Original story posted Jul. 18 at 2:02 p.m.
Initial plans for Indigo Ridge North, a proposed mixed-use development in eastern Cedar Park, received the zoning commission’s seal of approval at a meeting July 17.
A petition to consider a future land use plan amendment for the project was approved by Cedar Park City Council March 8. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the amendment during Tuesday's meeting, which would change the property’s future land use plan designation from regional office, retail and commercial to a planning area.
PROPOSED PROJECT
Indigo Ridge North is proposed to be located on 126 acres at the northwest corner of East Whitestone Boulevard and Sam Bass Road, according to city documents.
Developed by Todd Madden, president of Thompson Morris Real Estate Development, Indigo Ridge North is planned to include retail, hotel, office and residential components in buildings that could reach up to 10 stories tall, according to the documents.
“We’re excited about Indigo Ridge for a lot of reasons,” said Barry Hand, principal and studio director for architecture firm Gensler, who is working on the project. “The beauty of the site […] the potential there to do a really exciting […] town center for Cedar Park.”
Planning areas are intended to offer flexibility to property owners to create entertainment districts, walkable developments, educational facilities and business parks, according to city documents.
In addition to recommending approval of the future land use plan amendment, the commission recommended approval of the rezoning of the property, with some conditions.
Indigo Ridge North’s site is currently zoned planned development—with the base zoning districts of multifamily, general business, light industrial, local business and open space greenbelt—and the applicant requested the site be rezoned to planned development with the mixed-use base district.
TWO DISTRICTS
The developer has split the project into two sections, the Village District and West District. The Village District is designed to include shopping, dining, office, residential and hotel components, while the West District could have all of that plus a stronger focus on office and employment uses, according to meeting documents.
Certain permitted uses will be allowed in each district, while others would require conditional or special use permits. For example, art studios are proposed to be allowed uses in both districts, while a heliport would require a special use permit in the West District but not be permitted at all in the Village District.
The zoning commission recommended that laundromat and day care centers require special use permits in both districts, and that City Council consider stricter dark sky initiatives for Indigo Ridge North.
“I’m just worried about the light pollution at night,” said Commissioner Audrey Wernecke. “I understand that they’ll adhere to the city’s minimum standards but a lot of different parts of the country have a dark sky initiative where it goes just one step further just to protect [from] the light pollution [for] the residents nearby.”
During the public hearing, one person spoke in favor of Indigo Ridge North and its possible employment opportunities, and another spoke against it, arguing that the property is archaeologically important and that the project could bring increased noise, congestion and accidents to the area. Two individuals wrote in favor of the development but chose not to speak.
The recommendations could go before Cedar Park City Council August 9, according to meeting documents.
