The Durango Planning Commission approved a proposed 194-unit apartment complex near Walmart after residents raised concerns over traffic, views, parking and building height on Monday.
The Durango City Council must still annex the land before the project can move forward.
Commissioners lauded the project for its thoughtful design, and granted its parking and height variances.
“It’s a really good-looking development. I think it’s really raising the bar on development in Durango,” Commissioner Joe Lewandowski said.
It will also help meet Durango’s need for housing through infill, Commissioner Geoff Hickcox said.
NE Development is proposing seven buildings, a clubhouse, an outdoor pool, 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.
Some residents questioned the high density and the parking plan.
“I am very much supportive of affordable housing in Durango, but we don’t need to put them all in one spot,” resident Jim Abbey said.
He would like to lower density that would match the housing south of the proposed development.
The company is required to build 408 parking spaces, but the developer was 16 spaces short, without a variance, even counting spaces in driveways.
A study found that other apartment complexes in town are partially empty at night, when all the residents are at home, planner Mark Williams said.
This helped convince commissioners a variance was warranted.
To help make sure garages aren’t used for storage, the developer will also provide 198 covered bike spaces. The developer will also provide a bus stop.
Other residents asked for speed bumps and roundabouts to slow traffic, especially trucks, going between big box stores.
Narrowing traffic lanes and the landscaping should help slow traffic, City Engineer Gregg Boysen said.
The developer asked for a height variance to build to 47 feet rather than 39 feet to help with snow shed.
Some residents felt it could block views of the mountains.
The commission also approved a Goodwill on the corner of Baker Lane and Escalante Drive.
However, before the project can move forward the land must be annexed.
NE Development may build the road, and the property owners could pay their share to the company.
The property owners could also vote to tax themselves to pay for the road.
Goodwill plans to break ground in March. It could use Baker Lane for access, and it would not need to wait for road construction.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
