CALLAWAY — The Planning Board on Tuesday recommended approval for annexation of 280 acres, a large scale comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning application for the Primrose Bay development.
Primrose Bay would be a mixed-use development in the former East Bay area along Primrose Lane. The plan includes 1,085 acres and about 2,000 residential units clustered along the highlands near the bay.
“They put this together with the idea that it would be conceptual,” Callaway City Manager Michael Fuller said.
The land-use amendment and annexation were approved relatively easily. Fuller said annexation had zero drawbacks, but the zoning application received more discussion.
Board member David Griggs was concerned about the lack of detail in the plans submitted by U.S. Metropolitan land development through the Survey, Engineering and Landscape architect group Buchanan and Harper. Fuller confirmed the submitted planning document would provide the framework for the development order, yet to come.
“This would be their Bible?” board member Bob Bell asked.
Griggs asked about where roads and drainage ponds would be located.
Resident Sarah Cooper was most concerned about drainage issues.
Griggs also was disappointed the developer was not at the meeting.
“I would like to see developer or engineer who put this together,” Griggs said. “That’s a negative situation.”
Michael Harper showed up later and answered specific concerns. One was the language that the commercial portion of the property would have private utilities.
Harper said it is common for commercial properties to maintain utilities within their grounds.
Another concern was apartments and a hotel. Harper said the hotel could be no larger than 150 rooms and the apartments would be part of the about 2,000 maximum residential units allowed on the property, including work/live units where an apartment is over a shop.
More specific questions than that would be left to the development order stage, when environmental and traffic studies would be conducted to determine what was needed, Harper said.
“You’re asking for the sky and later on you’re going to tell us what you’re going to do,” board member Don Newell said.
All three measures — annexation, the land use amendment and zoning —will go before the City Commission on March 10.
