A proposed mixed-use project along Parmer Lane is making forward progress but raised some questions during Thursday’s Cedar Park City Council meeting.

The City Council held a public hearing for the proposed project by MileStone Community Builders. Amy  Link, Cedar Park assistant director of development services, said the proposal would split the tract at the northwest corner of Parmer Lane and Brushy Creek Road into two sections—35 acres for a planned housing development and 7 acres for planned business development.

The residential side will have a maximum of 140 single-family units with a main access point at Parmer Lane. The southern side will be a mix of retail, office and restaurant-type uses, Link said.

Robert Deegan with Norris Design is working on the project with MileStone Community Builders.

“Our vision here is for a mixed-use community that provides a high-quality housing and destination for dining and play, and also a fitting gateway into Cedar Park along the Parmer corridor,” Deegan said. “It’s a really great opportunity to create a high-quality dining experience in the area.”

Link said the plans had been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission with a few conditions, including reviewing the setback requirements for the residential district.

The plans are for a side setback of 5 feet in each lot and a rear setback of 10 feet. However, the proposed changes to the city ordinance increase those distances to a 10-foot side setback and a 20-foot rear setback. So far, the plans have not changed to reflect those suggestions.

“It is not something that we can do,” said Steve Walkup with MileStone Community Builders, saying the changes would affect the density of the property.

Council Member Cobby Caputo said it would not decrease the number of lots but could decrease the size of the houses that could be placed on each lot.

While the presentation was for a public hearing, council members did ask some questions about aspects of the project. One was whether the subdivision would be gated, which Mayor Matt Powell said was part of the original pitch of the project.

Deegan said the plans were adjusted after the roads were changed from private to public.

Walkup said the plan originally called for private streets but after “dealing with staff and some of the negotiations we had with them, we just made the decision to change it to public streets.”

City Manager Brenda Eivens said there had been concern expressed to staff the streets would be too narrow for emergency vehicles to easily traverse.

Two people spoke during the public hearing. One was Amy Seaman, the landowner, who said it is difficult piece of land to work with.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, trying to come up with something,” Seaman said. “I’ve been before the council with 11 or 12 plans from different buyers and developers, and this is the best thing I’ve seen.”

Council members also received a request to consider reducing the speed limit from 65 mph on the section of Parmer Lane in question if the project is approved.