Council approves Merrill Ranch PUD amendment to shift part of parcel from commercial to single‑family residential

The Town Council adopted Ordinance 789‑26, a major PUD amendment for Parcel 14 of Merrill Ranch that changes a portion of the site from commercial employment/retail to medium‑density residential (R‑2), revises residential design guidelines for narrow lots and reduces rear setbacks from 15 feet to 10 feet in specified areas.

Greg Davis, a land planner with iPlan Consulting representing Eldorado Holdings, told council the parcel is 35 acres and that the proposed amendment reduces intensity on roughly 20 acres, lowering the net density by about 104 units compared with the previous CER allowance. Davis said the proposal retains roughly 14 acres for commercial uses at the Hunt and Felix intersection to accommodate a neighborhood‑scale grocery anchor and that the rezoning better matches adjacent single‑family areas by providing buffering.

Staff noted the P&Z forwarded a favorable recommendation after required neighborhood outreach and that the applicant provided a traffic‑impact statement indicating a decrease in traffic compared with prior assumptions. Council members who attended the neighborhood meeting said the project offers smaller, more affordable homes intended as starter housing. The council approved the ordinance after a motion and second.