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Commission discusses expanding ‘Old Town Manvel’ boundary and easing street-improvement requirements
Summary
Planning staff presented draft amendments to the subdivision ordinance that would expand the original Manvel Townsite boundary and allow existing asphalt roads to remain in the expanded area, reducing the instances where developers must pay for half-street concrete reconstruction.
Planning staff presented draft amendments to the subdivision ordinance that would expand the boundary of the original Manvel Townsite and change development requirements for streets, utilities and lot sizes.
Staff said the current original townsite boundary runs from Cemetery to Large, McCoy and the railroad track north of Bissell; the proposed expansion would extend the northern edge to Lewis Lane and the southern edge to Jordan. Staff said the change would permit the continued use or improvement of existing asphalt roads inside the expanded area rather than triggering the city’s usual half-street concrete reconstruction requirement for developers in those blocks.
Under the draft language discussed, properties up to 10 acres (previously limited to five acres) would be eligible for the original-townsite allowances. Staff said the proposal would also remove water and wastewater provisions that currently allow well and septic in some situations because the city plans to extend public water and sewer lines in the near future; staff said residential lots that remain one acre in size would retain the option of well and septic. The commission discussed potential complications when county right-of-way or jurisdiction intersects subdivision rules and asked staff to consider clarifying variance and review processes.
Commissioners and several attendees emphasized that much of the area under discussion is residential with ditches and asphalt roads that residents prefer to keep. Commission members asked for staff to research prior ordinances (2016 and 2019 were mentioned) to confirm the historic townsite boundary; staff agreed to return with that research and an updated redline before the public hearing.
Staff said they intend to schedule the public hearing in May and then forward the commission’s recommendation to City Council. If adopted, the amendment would change where developers must contribute to street upgrades, and would affect how the city evaluates subdivision variances in Old Town Manvel.
