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Midlothian approves small zoning change to move two neighborhood amenities earlier in Hills development
Summary
City council approved an amendment to Planned Development 185 that allows two amenity areas within the Hills subdivision to be completed earlier in the build-out schedule and caps when the largest amenity center must be finished.
The Midlothian City Council on July 22 approved an ordinance amending the planned development schedule for the Hills subdivision (Planned Development 185), allowing two smaller amenity areas to be completed earlier and setting a firm completion deadline for the main amenity center.
Under the approved change, Building permits are capped for the large Amenity Area 1 until that area is finished or until Oct. 1, 2029, whichever comes first; if Amenity Area 1 is not complete by that date the city will suspend further permits and inspections. The amendment also requires that no phase-3 permits may be issued until Amenity Area 4 and Trail 2 are complete, and that no phase-2 permits be issued until Trail 1 is complete. Two other amenity areas (Area 2 and Area 3), which include playgrounds and courts, will be constructed earlier so those facilities will be available when the first homes are sold.
The change alters the original schedule that had required all amenities to be completed prior to issuance of most building permits. Planning staff and the applicant explained the adjustment reflects the development’s phasing and site geography: Amenity Area 1 is outside the earliest construction footprint, so moving Areas 2 and 3 forward better serves the first-constructed neighborhoods and avoids leaving completed lots without nearby facilities.
City planner/staff member Clyde described the geography and the proposed sequence, saying the applicant’s request keeps the same overall park dedication and amenity levels but changes the order in which the amenities are built. The developer said Amenity Areas 2 and 3 can be built with on-site infrastructure earlier than Amenity Area 1, which requires building permits tied to road, water and sewer construction.
Council members asked whether the change reduces the total number of amenities; the applicant and staff said it does not, it only reorders their completion. The ordinance was unanimously approved 6-0.
The ordinance preserves the development’s existing park-dedication obligations and phasing limits; the applicant remains responsible for completing the main amenity center no later than Oct. 1, 2029, or facing a suspension of permits. Council and staff said the amendment is intended to provide amenities to the earliest-constructed neighborhoods while protecting the city by retaining a deadline and permit suspension mechanism.
The council did not revise other zoning or land-use provisions for the PD, and staff noted no change to the development’s total land use occurred as part of this amendment.
