Planning commission backs French Hill final plat with park-fee credit and cul-de-sac exception

The Temple Planning and Zoning Commission on a unanimous vote recommended that City Council approve the final plat for the French Hill subdivision (FY‑22‑15‑PLT), a 48.129-acre residential replat proposing 257 lots and nine blocks.

The commission's recommendation follows staff support for two developer exceptions: (1) crediting the applicant’s proposed trail construction against the subdivision’s $57,825 park fee and (2) permitting 41 dwelling units to be served from a cul‑de‑sac where the Unified Development Code limits the number to 25. The commission's action was conditioned on additional right‑of‑way dedication for 40 Second Street to accommodate a planned capital improvement project and is a recommendation only; City Council is scheduled to take final action on Feb. 20.

Cheryl Maxwell, principal planner, told the commission the revised plat enlarges the detention area and alters the street layout after the applicant was unable to secure off‑site sewer and drainage easements west of the site. The sanitary sewer will instead run east across 40 Second Street to tie into the Oak Ridge Phase 2 and 3 lift station, Maxwell said: "The plat was revised to accommodate a larger detention area, which has resulted in a revised lot layout." Maxwell said the 2023 plat had 258 lots and 10 blocks; the revised 2025 submittal reduces that to 257 lots and nine blocks.

Maxwell described the two exceptions requested. The applicant asked to apply a $60,000 estimated cost for a…