The Mills Planning and Zoning Board on an uncontested vote on an untabled agenda item approved the Ridgewest replat, a preliminary/final plat that subdivides about 27.12 acres into roughly 87 residential lots and includes new drainage and access provisions.

City Planner Casey said the applicant submitted a preliminary/final plat to subdivide approximately 27.12 acres into about 87 residential lots and that staff reviewed infrastructure, drainage and street plans. “The plan considerations: staff met with the engineer and developer to discuss the shortcomings noted in the August meeting,” Casey said, adding that drainage improvements include added detention facilities and conversion of some open ditch lines to underground piping.

The board previously tabled the item over drainage and traffic concerns. A commissioner moved to untable the item after staff described the changes; the motion passed. After public comments from the applicant’s representative, the board voted to approve the replat as presented.

Why it matters: the replat touches multiple policy areas — stormwater management, school access and neighborhood traffic — and will guide construction of a new subdivision and future phases of a nearby school. The applicant and staff said the new detention and piping plan will reduce peak runoff and move detention away from Poison Spider Lane, and that alternative access points are intended to relieve congestion at existing intersections.

Board discussion and staff recommendations: Casey said staff reviewed infrastructure plans and recommended approval because the updated design addressed the drainage and traffic points that led to the earlier tabling. Staff noted the proposed subdivision is consistent with the jurisdiction’s 2017 master plan designation of low-density residential and that rezoning public hearings are scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 28.

The applicant’s representative, Sean, described studies on water, sewer and drainage that formed the basis of the revised plan and said the developer obtained permission from the school district to place detention on the Charter Heights parcel to simplify detention maintenance and provide capacity for later phases of school construction. “We have added, with permission of the school board, detention onto the Charter Heights property,” Sean said.

A previously proposed emergency access easement on the subdivision’s southern border was removed and remains as an irrigation easement, staff said, to avoid constraining buildable envelopes on lots; instead, the plat shows a curb cut near Lots 3 and 4 intended as an emergency access if the Poison Spider/Robertson crossing is blocked. Staff also added street names and alternative drainage easements to allow maintenance and service access.

Formal action: after the untable motion passed, the board approved the preliminary/final plat for the Ridgewest replat as described by the city planner. The motion passed by voice vote.

What remains: detailed design and construction plans will be reviewed by city public works and other departments during the permitting phase. The board and staff indicated that utility, roadway and design details will be addressed in those design reviews and that the public hearings for related rezoning remain scheduled.