Planning and Zoning recommends Future Land Use and zoning changes for 2.923-acre site at 329 Ammon Road for city water tank

The Fair Oaks Ranch Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 9 to recommend that City Council amend the Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map and rezone about 2.923 acres in the southern portion of 329 Ammon Road, Kendall County, as “community facilities,” a designation the city says is needed to site an elevated municipal water storage tank.

Jessica Relucio, city planner for the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, told the commission the city purchased the property on June 16, 2025, completed annexation with City Council approval on Sept. 4 and is pursuing a two-step process: first the Future Land Use Map amendment, then a zoning change aligning zoning with the map. Relucio said the proposed “community facilities” designation is intended for large-scale civic uses such as governmental, educational and utility facilities and that the proposed use is an elevated storage tank for municipal water.

Relucio summarized the notification steps required by the Unified Development Code and the city’s public-notice procedure: mailers to property owners within 200 feet were sent Sept. 19; a newspaper notice ran Sept. 21; a website notice went live Sept. 22; and a sign was posted on site Sept. 23. She said the next step is City Council’s public hearing and possible first reading of ordinances on Nov. 6, followed by a final reading on Nov. 20.

Commission discussion was brief. Commissioner Eric Beilstein asked about adjacent infrastructure in the City of Boerne; Relucio pointed to the adjacent pink-striped area on the map and said Boerne is proposing a pump station and ground storage tanks in that corner. Commissioner David Horwath and others noted the city’s earlier plan (discussed in 2023) had placed a planned tank inside Stone Creek Ranch but that opposition had led to relocation. Commissioners asked about additional pipeline cost to connect the new location to the city’s system; Grant (city staff/engineer) said, “there is a pipeline required to tie into the city's water system… there is going to be an additional cost,” and added he did not have an off-the-top estimate available.

Chairperson Bobby Barnes read into the record that Commissioner Bobby Valley (not present) had sent written comments strongly supporting approval of the items. No members of the public signed up to speak during either the Future Land Use Map or the zoning public hearings.

Formal action followed the staff presentation and discussion. Commissioner Linda Tom moved to recommend approval of the Future Land Use Map amendment and the motion carried unanimously (five ayes, zero opposed). Later the commission moved and seconded a recommendation to rezone the same 2.923-acre area to Community Facilities; that motion also passed unanimously.

What happens next: the commission’s recommendations will go to City Council. Relucio said Council will open public hearings and may act on first readings on Nov. 6, with final readings scheduled for Nov. 20. The city has not provided a final project cost estimate; staff said pipeline and site work needs will add cost but did not specify amounts at the meeting.

The commission record and staff presentation list the primary purpose of the change as securing site designation for municipal water infrastructure and to “preserve and protect surface and ground water resources” and to ensure civic buildings are placed on prominent sites in alignment with Comprehensive Plan goals.