Bastrop City Council denied a vested rights appeal for North End Prairie after residents voiced their concerns about the development during a City Council meeting Aug. 19.

The background

In early March, developers of North End Prairie—located south of Linden Street, east of Hill Street, west of Pecan Street and North of Buchanan Street—submitted a vesting determination, also known as a “grandfathering request.”

Five items were requested to be vested, including:
  • Parking: one parking spot per bedroom
  • Flood protection: reduction of impervious cover from 60% to 50%
  • Additional dwelling units: must meet parking and flood protection ratios
  • Tree protections: caliper inches were increased to align with the city of Bastrop Tree City Designation and reduce environmental heat
  • Tree survey: required and cannot be older than 2 years old
Officials, who reviewed applicable regulations and sought guidance from legal counsel, determined that additional dwelling units, tree protections and tree survey could be vested, while parking and flood protection could not, according to city documents.

The applicant received notice March 28 and appealed the decision July 23, according to city documents.


The details

Some Bastrop residents were in favor of North End Prairie, including Pablo Serna.

“I think the scheme that has been presented for much smaller housing types could be successful,” said Serna, an architect and interior designer. “This is primarily for workforce housing—new buyers, teachers, first responders, etc. It’s based around people and walkability, and I think this development will demonstrate how a person-centric development can really work for Bastrop.”

However, others shared their worries with Bastrop officials about the proposed 42-home, 4-acre development, including:
  • An absence of a clear parking plan
  • No approved drainage system
  • Lack of transparency
Cheryl Kruckeberg, who lives on Pecan Street, was among the few who spoke.


“I live right across the street from where this development will go, and I just want to reaffirm my position that it’s not a good fit for the neighborhood,” she said during the meeting at the Bastrop Convention Center. “It will have a really strong impact on the traffic, and there’s already not enough control up and down Pecan Street.”

Heather Green also neighbors the North End Prairie development.

“I'm so frustrated to sit here and listen to someone split hairs over the legalities of [the development], and to feel like we are not heard,” she told Bastrop City Council. “I am fed up, and I ask that you stand behind what you have been continuing to stand behind and deny this grandfathering request, because you have every right to.”

Also of note


Several other residents in opposition were in attendance. Although several of them opted not to speak, they submitted forms to Bastrop City Council stating their concerns.