Gunter council approves amended development agreement for Platinum Ranch master plan

GUNTER, Texas — The Gunter City Council voted April 29 to approve an amended development agreement that combines the existing Cricket Cross and Platinum Ranch planned developments into a single master-planned community and approved a separate amendment to reserve about 9.7 acres for a joint public safety facility, city staff and public safety leaders said.

City staff presented the amended developer agreement, saying the combined project would include roughly 4,200 single-family detached lots (a mix of 50-, 60- and 70-foot lots), approximately 260 acres of mixed-use land with a maximum of 24 dwelling units per acre in urban-style areas, and about 550 acres of open space that includes floodplain and drainage features. "Cricket Cross is now gonna be Platinum Ranch. It's all gonna be called Platinum Ranch," said Eric, a staff member presenting the plan. The council approved the developer agreement after a motion by Councilmember Cindy and a second by Councilmember William.

Why it matters: the developer agreement ties phasing and infrastructure commitments to the project and to neighboring jurisdictions, and city leaders said that coordination is intended to reduce ad hoc requests for off-site infrastructure later. Staff said the agreement calls for a Public Improvement District (PID) on single-family areas only and a 30% financing/share arrangement referenced by the applicant that will apply across the property. The city manager and staff said road phasing, sewer and lift-station work, and coordination with Mustang Special Utility District (Mustang SUD) and a neighboring city are integral to the schedule and that a traffic-impact analysis (TIA) remains to be scoped.

Developers and staff described the site plan as a six-phase buildout. Graham, a project representative, said phasing will allow construction to begin on later phases before earlier phases sell out; he described an active approach of moving from grading to vertical construction and then to subsequent phases. Eric told the council the buildout could bring on the order of 10,000 new residents when complete, based on the lot count and assumed household sizes.

City officials and public safety leaders also described a separate, related item approved at the meeting: an amendment to the Taylor Ranch development agreement to secure about 9.7 acres for a combined police and fire headquarters. "I'm extremely pleased with the negotiations we were able to come to today," said Captain Kevin Kramer, who described the site as a future headquarters that will ease current capacity constraints. "We're up at eight officers right now for the city of Gunter, and we're about to bust at the seams," Kramer said, arguing that securing property now allows the city to plan for bonds and a building later. The council approved the Taylor Ranch amendment by motion; Councilmember Allen was recorded as the second.

What the agreements say and what remains: staff said the Platinum Ranch plan will replace a prior Municipal Utility District (MUD) approach for portions of the project because those areas will be within city limits, and that the developer agreement will include a map and exhibits showing thoroughfare phasing, timing for off-site road improvements, and responsibilities for sewer and water infrastructure. Staff noted Mustang SUD will participate in water and sewer infrastructure; the city will continue to receive meter fees and certain franchise fees, though the city no longer holds a CCN (Certificate of Convenience and Necessity) for water service. An official referenced an estimated $80 million in infrastructure obligations tied to the development and said costs and participation will be split between the developer, Mustang SUD, and other partners.

Councilmembers and staff flagged outstanding technical steps: refining the scope and timing of the TIA, resolving how school sites shown on the plan will be conveyed or located (staff said historical agreements recorded on title may lock some site locations and the city will seek legal review), continuing coordination with the neighboring city on road crossings, and finalizing PID formation details for single-family areas. Staff said active recreation elements in the original plan (ball diamonds, large active parks) were replaced with more passive parkland, three HOA amenity centers with pools and restrooms, and a connected trail system that includes concrete trails through riparian corridors; most HOA amenities will be privately owned and maintained.

The council recessed into a closed executive session later in the meeting for attorney consultation and reconvened with no further action; the meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.