The ADM Milling Co. site is located at 398 E. San Antonio St. in New Braunfels. (Community Impact staff)
The former Dittlinger and ADM Milling Co. site is getting closer to redevelopment.
New Braunfels City Council approved an ordinance on first reading rezoning an additional 2.11 acres of the ADM Milling Co. site April 27 from industrial to high intensity mixed-use with a special use permit. Council member Toni Carter dissented, and Mayor Neal Linnartz recused himself.
The properties that are potentially going to be rezoned are primarily along Market Avenue, west of East San Antonio Street. The rezoning would allow for the overall redevelopment of the former Dittlinger and ADM Milling Co. site, Deputy City Manager Jordan Matney said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a project that aligns more thoroughly with policies across multiple divisions and departments in our city,” Matney said.
The redevelopment project aligns with the city’s strategic plan and downtown implementation plan, which was adopted in 2010. A few of the downtown implementation plan’s key objectives include incentivizing the number of downtown residents and infill development and building a pedestrian bridge over the Comal River. The downtown implementation plan also identified large, industrial lots in downtown for revitalization, according to the presentation.
“This is a real opportunity,” Matney said.
The ADM Milling Co. closed in March 2023 and plans to transform the grain mill were later presented and considered by City Council in November 2024. The 9-acre riverfront property was rezoned by City Council in December 2024, but the additional 2-acre rezoning is critical to the project and its design, said Ashley Farrimond, a partner at Killen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC. Killen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC is a San Antonio-based law firm that represents land use and economic development initiatives.
“We’re really trying to have a consistent zoning over the entirety of the project,” Farrimond said.
The mixed-use project would bring more outdoor, retail, restaurant and commercial space. Developers are also looking to construct a parking garage with 500 or more spaces and a boutique hotel, Farrimond said.
“There would be office space above the retail in a few of the buildings,” she added.
Council member Michael Capizzi said he was glad to see the plan aligning with so many city policies—like the pedestrian bridge and additional parking.
“I think this is a great, great opportunity for this city,” Capizzi said.
Council member D. Lee Edwards suggested developers consider designing an Uber or Rio drop-off and enhanced crosswalks.
Digging deeper
As of 4 p.m. April 27, approximately 27 property owners within 200 feet of the property in question were notified, Matney said. The city received eight responses in favor of the rezoning and one in opposition. Adjacent property owner Layton L. Leissner opposed the rezoning, according to agenda documents.
Melvin Nolte Jr., an adjacent property owner in favor of the rezoning, said the new rezoning would be “much better” than the industrial zoning. Melvin Nolte Jr. is also one of the property owners being represented by Killen, Griffin & Farrimond for the redevelopment project, according to agenda documents for a March 3 planning commission meeting.
The rezoning was recommended to City Council following the March 3 recommendation from the planning commission. The commission's Vice Chair Chase Taylor voted in opposition to the rezoning.
Commissioner Angela Allen also voted in opposition to the rezoning. Allen said she wanted to review the plans.
Commissioner Chad Nolte—who recused himself during the March 3 planning meeting—is another individual and owner being represented by Killen, Griffin & Farrimond on the project. Other owners include:
Farmers Mutual Fire
Leslie Lammers
Tom Tumlinson
Sandra Nolte
Comal Properties LLC
Qdream LLC
The ADM Mill property is located within the city’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, No. 3, which encompasses downtown.
The New Braunfels Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3 encompasses downtown. (Courtesy city of New Braunfels)
A TIRZ creates a total taxable value base of all real property in the zone for the year it was designated. Upon development or redevelopment, the appraised property value should increase, according to the Texas comptroller.
“The redevelopment of this property will create a significant increment that will be used to reinvest in our historic downtown,” Matney said.
Stay tuned
The rezoning request for the additional areas will be brought back to council at the next scheduled City Council meeting for final consideration, city officials said in an email to Community Impact. New Braunfels City Council meetings are held twice a month at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is May 11.
