Highland hammering out new density rules

(Daily Herald) The Highland Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, and the main topic will be the density in the Town Center.

Density is always a hot topic in Highland and has become even more so since a townhome project, Toscano, slipped in under a previous ordinance with a 22-unit per acre density. The council members were not pleased with the high density and decided to revise the ordinance that would cover the 15 acres left to develop in and around the new city building.

The Town Center concept has been in the city's master plan for many years but has been difficult to complete.

At the April 27 Planning Commission meeting, Commissioner Roger Dixon said, "It is reasonable for developers to turn a profit. We need a clear policy so they can actually do it."

Chairwoman Melissa Wright said, "It is a balancing act between the rights of the owners and the rest of the community."

Zoning Administrator Lonnie Crowell presented two ways they could revise the ordinance.

"You can either go with traditional zoning, which would dictate the density, or you could go to a performance-based plan that would reward developers if they put in extra amenities," he said.

Dixon was in favor of the performance-based plan, while Wright held out for the traditional, but added "Do you think it would be feasible, if we allowed higher density, in exchange we could get more open space for a park?"

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