Council approves rezoning for Southwest Crossing property over resident objections; staff says request matches future-land-use plan

KILLEEN, Texas — The Killeen City Council voted May 6 to rezone roughly 21 acres in the Southwest Crossing area from agricultural to R-1 (single-family) and RT-1 (townhouse/single-family attached), a step staff said is consistent with the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

The applicant, Welltex Investments on behalf of EAS Investments, sought approval to develop a mix of single-family lots and townhomes on a tract located northeast of Wells Fargo Drive between Stagecoach Road and Turkey Trot Road. Staff told council the property lies within the city’s “residential mix” place type on the future land use map and that the requested zoning supports plan recommendations to diversify housing and build “complete neighborhoods.” Staff estimated the proposal could yield roughly 54 single-family lots; parkland dedication requirements were estimated in staff slides at roughly $184,800 based on those assumptions.

At the Planning & Zoning Commission, the application was recommended for approval by a vote of 3–2; commissioners opposing the motion said they worried about density and community opposition. At the council meeting, multiple residents spoke in opposition citing concerns about traffic on local two-lane roads, drainage and emergency-services capacity. Several council members asked staff about the need for traffic and drainage analysis; staff said the parcel’s zoning request does not individually trigger a traffic impact analysis under city thresholds and that drainage and plat-level stormwater detention will be addressed during subsequent plat and engineering review.

The council debate focused on balancing the comprehensive-plan land-use framework, housing supply goals and residents’ concerns about traffic and public-safety resources. Council member Boyd moved to approve the rezoning; the motion carried with recorded votes in favor and against on the council floor. Staff noted the applicant will still be required to submit subdivision plats, drainage plans and construction permits; plats that meet city subdivision standards are not discretionary and would be approved by staff per the city’s rules.

Opponents urged more incremental, lower-density development and asked council to require larger lot sizes; proponents and staff said the proposal fills the comprehensive plan’s envisioned residential-mix blueprint and provides additional homeownership options. Ending

With zoning approvals in place, the applicant may next submit subdivision plats and engineering for entitlement and construction; staff said subsequent submittals will include stormwater detention and other infrastructure requirements prior to final permits and construction.