Amid a packed City Hall chamber that had some attendees standing in the back of the room Tuesday night, Bee Cave City Council voted unanimously to amend the zoning of the 80 acres of land south of Hwy. 71 that will be called The Village at Spanish Oaks from mixed use and agriculture to planned development-mixed use.

The vote propelled the mixed-use development forward on the road to kicking off construction of both its buildings and infrastructure.

City Manager Clint Garza said the next step is for developers to submit a site plan for the first phase of infrastructure, which will then go through the Planning & Zoning Commission and, pending their approval, will be considered by City Council.

"What tonight did was set a timeline on [the developers]," Garza said. "They have four years to submit a site plan."

Garza said he has been given no time frame for when to expect a site plan from the developers, but that it should come to the city much sooner than four years.

Developers CCNG, Inc. and Arizona-based Greenbrier Southwest Corporation officially proposed the Village Aug. 28 at a joint workshop of the P&Z Commission and City Council.

It has since passed through a P&Z vote Sept. 18 and a contentious City Council meeting on Oct. 9, during which several residents from neighboring community The Homestead expressed reservations about what construction of the development would do to traffic in the area, among other concerns.

Of those in attendance Tuesday, many either opposed the development or sought a postponement of its approval. Public comments consisted exclusively of residents from the Homestead, who mostly expressed traffic concerns along Great Divide Drive, the main thoroughfare running through the westernmost portion of the proposed development.

Mayor Pro Tem Bill Goodwin said following public comment that it was a difficult decision and that he’s listened to many concerns.

Of the numerous factors involved in consideration of the proposed development, he said, the concerns of one residential neighborhood constituted just one of them. He added this project is the first he has ever contemplated in his many years in Bee Cave about which he has no misgivings.

Goodwin and Council Member Marie Lowman both said that they understand their decisions to approve the rezoning might be politically detrimental, especially pertaining to their support among Homestead residents, but the benefits of bringing the development to Bee Cave outweigh the negative prospects.

“Looking at the development as a whole, I think it’s absolutely stunning,” Lowman said. “When I look at what it could be, I am grateful. We may not feel it right now, but I think it will do wonders for the property values at The Homestead.”

City documents state the planned development district as proposed would include a mix of single-family townhomes, lofts over retail shops and apartment-style multifamily residences. Also included in the development are spaces dedicated for senior living units, offices, restaurants, a hotel/spa and recreation space.