The New Braunfels City Council approved the rezoning request for 8.4 acres of agricultural land to be changed to a zero-lot line home district during a regular meeting Feb. 27. According to Jean Drew, planning and development services assistant director for the city, the development would ultimately house around 40 to 60 homes, comparable to the surrounding area, depending on drainage considerations.
“I think 60 [homes] was just using an average; what percent [of land] for roadway, what percent for homes, and it may not allow adequate space for the drainage,” Drew said.
Over 20% of the owners of properties located within 200 feet of the zoning request are in opposition to the new development, which required 6 of the 7 council members to vote in favor of the ordinance to pass. Christine Kulcheski, the homeowners association president for Pecan Crossing, spoke at the meeting and said residents were concerned about the extra traffic the development may bring to County Line Road.
“Our neighbors are still very concerned with the traffic patterns,” Kulcheski said. “TxDOT does not have any sort of expansion, nor have we heard of the city expanding either the [traffic] light timing or County Line itself.”
The developer will have to have two exits from the development in its final design, according to Drew. Harry Bowers, City Council member for District 3 and mayor pro tem, said the council cannot determine the roadway impact of the future development until the engineering designs are completed.
“I think the concern is traffic, but if I understand correctly. ... Zoning doesn't include those other facets,” Bowers said. “Those come along later after something's rezoned, our body cannot tie in adding a traffic lane or any type of improvements to a roadway to the zoning [request].”
The rezoning ordinance was approved in its first reading 6-1 with District 2 Council Member Christopher Willis voting against it.
