A two-building, 96-unit multifamily development proposal received the Beaverton Planning Commission‘s approval last week. The commission also approved the project team’s request to remove some trees and another request to deviate from the maximum front setback requirement.

The applicant for the Scholls Ferry Apartments project is Scholls Development LLC (Placid Holdings of Portland). Pacific Community Design is the planner, civil engineer and landscape architect, and Sinan Gumusoglu Architecture LLC is the architect.

Scholls Ferry Apartments is planned for 15584 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road. The primary area of development is a flag lot identified as Tax Lot 200, which currently has a single detached dwelling.

All trees on site were evaluated, including those that will be retained, project arborist Todd Prager said. The proposal calls for removal of 78.8 percent of “nonexempt surveyed trees within the significant grove.”

“We really worked to provide as much room as possible for the root system and the protection of the root zone of the trees and shift that building as far from the root zone as possible, particularly for the trees on the northern property line,” Prager said.

Another constraint for the development is vehicle access. Plans call for creation of a new intersection of Southwest Winterhawk Lane and Bunting Street. Two speed cushions are proposed for Southwest Sheldrake Way and Harlequin Drive.

A 10-foot maximum front setback is included in the development code, Pacific Community Design planner Maureen Jackson said. The applicant requested a 15-foot setback.

“The intent of the maximum setback is to activate street frontages next to high-density development,” she said. “This project is unique in that it’s located on a flag lot and does not have street frontage.”

Also, the site’s topography is impacting the development. The nearest manhole is at Southwest Winterhawk Lane, at an elevation of 370 feet. The buildable area falls to an elevation of approximately 332 feet, Jackson said. That elevation change prohibits the gravity-fed sewer system from serving the development, she added. The applicant is proposing to use the existing sewer line on Sheldrake Way. No alterations to the existing home near the sewer line are proposed.

Approximately 125 parking spaces will be provided for residents and visitors. There will be 24 underground parking spaces in one building and 30 in the other building. A total of 71 surface parking spaces will also be provided.

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