Estates at Chapel Hill housing project moving forward

Commissioners gave approval this week for another new subdivision development to move forward in southern Platte County.

At the Monday, April 5 administrative session, commissioners approved a rezoning order for PC Homes, owned by Brian Mertz, to rezone about 78 acres from agricultural to single-family residential to create 57 large lots for development of the Estates at Chapel Hill off Crooked Road north of Highway 45.

According to director of planning and zoning Daniel Erickson, the rezoning brings the property into line with other nearby residential developments and was considered in conformity with the county’s land use plan.

According to the staff report presented to the county’s planning and zoning commission in March, the proposed subdivision would consist of 57 lots ranging in size from .70 acre to 6.55 acres. Fifty-six of the proposed lots would be eligible to receive a building permit for one single-family dwelling. One lot would contain an existing single-family dwelling.

Erickson said there were concerns about increased traffic, as Crooked Road lives up to its name and is known as an accident-prone area.

The added population of 57 homes is not enough traffic to trigger a traffic impact study, under county policy. However, Mertz agreed to work with the Parkville Road District to lower a hill at Crooked and Hampton roads in lieu of road improvements along the frontage of the development.

“The hill project would be a much bigger improvement for the future residents of this neighborhood as well as the existing residents in the area,” according to the staff report.

The planning and zoning commission approved the rezoning application on a 5-2 vote. The preliminary plat application was also reviewed and approved by the planning and zoning commission last month.