Planning Commission approves revised Arden Woods preliminary plan despite neighbor stormwater concerns

The Brentwood Planning Commission on July 6 approved a revised preliminary plan, BPC2404-004, to subdivide an existing 1.57-acre parcel in the Arden Woods subdivision and reestablish a second lot while converting an existing detention pond into common open space. The motion passed 9-0.

Todd Raven, who said he lives at 6393 Chartwell Court (Lot 15), urged the commission to remove or defer the item until “there's enough engineering and planning information for everyone to understand how this revised lot can be realistically developed and what impact the development could have on drainage,” citing a house, pool and additional hardscape on an adjacent lot that he said may alter runoff. “I'm respectfully asking this item be removed and at least discussed and deferred until there's enough engineering and planning information,” Raven said.

City staff responded that the preliminary plan meets current technical requirements and is being recommended to the Board of Commissioners subject to the staff report. Staff said the new lot will be designated a transitional lot so that when a building permit is submitted engineering staff can review any proposed improvements and ensure runoff is directed into the detention pond. “We are requiring that the lot be designated transitional … when a building permit is applied for and improvements are proposed on the lot, our engineering staff can review and make sure that the water gets into the pond,” staff said. Staff also said the detention area will be converted to HOA-maintained common open space and that grading and drainage will be reviewed for compliance as part of later approvals.

The staff presentation noted the subdivision was originally platted in July 1997 with 30 lots, later combined in 2003, and that the revised plan would restore the previous lot configuration. Staff said the new lot configuration reduces the combined building envelope and the amount of impervious surface that could be built on the two lots compared with the previously combined lot, and that there are 15 standard conditions of approval, including stormwater requirements.

Commissioners asked procedural and scope questions; several emphasized that approval of the preliminary plan creates an additional lot but does not guarantee the right to build. Staff outlined the remaining steps: the commission's recommendation goes to the Board of Commissioners for OSRD development plan approval, the applicant must submit a revised final plat for this board's review and the plat must be recorded before any building permits are issued.

After discussion the commission moved to approve the revised preliminary plan. The motion passed 9 to nothing.

Next steps: staff will forward the recommendation to the Board of Commissioners; final plat and building permit applications will trigger engineering and stormwater reviews required by the city's codes.