Planning commission denies one short-term rental, approves another and asks city council to hold off on downtown WPDD until water, stormwater and parking issues

Wimberley Planning and Zoning Commission members on a series of votes on an otherwise routine agenda denied a conditional use permit (CUP) for a vacation rental at 1830 Flight Acres, approved a CUP for 120 Hoots Holler, denied a CUP for 2215 Spoke Hollow, and asked City Council to delay action on a proposed Wimberley Planned Development District (WPDD) for 320 Wimberley Square until unresolved stormwater, rainwater reuse and parking questions are addressed.

The decisions came after staff presentations and extended public comment, including several neighbors who said river access, traffic and deed covenants were central concerns for the Flight Acres and Spoke Hollow items. The WPDD for the former Cypress Creek Café site drew the longest discussion, with commissioners and residents pressing the applicant for clearer engineering and water‑reuse commitments before a final recommendation to council.

The commission opened public comment on Case CUP25‑001, an application for a non‑owner‑occupied short‑term rental at 1830 Flight Acres Road. Planner Nathan (staff) told commissioners the parcel is 0.828 acres and the applicants, Richard and Julie Steinbrink, requested a maximum occupancy of eight guests. Nathan said the property had been a grandfathered short‑term rental in the past but had lost that status after a period of non‑use and was properly noticed for this CUP request. Neighbors who live on or near Flight Acres, including Chris and Amy Lyles, told the commission the neighborhood faces repeated intrusions by rivergoers who cross private property to reach deeper water and that renters frequently leave trash, are loud and do not respect private boundaries. The Lyles told the commission they regularly ask people to…