Commissioners deny road‑standard variance for Ellis Ranch Manors, ratify preliminary plat with conditions

Ellis County Commissioners on Tuesday denied a variance request from the developer of Ellis Ranch Manors that would have waived the county's post‑September 2023 road standard for a 122.595‑acre subdivision and later ratified the subdivision's preliminary plat with 19 technical conditions.

The variance request, described by county staff as an appeal to allow cement‑and‑lime stabilization rather than the county's six‑inch cement‑stabilized flex base, was opposed by staff. Alberto Matas, senior staff for the Department of Development, told the court the project's geotechnical report shows the county's current standard produces a road section about 33% stronger than the older standard and that the applicant’s justification relied in part on economic reasons — a basis that county regulations bar for granting variances.

"Per the county's regulation, variances cannot be granted on economic gain or loss, or financial or economic hardship," Matas said, and staff recommended denial. Commissioner Stinson moved to deny the variance; Commissioner Butler seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote.

The court then considered a related agenda item to ratify staff action on the preliminary plat for Ellis Ranch Manors, a proposed subdivision of roughly 100 one‑acre lots. Matas told the court the preliminary plat will require 19 technical conditions — including updated street and subdivision names, showings of extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) lines, build lines, and additional engineering details — and noted preliminary plats generally expire 18 months after approval if no civil plans or final plat are submitted. Commissioners approved ratification of the preliminary plat with the listed 19 conditions on a motion by Commissioner Stinson, seconded by Commissioner Grayson.

Why it matters: The denial preserves the countywide road construction standard adopted in September 2023, which commissioners and staff said they apply consistently to all developers to avoid transferring future maintenance costs to county taxpayers. Ratifying the preliminary plat allows the developer to continue toward civil plans and final plat approval, subject to the technical conditions.

Details and next steps: If civil plans and a final plat are not submitted, the preliminary plat will expire in 18 months. Staff advised the court that the developer withdrew the property from Waxahachie’s extraterritorial jurisdiction in October 2023 and that the next steps are submission of civil plans and final plat documents for county review.

Speakers at the hearing included Alberto Matas, senior staff, who presented staff findings; Commissioner Stinson, who moved to deny the variance and later moved to ratify the preliminary plat; Commissioner Butler, who seconded the variance‑denial motion; Commissioner Grayson and Commissioner Ponder, who participated in the votes; and the County Judge, who presided. No public speakers signed up on the variance item.