160-residence subdivision in Highland Town Center approved

(Daily Herald) Late Tuesday night the Highland Planning Commission granted approval for Toscana, a 160-residence townhouse subdivision to be located in Highland Town Center.

While site plan approvals by the planning commission have previously been submitted to the City Council for final approval, this decision is final. According to community development director Lonnie Crowell, earlier this year the town center overlay was amended, and as part of that process the planning commission was authorized to grant final approval for the combined business/residence district.

"Businesses just had to keep coming back to the planning commission, so they made it so [the commission] could grant final approval for the town center," Crowell said. He said the intent of the decision was to encourage more businesses to locate in highland.

Councilwoman Kathryn Schramm expressed frustration with the decision, saying that the city council needed to be involved in granting final approval, as has been done in the past.

Planning commissioners also expressed concern with the process, saying they would have liked more time to study the proposal.

"This seems outrageous to me in this location," Commissioner Don Blohm said. "Is there any process to stop this?"

Crowell responded no, the development was allowed as long as it met the building requirements. "This is an approved use, the city held [60 plus] meetings to create the town center overlay," he said. "This business has applied under a permitted use and zone that was approved by the legislative body.

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