Councilors Briefed on Proposed 160‑acre RS‑5 Neighborhood; TMAPC Recommended Approval

City planning staff and a consultant presented a concept for a large RS‑5 residential subdivision on roughly 160 acres east of Rosa Parks Elementary and Union Schools, near the border between Districts 6 and 7.

Staff said the concept plan shows approximately 624 lots with a mix of lot sizes and that the TMAPC unanimously recommended rezoning from agricultural (AG) to RS‑5. Planning staff acknowledged receipt of three written letters raising concerns about traffic and wildlife; they said no speakers appeared before the planning commission. Councilors said the site is in a long‑term growth corridor and noted infrastructure planning is under way for road widening and utilities.

Councilors discussed the need for traffic studies and advance coordination on corridor improvements. One councilor said the typical pattern for development in the area is rooftops followed by retail and then corridor widening; another suggested leveraging the development to support a neighborhood market to reduce sales‑tax leakage. Staff said community meetings and mailed notices were planned or underway before council action.

TMAPC’s 9–0 recommendation was recorded in the meeting notes; the transcript shows the council discussion did not include a recorded final vote on the rezoning during the Oct. 15 session. Staff handed out a revised concept plan shortly before the meeting and said the changes were intended to address concerns from surrounding property owners.