Leander officials approved a development timeline for the Oakwood Hills subdivision Oct. 15, making way for a new neighborhood in Leander.
The property stretches 337 acres north of the intersection of Nameless Road and Shady Mountain Road. The approved phasing plan allows developers to build the first 183 homes across three phases. The last five homes will be built after water upgrades are completed by the city.
At a glance
As part of Leander’s water management efforts, the city considers the impact of building 30 or more lots at one time. While a phasing plan does not clear a development to immediately start construction, it does approve the developer’s timeline.
The approved timeline for Oakwood Hills is:
Phase 1: 16 lots
Phase 2: 71 lots
Phase 3: 96 lots
Phase 4: 5 lots
While the city can provide water to 184 lots, upgrades to city systems are needed to provide service for all 188 planned lots. As a result, developers are seeking to build the final five lots after the city expands its water infrastructure. Construction on the Hero Way West storage tank and water line is expected to begin in fiscal year 2028.
The specifics
Due to the area’s steep topography and floodplains, developers must apply for a floodplain development permit and respond to any concerns from the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, city documents state.
While the developer is proposing to build private streets in the neighborhood, it is also seeking to have the city maintain a boulevard, according to city documents. The same documents state that a traffic study is required and improvements are needed for Nameless Road, which Jonestown and Travis County currently maintain.
The development's size prompts the need for a secondary access road or for residential fire sprinkler systems. While the homes can be built with these fire systems, there still may be a need for a secondary access road for other emergency response services. These details will be considered once the project reaches the preliminary plat stage, according to city documents.
What’s next
More analysis will be done to address any infrastructure concerns as the project moves through the city's development process, city documents state.
Developers are planning for about 6 acres of private parks and a trails system. Preliminary plat requirements state developments must have at least 7.5 acres per 100 units, so the developer has proposed to pay a fee in lieu of parkland.
Lots must be at least an acre in size since Oakwood Hills is zoned as single-family rural.
