The area in question has two single-family homes on the 27 acres between the intersection of Goodwin Lane and Orion Drive, and Goodwin Lane and Northway Drive, across from the Creekside Ranch subdivision.
The rezoning would allow for no more than 12 units per acre up to 320 multifamily units.
“Their intent is to develop multiple clusters of townhouses on one lot,” said Christopher Looney, planning and development services director for the city, during a Dec. 13 council meeting. “Typically you see townhouses where there's one on each block, kind of like row houses that typically have shared walls. This is a new style of development—something innovative, still low-density, but it's something new, and therefore our zoning ordinance doesn't have a category for it."
Steve Drenner of the Drenner Group out of Austin spoke on behalf of the developer of the project, the Keystone National Group.
He said the amount of space allows for building higher units that can be spread out for more open space and amenities instead of the greater density that comes with some types of townhome configurations.
“It is a new product type. It's a missing middle, if you will, in the residential market—not just in New Braunfels in particular, but it embraces the concepts I think that fit New Braunfels well,” Drenner said.
Drenner said should the project go forward, the earliest completion date would be the fall of 2024.
City Council members voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the permit.
“Our comprehensive plan calls for a mix of different creative housing types. And really, that's intended to compliment our current residential because pretty much now in New Braunfels it is devoid of anything but apartments. And so the townhouses certainly meet what is called for in our comprehensive plan,” Looney said.
