City Council approves I-35 building standards

On Dec. 18, Kyle City Council approved new guidelines for commercial developers to follow in order to build along I-35.

The new standards, which took effect in December, set requirements for sidewalks, parking lots, structure orientation and other aspects of building and design. Sofia Nelson, the city's planning director, said developers had been faced with "a game of risk" before the I-35 Overlay District standards were passed.

"While we do have basic development requirements for residential developments—it includes design features, the size of homes and masonry requirements—we don't really have any of those same requirements for commercial property," Nelson said.

Nelson said the old process was subjective and required weeks, and, in some cases, months of waiting for official approval.

"What this does, from a development standpoint, it streamlines that by saying, 'These are the standards you need to follow, and once you follow those, your project is approved, and we're not going to make you go before a board or commission and have your plan subject to the council or Planning and Zoning Commission,'" she said.

"From a person living in Kyle's standpoint, it gives them some predictability about what they can expect to be developed along I-35," Nelson said. "It was not a predictable process for the person living in Kyle wanting their gateway to their city to be very attractive. It really gives some predictable standards."