Leslie Campbell, a resident, told the Comal County Commissioners Court on Oct. 9 that variances granted for Perslawn development Unit 1 could create long-term safety and accessibility problems for neighborhood residents.

Campbell said the plans approved by the county and engineer’s office included a reduction of a 60-foot right-of-way and a reduction of the front building setback from 25 feet to 20 feet. She said those changes pushed utilities behind the curb, placing manholes and gate valves inside sidewalks and ADA ramps and moving a fire hydrant about 20 feet back from the curb — “well beyond the standard 3 feet,” she said.

“These plans are inconsistent with the county regulations and neighboring developments,” Campbell said, and she asked the court to enforce existing standards consistently rather than allow repeated variances.

Campbell also criticized using a lowered speed limit to justify weaker design standards. She told commissioners that reducing the posted speed from 30 mph to 25 mph had been used to justify tighter curves and shorter sight distances, which she said compromises safety compared with adjacent neighborhoods that maintain 30 mph limits.

The remarks were made during the meeting’s public comment portion; the court did not take formal action on the development during the session. Campbell asked the court and the engineer’s office to address the issues through either consistent enforcement of the current subdivision code or a formal code revision process.

Background and why it matters: Subdivision standards for right-of-way widths, setback distances and sight-line design are intended to protect pedestrian access, emergency response routes and utility maintenance. Campbell said the approved variances create potential conflicts with sidewalks and access to water and fire infrastructure.

No court motion or staff action addressing the variances was taken at the Oct. 9 meeting. Campbell’s statements represent public comment and a request for the court and county engineering staff to either reassert existing standards or propose code changes through the formal revision process.