Leon Valley commission approves replat to relocate Samaritan Drive for Seneca Hill Trails

The Leon Valley Planning and Zoning Commission on July 22 approved a replat to establish off‑site street and drainage improvements for the Seneca Hill Trails single‑family subdivision, including moving Samaritan Drive and removing portions of existing utility easements at 6530 Samaritan Drive in Bexar County.

The replat covers about 1.6 acres and establishes a new public right‑of‑way and drainage easements, according to planning staff. Commissioner discussion and applicant comments said the developer will construct the new Samaritan Drive to meet current city construction standards; once the city accepts the improvements, the city will assume ongoing maintenance responsibility.

The item drew questions from commissioners about the extent of the street relocation, utility easements and whether the replat changes the number of lots in the approved master plan. Planning staff said the replat does not change the number of lots and that the request was found in “substantial conformance to chapter 10 subdivision regulations.” The city notified nearby property owners as required; staff said 31 letters were mailed and no responses were recorded as in favor, opposed or undeliverable.

“Once it’s constructed and accepted by council, the city will be responsible for future maintenance,” planning staff said during the presentation. Brooke Lindholm, the consultant engineer from Pape Dawson, told the commission that the roadway relocation was part of the originally approved master plan and planned development approvals: “This roadway relocation is part of what was proposed with the original master plan and the PD approvals. So this has always been part of the game plan.”

There was some disagreement in the meeting about how far the relocated roadway will be moved from the existing, informal drive. One participant described the shift as “not far, it’s about a 10 to 15 foot shift.” An applicant representative later described keeping a roughly 10‑foot easement for existing utilities while “we’re pushing Samaritan Drive about maybe 80 to 100 feet” toward the drainage to place lots on both sides; that speaker said the existing informal drive is only a makeshift path now and will be replaced by a formal 50‑foot right‑of‑way.

Staff and the applicant clarified that the replat is limited to moving the street alignment and plotting drainage and easements; it does not change the number of residential lots shown on the approved master plan. Planning staff and the city engineer recommended approval.

A commissioner moved to approve the replat as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The commission did not record a roll‑call tally in the meeting transcript. Planning staff said the commission should expect the next phase of the development to return to the commission at the next scheduled meeting.

Key technical and procedural details discussed at the meeting: the replat will remove portions of 14‑foot and 28‑foot gas, electric, telephone and cable television utility easements as shown on the proposed plat; the new street will be a 50‑foot right‑of‑way; developer performance bonds were referenced as the developer’s responsibility; and the replat required a public hearing under the city’s replat rules.

The commission closed the public portion of the item after applicant and staff comments and approved the replat. Commissioners and staff said follow‑up site review or field visits could be arranged for commissioners who wanted to inspect the existing conditions in person before future phases are considered.