Another city board has joined the Canby Planning Commission in opposing the Canby Townhomes project, a planned development of 38 townhouse units on the corner of 13th and Ivy. The city’s Traffic Safety Commission has submitted a letter to the Canby City Council asking that the project be denied.
“The Traffic Safety Committee is seriously concerned this development will very negatively impact the traffic congestion at this very busy intersection,” the commissioners wrote. “Demanding rush hour traffic already impacts this intersection.”
The letter went on to say that other residential developments already in progress in the city, including Timber Park and Riverside Park, are expected to put additional strain on this intersection.
“Despite what traffic studies may say, our experience with this intersection demonstrates this specific request for rezoning and the development of this type of particular style and amount of housing is wrong for this location and needs to be denied.”
Complicating the council’s decision is the fact that the Canby Townhomes property was mistakenly labeled as commercial/residential (C-R) on city maps, when it is actually zoned R-1. If the city rejects the zone change now, it could open them up to liability due to the costs the developer spent under the misrepresentation that the property was already zoned C-R.
The City Council will hear the matter on Oct. 3.
