Commission recommends approval of Heritage Grove rezoning and future‑land‑use amendment after neighbor concerns on drainage and septic

The Keller Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4–3 Tuesday to recommend that City Council approve a rezoning and a future‑land‑use amendment for a proposed eight‑lot subdivision called Heritage Grove.

The applicant, represented by William Solomon of Sumamande Capital, asked to rezone roughly 7.22 acres at 8733 Indian Knoll Trail from SF‑36 (36,000‑square‑foot minimum lots) to SF‑30 (30,000‑square‑foot minimum) and to change the future land use plan designation from low‑density single family (36,000+ sq. ft.) to medium‑density single family (15,000–35,999 sq. ft.). The applicant’s concept plan shows eight custom lots, a single gated access from Indian Knoll, a detention pond in the southwest corner and a proposed minimum dwelling size of 4,000 square feet (the SF‑30 base zoning minimum is 2,400 sq. ft.).

William Solomon described the proposal as an infill, gated community of large custom homes and said the developer’s intent is homes in the 5,000–7,000 square‑foot range and a price point “$2 million and up.” “We have no interest in smaller lots,” Solomon said, adding that the design includes high‑quality materials and a single point of access to reduce new driveway cuts onto existing streets.

Neighbors who live on Indian Knoll, Legacy Court and Clara Lane opposed the rezoning and FLUP amendment during the public hearing, citing repeated storm drainage problems on the slope behind their properties; concerns about septic systems and distances required for aerobic systems; and worries about increased traffic on existing no‑outlet streets. Multiple speakers said they would accept 30,000‑square‑foot lots but opposed anything denser. “Smaller lots on that land with more houses would only make those [drainage] problems considerably worse,” resident Connie Coleman said.

Staff told the commission the future land use plan is a visionary document and that zoning is the legal entitlement; the two applications were considered together but are separate actions. Sarah Hensley said the applicant has provided preliminary utility and drainage plans and that the project, as proposed, intends to extend city sewer to serve the new lots rather than rely on on‑site septic.

Commission debate focused on drainage, sewer service and neighborhood character. Commissioners were told the developer proposes a detention pond sized to detain additional runoff from impervious surfaces and that City engineering review would require drainage calculations demonstrating “no adverse impact” to downstream properties; details are handled during civil plan review if the zoning changes move forward. The commission also discussed whether the applicant could already create eight lots while retaining SF‑36 zoning; staff said it may be technically possible but would require separate platting and infrastructure plans.

The commission recommended approval of the rezoning (motion passed 4–3) and separately recommended approval of the future‑land‑use amendment (motion passed 4–3). Both recommendations will be forwarded to City Council, which is scheduled to consider the items on March 18.

The applicant and neighbors were encouraged to continue working together on design details, drainage calculations and frontage/landscaping treatments ahead of the council hearing.