A new six-story development known as The Creek at Hurst Harbor, which features 146 condo units, restaurant and retail space, may be coming soon to Lakeway.
The details
A future land use map, or FLUM, amendment was put forward by developers of The Creek at Hurst Harbor to change the development’s designation from commercial and residential to “mixed-use.” It was approved unanimously by Lakeway City Council on Oct. 20.
A zoning change updated the development’s Marina and Single-Family Residential—Rural designation to planned unit development. The change was approved in a 6-1 vote, with council member Kelly Brynteson voting against.
The zoning change was approved with the following restrictions:
- Short-term rental units must not exceed 10% of the development.
- A revised traffic impact analysis must be provided to council, supporting public restaurant and retail impact, within 180 days.
- An extension to the PUD would be subject to a council vote in five years.
- Retail and restaurant services must be open to the public.
- Sidewalk must be constructed at the beginning of the project.
- The city manager will be given discretion for the parkland dedication requirement, fee-in-lieu, or combination of fee-in-lieu and in-kind donations.
Some context
The development, located at 16405 Clara Van St., was put forward by developer and Lakeway resident Rip Miller and his wife, who purchased the marina in February 2022.
It will include 146 condo units with a proposed height of 75 feet. As a point of comparison, The Lakeway Resort and Spa is 98 feet tall at its maximum height.
Also included in plans are three stories of underground parking, restaurant and retail spaces.
The property is surrounded by green space to the north, Lakeway City Park to the west and residential plots to the east and south.
What they’re saying
Miller said that the condominium development would benefit Lakeway by improving the existing property, and improving the view from Lakeway City Park.
“The development is a benefit to Lakeway and [is] the redevelopment of an unsightly, run-down, single-purpose marina operation with a world-class mixed use condominium facility, thereby drastically improving the view corridors from Lakeway City Park,” Miller said.
Over 58 comments were submitted to the city of Lakeway opposing the development prior to a Zoning and Planning Commission meeting addressing the development Sept. 11.
The development was subsequently brought to council Sept. 15, but a decision on the zoning and a FLUM change was postponed to Oct. 20, partially due to some public concern about the decision being rushed.
At the Oct. 20 meeting, over 20 individuals in attendance spoke against the approval.
“The reason why I oppose [the FLUM] is because I want you to envision ... an apartment complex, six stories, sitting on top of a three-story hill. That’s what I see,” said Rachel Mills, a Lakeway resident and member of Lakeway’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. “We all know it’s going to be elevated, I personally do not think that this fits within the character and the footprint of Lakeway. I’m not against development. ... Let’s figure out how we can make it a win-win.”
What they’re saying
Despite some negative feedback, council ultimately approved the zoning and FLUM change.
Council member Brynteson noted that many residents appeared to be concerned by the size of the development, rather than the proposal to develop the land itself.
“I also feel like I need to listen to the residents on this [issue] as well,” Brynteson said. “[And] even if you don’t live [in Lakeway] it impacts you. If you ever go to the city of Lakeway park, it’s such a gem. ... Looking at what was currently there and then just imagining the building itself ... it is large.”
However, some council members as well as Mayor Thomas Kilgore were more comfortable with the size of the development.
“I understand that this is a massive complex in comparison to what is currently there—it is not, however, marginally bigger than things that the city has already done,” Kilgore said.
