Council moves forward with Stonegate Hines Ranch master plan amendment; zoning change to return site to industrial mix draws debate

The City Council approved a master plan amendment on May 21 to change land‑use plans for the 1,767‑acre Stonegate / Hines Ranch site north of U.S. 395 in Cold Springs, endorsing a revised mix that reduces residential build‑out and re‑emphasizes industrial and commercial acreage. The proposed revision replaces the 2018 Stonegate PUD approach — which had shifted much of the property toward homes — with a plan that the developer says will be economically feasible and will deliver infrastructure, jobs and public open space sooner.

What the council approved: Council voted to overturn the Planning Commission’s technical denial recommendation and adopt the master plan amendment. The City subsequently referred the accompanying zoning map amendment ordinance for second reading and adoption (a separate legislative step). The change would dissolve the Stonegate PUD and map most of the property back to conventional zones: roughly 923 acres for industrial uses, about 386 acres for single‑family (SF‑5) neighborhoods, 55 acres of general commercial, and approximately 404 acres designated parks/greenways/open space in the applicant’s proposal shared with council.

Why the change was proposed:…