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City staff brief council on new state rules and local 'small lots' ordinance; alley-loaded lots discussed
Summary
City staff explained how Texas Senate Bill 15 affects local lot-size rules and described the city’s recently adopted small-lot ordinance that allows 30-foot lots in certain circumstances if alley-loaded; staff discussed tradeoffs including street and alley pavement and parking.
KILLEEN, Texas — City planning staff briefed the council Tuesday on implications of Senate Bill 15 and recently adopted small‑lot provisions in the Killeen code, focusing on where 30-foot-wide lots may be allowed and design tradeoffs for alley‑loaded development.
Staff summarized SB 15, which became effective Sept. 1, and said it prohibits a city from requiring a residential lot on applicable property to be larger than 3,000 square feet, wider than 30 feet or deeper than 75 feet in certain circumstances. Staff explained SB 15 applies to tracts of five acres or larger that are not platted and are in areas zoned for single-family homes; the law also exempts land located within 3,000 feet of an airport or military base. Staff cautioned that each development proposal will be evaluated at submission to confirm statutory applicability.
The council adopted ordinance 25,046 on Aug. 19 to provide for small lots: 40-foot lots remain allowed in conventional development patterns, while 30-foot lots are allowed when lots are alley-loaded. Staff explained alley-loaded development shifts garage and driveway access to rear alleys, enabling narrower front streets and higher lot yield. Examples shown by staff indicated alley‑loaded layouts require more combined pavement (a narrower front street plus a rear alley) but can increase lot yield by an estimated 67%–100% compared with conventional 50–60-foot lots.
Staff said proposed local design standards for alley-loaded small‑lot development would include a 28‑foot front street with parking on one side and a 15‑foot rear alley. The city held stakeholder meetings with local builders and developers in late August and September; attendees included representatives from Lennar and the Central Texas Home Builders Association. Staff said conventional development is typically less walkable and yields fewer lots, while alley‑loaded patterns increase walkability and curb appeal but involve different maintenance and service considerations.
No formal action was required at the meeting; staff sought council direction and said detailed development proposals would be evaluated under the statute and adopted ordinance.
