A multifamily project proposing to use the city’s new new DB90 density bonus program to bring apartments and businesses to 2 vacant acres in the Montopolis neighborhood has the Planning Commission’s endorsement.
The commission voted in support of the development on Montopolis Drive between Caddie and Fairway streets at its August 13 meeting.
Thrower Design’s Victoria Haase, representing the developer, said the project would bring 189 residential and commercial development to Montopolis Drive using the city’s new DB90 density bonus program. The development requires a zoning change to add height and density; current zoning of the land would allow only 20 to 30 single-family homes, Haase said.
Three dozen neighbors, concerned about the development’s scale and possible displacement, objected to the project in writing,
Commissioner Nadia Barrera-Ramirez said that the Montopolis Project Connect light-rail station is the only one of out of 20 planned stations "experiencing active displacement.” Haase said she hadn’t discussed accessing Project Connect anti-displacement funding,but is open to it.
“On this particular project, there aren’t any homes to be displaced, but I understand what is going on in the community, so I definitely think there is worthy conversation to have about it,” Haase said.
The city Planning Department’s Cynthia Hadri confirmed that staff also determined that, because the project will be built on an empty lot, there were no residents to be displaced.
Barrera-Ramirez also pointed out that the affordability levels mandated by DB90 for 10 percent of the units is for a family of four with a median income of $63,000 to $97,800, making those units still out of reach for many community members.
Commissioners recommended the zoning change to City Council in a vote of 9-2-1 with commissioners Cox and Barrera-Ramirez opposing and Commissioner Alberta Phillips abstaining.
