The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission recommended Wednesday that the City Council approve a developer’s plan to build 72 new apartment units near the Highlands Golf Course in northwest Lincoln.
The commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of Highlands Townhomes LLC’s application for a use permit to build two 36-unit buildings on an undeveloped lot near Northwest 13th Street and West Fletcher Road, just north of the golf course.
The commission also recommended approving a related zoning change and a request from the developer to declare 0.3 acres of city land bordering the golf course as surplus and sell it to the company, to be used for stormwater management.
The commission made the recommendations despite opposition from one nearby homeowner who objected to a portion of Highlands Townhomes LLC’s plan to build a sidewalk connecting the apartment complex to a cul-de-sac of townhomes to the west.
Catherine Gabell, who lives on Northwest 14th Court, said the sidewalk would connect the complex with her private street, where residents pay for their own snow removal and, she said, have paid to maintain the green space the developer is seeking to build a sidewalk on.
“These are apartments, which are fine, but they don’t treat the property the same (as homeowners),” she told commissioners. “And if you’re having a sidewalk here, I would argue that the people who are on the farthest east apartment, they’re going to park (on Northwest 14th Court) and think they can walk right through to their apartment.”
Bob Lewis, who works for a consulting group representing Highlands Townhomes LLC, told commissioners the developer initially planned to build a driveway connecting the apartment parking lot to Northwest 14th Court, but redesigned the plans after feedback from the neighborhood’s homeowners association.
He said the developer is indifferent to whether the city approves the portion of the plan that calls for the sidewalk connecting the apartment complex to the neighborhood, but noted Highlands Townhomes LLC already owns the greenspace and adding the sidewalk is in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.
The commission initially seemed inclined to call for the sidewalk’s axing at Wednesday’s meeting. Commissioner Dick Campbell said it “seems a little superfluous” and questioned city planners on whether it was a necessary part of the complex’s design.
“At this point in time, I think with both sides either not having any desire for it or don’t care one way or the other, I think it would just be eliminated at this point,” he said.
But other commissioners argued that apartment residents would likely make the trek through the greenspace to Northwest 14th Court anyway to access the city pool a few blocks south, while cul-de-sac residents would likely cut through the same space to reach a future walk-bike trail along Fletcher Avenue.
And they endorsed the message the sidewalk might send.
“I think by adding that sidewalk, it outwardly shows that we are welcome in your space and you are welcome in our space,” said Commissioner Bailey Feit.
In the end, the commission unanimously agreed.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley
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