The Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 13 voted 7-0 to recommend denial of a special use permit for four multifamily buildings—three dwelling units each—on four small, adjacent parcels in Plat 106. The proposal was presented by the applicant as a rental product geared toward older adults but not an assisted-living facility.

Staff described the scheme as 2-story structures with no elevators, common-area parking in a shared lot, unit footprints up to about 966 square feet for second-floor units and smaller one- and two-bedroom first-floor units. Staff reiterated several concerns carried from an earlier review: tight separations between buildings (4 feet on the outside, up to 8 feet between middle units), no private parking stalls for individual units, limited open space, and minimal detail on leasing and services despite the applicant’s stated interest in serving older residents.

Commissioners raised specific reservations: how an elderly target market would access second-floor units without elevators; fire and emergency access with narrow alleys and small setbacks; high effective density (commission discussion referenced a calculation that would equate to a very high units-per-acre figure for tiny parcels); lack of private parking and potential spillover to surrounding areas; and unclear trash and service logistics.

The applicant described management plans and said units would be rented and managed with support services available as needed; he suggested stairlifts and other accommodations rather than elevators and said sprinklers would be provided. Public commenters and Plat 106 stakeholders again expressed unease about converting commercial lots to dense residential use without a broader plat-level plan.

Commissioners voted to forward a recommendation of denial to Town Council; the motion was carried by unanimous roll call.