item will return once a development agreement has been prepared for council consideration.

What’s next: The developer and staff will continue negotiations and produce a development agreement that reflects any agreed changes; the council will take the item up again when that package is ready.