Bastrop council approves revised future land use map with narrow downtown commercial footprint

The Bastrop City Council on May 27 approved the second reading of an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan updating the Future Land Use Map and related text in chapters 2 and 5.

The vote implements a smaller downtown commercial core, converts peripheral mixed-use areas back to primarily residential designations and adds new definitions to protect rural and conservation estate areas. The council approved the measure unanimously after accepting a friendly amendment to reduce the size of a proposed neighborhood‑commercial area to the footprint of the existing Eden East Farm parcel.

The change narrows the Lavender “Downtown Bastrop” designation to concentrate commercial uses in the core downtown and reclassifies much of the former mixed-use area as single‑family neighborhood residential with pockets of neighborhood commercial where staff and council agreed those uses are appropriate. “We scaled that back so that we just identified the key downtown commercial component and then reverted much of that mixture into residential and then pockets of neighborhood commercial,” said Ilda Capricioso, a consultant with HAP Associates, during the presentation of the final map.

Staff told the council the revisions reflect public comment and a multi‑month review process that restarted in November 2024, including joint work sessions, public hearings and multiple map iterations. A city staff presentation noted the intent is a “future” land use guide—what the city wants to see over time—rather than a change to existing zoning. “This is a future land use plan. This is not a current plan,” a staff member said, adding that current zoning and property rights do not change unless property owners seek rezoning.

Councilmembers debated how detailed the map should be in parts of north Main Street and near the Eden East Farm parcel, where concern centered on whether a large salmon‑colored swath would encourage neighborhood commercial development across several parcels. Councilmember Meyer asked the group to reduce the larger highlighted area; Councilmember Plunkett agreed to a friendly amendment to limit the salmon designation to the existing Eden East Farm parcel and its location. The amendment was accepted and incorporated into the final map before the vote.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized that the future land use map does not immediately change a property’s zoning or remove current uses. “The zoning remains until a zoning change is put into place,” a staff member said, noting that property owners retain the right to apply for rezoning and that neighbors are notified under existing processes.

Councilmembers also raised the state legislative context. Staff noted proposals at the Texas Legislature could alter local zoning protest thresholds and that the map is intended to help the city plan infrastructure and preserve neighborhood character as state law evolves.

The ordinance approved was listed in the packet as Ordinance No. 2025‑48 (second reading), amending chapter 2 and chapter 5 of the comprehensive plan. The council approved the final map and related text changes by voice vote; the motion carried unanimously.

City staff said the revised comprehensive plan will be added to the public packet materials and the updated land‑use definitions will guide future planning and staff recommendations on rezoning requests.

The council adjourned other business and moved on to related development and infrastructure items later in the meeting.