A proposed 194-unit apartment complex near Walmart cleared an important hurdle Tuesday.
The Durango City Council unanimously approved an early plan for the complex
“I think this is going to be a really powerful project for Durango, and I would like to see more projects like this,” Councilor Sweetie Marbury said.
NE Development is proposing seven buildings, a clubhouse, an outdoor pool, a small-business center, a bus stop and a dog park in a development along an extension of Escalante Drive between Walmart and Home Depot.
The developer anticipates 128 one-bedroom units and 66 two-bedroom units.
The council must still annex the property before the project can move forward, and the annexation depends on plans for the extension of the Escalante Drive.
If all goes well annexation could happen by January, which would allow for construction to start next year, Planner Mark Williams said.
“This area of town is an obvious location for development to spread to,” he said.
The council was asked to approve parking and height variances.
The project would normally require 408 parking spaces. The development plans to provide 392 spaces, including driveway parking spaces. But it was still 16 spaces short of city requirements.
However, by granting the variance, the city will help ensure that the developer will provide bicycle parking and a bus stop, Williams said.
A parking study of the Lumien and Confluence apartments showed their parking lots on average were only about half full. The developer provided this as evidence for a variance.
Councilor Sweetie Marbury questioned why more parking could not be added.
But Councilor Dean Brookie supported the parking and height variance. The height variance allows building up to 47 feet – up from the limit of 39 feet.
“We have got an excessive parking standard in our city,” he said.
If final approval is granted, construction could start in spring 2017. Construction is expected to take 20 months, according to city documents.
The developer, NE Development, might build the extension of Escalante Drive with the adjacent property owners chipping in their share.
But if the company opts not to build the extension, the property owners could form a public improvement district and vote to tax themselves to pay for it.
The construction of the road will improve traffic flow in the area as well, City Engineer Gregg Boysen said.
The project faced strong opposition from the neighborhood when it was approved by Durango Planning Commission.
This time resident Jim Abbey was the only one to speak against the project.
“I am just very opposed to the density,” he said.
mshinn@duragnoherald.com
