Planning commission recommends Eden Ranch conservation development with conditions after wide public debate

Commissioners recommended approval Thursday of Eden Rancha proposed conservation-focused residential development after extended presentations by town staff and the applicant, a 90-minute public hearing and a lengthy round of questions from members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commissionrecommended approval of the projectwhich includes 158 conservation residential lots plus nine 2-acre "ag lots," about 147 acres of open space (about 46.6 percent of the site) and a 9.35-acre park dedicationsubject to a set of modifications and clarifying conditions the board and staff negotiated during deliberations.

Why it matters: Eden Ranch would convert roughly 335 acres north of Cross Timbers Road into a gated conservation development that the applicant says combines larger home lots, orchards, community barns and grazing areas with a public park and trails. Supporters called it a rare conservation-oriented project that preserves large open spaces and a park site fronting FM 1171; opponents said the proposal contains too many exceptions to the town'09s conservation standards and that traffic, tree removal and undefined nonresidential uses could harm nearby neighborhoods.

What the commission recommended and why - Recommendation. The commission separately recommended approval of the Eden Ranch thoroughfare/master-plan amendment (MPA) and recommended approval of the plan development (PD) with a set of modifications. The motions were passed by roll call vote. - Key conditions. Commissioners asked staff and the applicant to: (1) explore the feasibility of a right-turn/deceleration lane on FM 1171 at the main entrance (to be coordinated with TxDOT); (2) require any accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to obtain a specific-use permit rather than be allowed by right; (3) prohibit livestock on lots of 1 acre or less; (4) require emergency-access gates to be built to the minimum town standard and be usable by emergency services; (5) require natural screening buffers between any nonresidential uses on the ag lots and adjacent residences; (6) set front- and rear-yard minimums at 30 feet; (7) hold maximum lot coverage to 25 percent; (8) restrict trees credited as…