Kerrville council unanimously denies annexation of 263-acre tract near SH‑173

The Kerrville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to deny Ordinance 2025-03, a proposal to annex approximately 263 acres adjacent to State Highway 173 and establish a mix of R‑1 and R‑2 residential zoning for a new subdivision.

The measure would have brought property described as portions of the William Watts and David Chouchard surveys inside the city limits, adopted a service plan for the land and set zoning for the site. City staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval after the commission amended the request to a combination of R‑1 and R‑2 by a 4‑1 vote.

Planning staff presented a map showing about 17 acres proposed as R‑1 adjacent to the Comanche Trace development, roughly 3 acres of riverfront property intended for an amenity area, and the remainder as R‑2. Applicant representative Ashley Fairmont said the preliminary plan could accommodate up to about 1,150 homes, with R‑1 lots about 50 feet wide averaging roughly 6,200 square feet and R‑2 lots about 45 feet wide; all lots were described as a minimum of about 125 feet deep. Fairmont said the developer — identified in the record as "Doctor Horton" — anticipates a 10-year buildout and is expected to fund on‑site infrastructure, including a principal arterial and drainage improvements required by the city's master thoroughfare plan and engineering reviews. Fairmont said: "So, yes, there will be significant costs for the infrastructure for this community... That Doctor Horton is responsible to build the infrastructure for the water, for the sewer, for the drainage, and the traffic improvements as well." (Ashley Fairmont, attorney, Killen Griffin and Fairmont, on behalf of the applicant.)

At the public hearing, nearby property owners and residents urged denial. JC Wheatcraft, representing family-owned land that shares boundary lines with the proposed site, said traffic on Highway 173 is already hazardous: "Adding more traffic from rezoning this property to R‑1 or R‑2 would only worsen this danger. By approving this proposal, you're risking lives and putting public safety in jeopardy." Fred Hennecke and Krista Lovett, adjacent property owners, cited similar concerns about traffic, drainage and wildfire risk near parkland. Jerry Wolfe and another resident pressed the council on water supply, noting multiple large residential projects already approved or under construction in the area and warning of strain on aquifers and source water.

Council members said the application raised unanswered questions. The mayor said the city was being asked to annex land before receiving specific commitments: "We are asked to annex a property, and we don't even know the specifics of the project... In my opinion, this is putting the cart before the horse." Council members repeatedly cited water supply and traffic capacity — and the limits of local authority over State Highway 173 — as reasons for caution. Councilwoman Hughes said long-range housing goals remain a priority but added that the city should pause large annexations until water-planning questions are resolved.

After discussion, a motion to deny Ordinance 2025-03 passed unanimously.

The denial leaves the property outside Kerrville's corporate limits. Planning staff noted the parcel had no current city zoning because it sat outside the city; the applicant and staff may return with revised proposals in the future.