Lakeway approves new 82-lot residential development near Lake Travis Elementary

At that time, 130 single-family detached units were planned, with a density of under 10 units per acre, according to city documents. Ultimately, council voted against approving the request, and the developers consequently held several meetings with Lakeway residents and city staff seeking to improve upon their original plan and address public concerns, according to a presentation shared by Onyx representative Spencer Huck on Jan. 8.

Upon returning to ZAPCO on Jan. 8, the development’s density had been reduced to 82 units, infrastructure had been added for storm drainage, and site layout plans were updated to include more green space. Additionally, a letter of approval from the Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Paul Norton was presented by developers.

While acknowledging that updated plans improved upon what developers previously put forward, several members of the ZAPCO board questioned whether or not the development would benefit Lakeway.

The discussion

At the Jan. 27 meeting, council heard from Huck about the development’s updated plans. Although a few items had been removed, the core of the presentation was largely the same as the one presented at the Jan. 8 ZAPCO meeting, Huck said.

Over 30 residents gave feedback to council prior to the meeting urging the city to reject the development, Assistant City Manager Ashby Grundman said.

At the meeting, 11 residents addressed the council during public comment, sharing their reasons for opposing the development. Primary issues centered around the character and quality of the development, as well as environmental concerns like water drainage and tree clearing.

Updated plans included a rain-garden style detention pond in the community, and the development’s drainage plans would offer assistance in improving the Kollmeyer Circle area, ZAPCO chair Louis Mastrangelo said at the meeting.

In regard to tree clearing, developers had previously obtained an arborist report from the property site detailing the health of existing trees, Huck said.

“Our goal is to save every good-health tree that we can. And we’ve actually made designs on our site plan to accommodate for that. ... Our goal is to save as many trees as possible during construction,” Huck said.

Several council members also pushed for the developers to create a pathway from Lakeway Heights to the neighboring Lake Travis Elementary School, which was ultimately incorporated into the approval of the zoning change.

Despite negative resident feedback at the meeting, council members Christopher Forton and Kent O’Brien pointed to the city’s current comprehensive plan, which encourages medium-density residential developments throughout Lakeway, as an important reference for their approval of the development.

The bottom line

While some council members disagreed, including Matt Sherman and Kelly Brynteson, the motion was ultimately approved to change 15115 Kollmeyer Drive’s zoning to a PUD, allowing the development to move forward, with an additional requirement of a public sidewalk being constructed between the development and school.