A new subdivision with seven homes could be developed on 13 acres of land at 300 Laurel Valley Road following the approval of a preliminary plat for the proposed project during a Jan. 23 West Lake Hills City Council meeting. There is currently a single home on the land. The existing driveway providing access from Laurel Valley Road to the house would eventually be removed, though it would remain in place temporarily to provide construction access, a staff report said. The smallest proposed lot in the subdivision is 1.11 acres and the largest proposed lot is 4.71 acres. Access for the new subdivision would come primarily from Ledgeway East, the report said. The existing portion that is unimproved would be surfaced and provide an internal street for the subdivision for six new lots. Proposed lot two would have access from Cedar Oaks Drive. Several residents spoke during public comment to express concern regarding the access plan and to urge the city and developer to consider additional access routes. Though a portion along the southern part of the tract lies within the FEMA 100-year flood plain, the flood plain does not encroach into the limits of construction for the proposed project, the report said. The approval was for the preliminary plat only—the developer will also have to seek final plat approval from the Zoning & Planning Commission and City Council. Applicant Buster McCall said more detailed construction plans will be presented at a future meeting. City looking into possibility of improved cell service Cell phone reception could be enhanced with the addition of 6 to 15 small cell nodes installed in the West Lake Hills area. Council listened to a presentation from AT&T representative Nasser Midamba regarding the nodes, proposed initially for 807 Redbud Trail, 1600 Westlake Drive and 1628 Westlake Drive. The 3 or 4 foot, cylindrical nodes would be affixed to utility poles and increase capacity and range, Midamba said. Rollingwood entered into a similar agreement with AT&T last year, which brought the option to Mayor Linda Anthony’s attention. “We have all experienced a dead zone or in-and-out spot as we travel the city,” she said. “I’ve had residents ask me if anything can be done.” Anthony said it is also a public safety issue for both residents and police officers. “We’ve gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to give the police force the best available technology, but there are places in the city they can’t use it,” she said, adding that installing the nodes would also be an acknowledgment of the modern lifestyle that is dropping landlines, working from home and other connectivity needs. The presentation was for informational purposes only; no action was taken. May 4 election called to fill 3 seats Council officially called an election during the Jan. 23 meeting. The May 4 general election will fill council member seats for places 1, 3 and 5. Those elected to office will serve two-year terms from May 2019 to May 2021. Place 1 is held by Rhonda McCollough, Place 3 by Beth South and Place 5 by Jim O’Connor. The deadline to file an application for a place on the ballot is Feb. 15.