The general development plan and subdivision proposal for the controversial Pacific Sunset mixed use project was approved unanimously by

the Lebanon Planning Commission on Aug. 20. The hearing was the last of several on the annexation and development of the property.

Pacific Sunset will be located on 12.91 acres with 312 feet of frontage on Highway 34. It is between Sunset Road and Tucker Lane. Slightly more than 80 percent of the project area is located in the Aircraft Control Sub-zone, which imposes height restrictions based on proximity to the flight path in and out of Lebanon State Airport.

Neighbors on Sunset and Tucker and in the residential area around South 16th Street south of the project area repeated previous concerns about increased traffic on nearby streets, whether the storm drain system designed for the development will be adequate and the close proximity to the airport flight path.

Brian Vorderstrasse, who lives on 16th Street, in a written statement sent to the Planning Commission, objected to the high-density development near his neighborhood. It will destroy the unity of the neighborhood by putting in a street that connects the development to the neighborhood.

The nearness to the airport flight path has been a constant issue through previous hearings. Several area residents have stated concerns about the possibility of airplane accidents in the area.

The plan includes 100 units of two- and three-bedroom apartments, 68 units of mini-storage and 3.95 acres of future commercial or light industrial use along Highway 34. Construction of residential buildings and mini-storage units will be completed in four phases between 2009 and 2012.

Access will be on Tucker Lane from Highway 34 and Sunset Drive's intersection with the highway will be closed. Vine Street will be extended westward to provide access from the south.

In response to objections to the development from residents along Sunset Drive, the only structures adjacent to that street will be the mini-storage units.

After public and planning commissioner comments during an earlier hearing on the development plan, project managers modified the street alignment to discourage through traffic, relocated open areas to a more central locale in view of the apartments and moved several buildings toward the east and out of the state's Airport Approach Zone.