Long story short
The land used to be the site of a historic home that Bastrop resident Mary LeBlanc, who died at 88 years old in 2020, had lived in for decades. Following her death, RubiCrown Development purchased the property and recently demolished the house.
Chris Kirby of Bastrop Law Group is representing the developers and led the discussions about their plans to build two owner-occupied fourplexes with 16 parking spaces on the property—homes that would need to be governed by a condo association.
Each unit would be approximately 1,189 square feet.
“Now, I’m not going to convince you,” he told residents during the meeting at 602 Brewing Company. “I’m going to tell you what the facts are about what the house was, what’s happening now and what the alternatives are. It’s up for you to decide.”
The details
Kirby listed several reasons why developers believed the home was not suitable for renovation, including:
- A rotting foundation
- Holes in the roof
- Plants growing into the house
- Mold
- A collapsing ceiling
- Holes in the floors
Although developers will need to seek a zoning change to P4 to allow for the two fourplexes that would feature facades similar to other homes on Pecan Street, there are plans to move forward with an alternative development if the property is not rezoned from P3.
“Under P3, they’re allowed to build four duplexes and four alternative dwelling units, which are in essence like a guest house,” Kirby said. “That total of 12 living units are typically rentals not owned by the occupiers.”
The outlook
Bastrop resident William Holford noted how a P3 zoning does not allow for duplexes to be built in this neighborhood since the density would exceed the minimum lot size, according to the Bastrop Building Block Code, which was last updated in April.
“RubiCrown bought this property and essentially submitted a backup plan for the duplexes before the change, so they’re grandfathered in,” Kirby said in response.
Several other residents in attendance stressed how they would like to see neither plan come to fruition. However, Kirby highlighted that is not an option for RubiCrown Development.
“None of us are going into business to lose money,” he said. “RubiCrown has already invested in this project, so if no zoning change happens, then what ends up on that site are duplexes and alternative dwelling units.”
Although some were in attendance, Bastrop City Council members did not answer questions residents directed toward them.
