Commission split on '6‑packs', townhomes and one‑acre lots; park funding debated

Commissioners spent a large portion of the meeting debating the plan’s internal layout: whether the city should accept small‑cluster "6‑pack" lots (groupings of six small single‑family lots), retain townhomes allowed by code, or favor larger one‑acre lots. One commissioner said the updated plan “pulled out some of those central 6 packs, making the other lots a little bigger,” and argued for pulling an additional 6‑pack and converting those parcels to 0.333‑acre single‑family lots to improve curb appeal and marketability.

The financial tradeoff was also central. Staff noted the developer’s proposal to contribute “an additional $10,000 per lot that goes above the baseline,” which commissioners translated as $100,000 for 10 extra lots. Commissioners questioned whether that amount would meaningfully fund park upgrades and whether the donation should be restricted to Olsen Orchard Park (the developer’s suggestion) or be available for other city parks. Staff said the applicant was flexible about the recipient of the funds; several commissioners said they cared more about rooftops and layout than the money, while others suggested asking for more funds if density stayed high.