Developer seeks demolition at 151 Old Kyle Road; commissioners press to preserve possible heritage oak

Developer Holden Highlander told the Wimberley Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 11 that he has submitted updated drawings for a proposed demolition and reconstruction at 151 Old Kyle Road and asked for feedback while the 60‑day demolition stay runs its course.

The item is before the commission as a certificate of appropriateness request for a property in the city’s historic preservation overlay; under the city’s process a 60‑day stay is already in effect and the commission cannot determine the demolition request until that period ends. The applicant showed elevations, a revised site plan and renderings and discussed material choices, removal of some railings and a change from pier-and-beam to slab‑on‑grade foundation that reduces building elevation.

The question of a large oak on or near the parcel dominated the hearing. Highlander said an independent survey measured the oak at 23.5 inches in trunk diameter, and he asked whether that half‑inch keeps it from qualifying as a “heritage oak.” Nathan (staff member) told the commission he had not taken the measurement issue to city council and said staff would prepare an ordinance to modify design guidelines while following the demolition process already adopted in ordinance form:…