Little Elm council tables vote on rezoning of 10-acre parcel after residents press concerns about trees, traffic and lot sizes

The Little Elm Town Council on March 4 tabled consideration of Ordinance 18‑02, a proposal to rezone about 10 acres north of U.S. 380 and Oak Grove Parkway for a 50‑lot single‑family planned development, after a public hearing that drew more than a dozen residents who said the project would remove trees, worsen traffic and reduce privacy.

The applicant is proposing a planned development based on SF‑4 standards to allow 50 single‑family homes and about 1.17 acres of open space on roughly 10 acres. Town planner Miss Oka told the council the project proposes reduced setbacks and lot widths, preservation of some trees and a capped tree‑mitigation payment; post‑Planning & Zoning revisions also limited height along the east side to a single story and 25 feet.

Why it matters: residents said the project would eliminate a significant tree stand that buffers existing homes in Hillstone Point, increase congestion on narrow two‑lane neighborhood roads and put two‑story homes close to existing back yards. Planning & Zoning recommended denial 5‑1; the council moved to table the item so staff, the developer and residents could negotiate potential changes.

Several homeowners urged the council to preserve the eastern tree stand and to require single‑story houses along the property line…