Kendall County OKs reduced rear setbacks for Highgarden subdivision after contested public hearing

Kendall County Commissioners Court approved a request to reduce the required rear setbacks for the Highgarden subdivision in a 3–1 vote on April 8, after a public hearing in which neighbors, a former commissioner and developer representatives raised drainage and notification concerns.

The court approved reducing the rear setback to 15 feet on Phase 1, Block 1 lots 1–4 and 11–13, and 10 feet on all other lots in Phase 1 and on Phase 2 lots. The motion was made by Commissioner John Carpenter and seconded; County Judge Shane Salazar recused himself from participation on the item.

The decision matters because opponents said tighter spacing and larger house footprints could increase runoff and concentrate flows toward downstream neighbors. Clay Forester of the county engineer's office told the court the subdivision’s engineer concluded the change would not increase impacts to the creek and that the detention pond sizing remains consistent with prior assumptions: "According to the engineers' representation, there will be no increase on the…