The following agenda items were deferred from the Planning Commission's March 7 public hearing to its April 4 public hearing:
Van Buren/Grant Street Rezoning Proposal
An application for the rezoning of land at Van Buren and Grant streets off of Elden Street for the construction of 37 townhouses.
Although the applicant, Winchester Homes, had made recommended changes from the deferred Feb. 7 public hearing, commissioners still had questions about the traffic impact and the proposed construction of two roads — Adams Street and Baker Place.
In addition, commissioners expressed concerns about how compatible the two proposed developments — one area proposed to have 16 townhouses and the other 21 townhouses — would be with the rest of the single-family detached houses in the neighborhood.
Further comment is scheduled to be heard on this rezoning proposal at the April 4 public hearing.
Alteration of Generalized Development Plan
An application, submitted by JDC Ventures L.L.C., to change the General Development Plan (GDP) proposed for 1201 Elden St. was deferred until the April 4 public hearing.
Because there is an existing walk-up and drive-through bank at the location where the applicant is proposing to construct office and retail spaces, the applicant is asking to change the plan to transform the existing bank structure into a retail/restaurant building.
Town staff recommended the deferral of the item because there were some unresolved issues, most importantly staff would like the applicant to submit a traffic study of the area to include restaurant use.
Further comment is scheduled to be heard at the April 4 public hearing.
Commerce Bank Proposed
The Planning Commission deferred an application for a conditional-use permit for the construction of a new bank at 1228 Elden Street Marketplace Shopping Center at it's March 7 hearing.
Because of multiple reasons, including the fact that the proposed corner that the bank is to be constructed on faces five other existing banks, the applicant, Commerce Bank, was asked to return with a traffic study.
A northeastern chain of banks, the Commerce representative said the bank hopes to compete with the other banks in the area, saying because the bank is open seven days a week and until 8:30 p.m. on weeknights, they do not believe traffic will be as much of an issue as anticipated.
Regardless, commissioners said traffic at the proposed site could be considered as the worst intersection in Herndon, especially between 4 to 7 p.m., and would like to see some proposed changes made.
Further comment is scheduled to be heard at the April 4 public hearing.