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Keene council approves rezoning and plats for 24.73-acre Covington Acres multifamily development
Summary
The Keene City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request and both preliminary and final plats for the Covington Acres multifamily project submitted by Kittle Property Group, including two variances; council discussion raised sidewalks and a pending state grant deadline.
The Keene City Council on June 23 unanimously approved a rezoning and associated plats for a 24.7308-acre portion of the Hugh McCollum survey to allow a planned-development multifamily complex. Councilman Foster moved to approve the rezoning, and Councilmember Shaw seconded; council members voted in favor.
The rezoning converts the property at about 2632 East U.S. Highway 67 from C-2 (general commercial, office and light retail) to PD (planned development) based on multifamily zoning. The application from Kittle Property Group included requests for two variances: permitting three-story buildings instead of two and providing four playgrounds instead of five.
The vote followed a public hearing in which a Kittle Property Group representative and the project consultant described changes made to the plan after the gas‑line easement along the site was widened. "It will be 24.7308 acres instead of the original 21.8 acres," Mr. Martin told the council while showing revised conceptual plans. Elena Harsen, identified as a Kittle Property Group representative, told the council, "No. We do not have a sidewalk that runs from the gates to the highway," and said work with TxDOT would be required at the driveway entry.
During the hearing a resident, Johnny Knott, urged the council to reject the development, saying, "I just don't think we should be facilitating the opportunity for people to live in such close proximity to each other." Council discussion noted safety and pedestrian‑access concerns and debated whether to require sidewalks now or seek them later. One council member said the development was awaiting state low‑income housing grant approval and that the funding "will fall through if we do not approve this by the end of this month," a timeline concern cited during deliberations.
After approving the rezoning and variances and authorizing an ordinance to be drafted, the council moved on to related land‑use approvals. The council approved the preliminary plat (motion by Chapman, second by Shaw) and the final plat (motion by Foster, second by Smith); both motions passed unanimously.
Council members and staff noted that sidewalks adjacent to the site and TxDOT coordination remained outstanding items to address during civil‑plan review and later permitting. The council did not condition the approvals on immediate sidewalk construction; staff said sidewalks and other infrastructure could be discussed with the developer during plat and construction review and with TxDOT as needed.
The approvals authorize staff to return with an ordinance for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting and let Kittle Property Group proceed with the next phases of platting and construction review.
