The City of Derby Planning Commission on Oct. 2 voted 8-0 to forward a recommendation to the City Council to reclassify most of a roughly 51-acre tract at the southwest corner of 50 Fifth Street and Woodlawn Boulevard from R1A (urban-density residential) to R2 (two-family residential), excepting the north 365 feet and the south 165 feet as single-family buffer areas. The commission’s action sends the amended zoning proposal back to the City Council for final action.

The item returned to the Planning Commission after the City Council considered an earlier Planning Commission recommendation and requested reconsideration once the applicant proposed changes. Scott Knaebel, city planning staff, said the applicant provided building elevations and floor plans showing 2-family (duplex) dwelling types including three-, four- and five-bedroom units in one- and two-story configurations. Knaebel noted the applicant’s submission is a sketch for illustrative purposes and that staff has not yet received drainage plans. The city engineer has expressed concern the layout shown may not meet detention requirements or fit the site as drawn without revisions.

Phil Meyer, agent for the applicant with Boffman Company, told the commission: "I want you to look at this thing as a sketch." Meyer said the applicant offered single‑family buffers at the north and south ends to respond to concerns raised at City Council; the draft sketch showed a 365-foot north buffer and a roughly 150-foot south buffer in earlier material, with the applicant later proposing 165 feet for the south buffer as part of the motion the commission advanced.

Five people spoke during the public comment period. Eric Goff, a resident at 3201 North Woodlawn Boulevard, said, "I'm against zoning this 40 acres or so up as R2," and urged single‑family zoning instead. Audrey Goff and other neighbors expressed concern the proposed two‑family development would be out of character with surrounding large-lot single-family homes, cited traffic and noise worries, and noted a protest petition submitted within the notification area. Trina Hodges, a large local property owner, said the area historically has large lots and asked the commission to "stay within the guidelines" already in the area. Sonia Dove, who owns 10 acres nearby, also urged single‑family zoning.

City staff and Dan Squires, the city's development director, told the commission that drainage and detention will be addressed during platting; staff said there is not a large difference in impervious area between urban-density single-family subdivisions and two-family development at comparable densities, and that drainage will be engineered for whichever layout is approved. Commissioners and staff also addressed concerns about crime and property values; Squires and staff said city analyses have not shown that multifamily development automatically raises per-capita crime rates and pointed to local examples where nearby property values rose following multifamily construction.

Commissioner Remberger moved to forward approval to City Council of the zoning change from R1A to R2 except for the north 365 feet and south 165 feet, based on the findings of fact and subject to platting of the subject property within one year. The motion was seconded and passed by an 8-0 roll call.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be considered by the Derby City Council. If the council approves the rezoning, the applicant must later submit platting, drainage plans and other required engineering documents before development begins.