The Hutto City Council on Nov. 6 approved an amendment to the Stromberg Planned Unit Development that removes a prior 50/50 commercial/residential scenario and moves the project forward under a 90% residential/10% nonresidential configuration, voting 5–2 after a staff presentation and brief council discussion.

Planning manager John Byron told the council the amendment would allow a residential-heavy scenario and noted the PUD document remains the same except for the removal of the 50/50 scenario. "This is a plan unit development amendment," Byron said, summarizing the change and describing the residential mix and proposed deviations staff and Planning & Zoning reviewed.

Council members and staff discussed design transitions between multifamily and adjoining single-family neighborhoods, density questions, and a Planning & Zoning recommendation that revised the residential mix and lowered maximum building heights adjacent to single‑family areas. City engineer Matt Recker and staff showed a concept map and noted that the developer had revised the preliminary plat for the south half to convert what had been planned as multifamily into townhomes, moving the taller multifamily parcels across an arterial away from single-family backyards.

Developer representatives said construction work on the first phase is underway. "We're currently working on the first phase of construction plans. It's gone through 1 round of comments, with Matt and his team," said Seth Merrig, CEO of Grey Civil, the project engineer for Waymaker Ventures.

Before the final signing, Councilor Thompson moved to approve Ordinance O‑2025‑048. Council also explicitly instructed staff to attach an updated concept plan to the ordinance so the record and the signed ordinance match the developer's revised preliminary plat; that instruction was made part of the motion.

The roll call on the amended PUD ordinance was: Mayor Pro Tem Thornton — Aye; Council member King — Nay; Council member Morris — Aye; Council member Gordon — Aye; Council member Thompson — Aye; Council member Porterfield — Nay; Mayor Snyder — Aye. The motion passed 5–2.

Separately, developer consultants presented materials about forming a Public Improvement District for the entire Stromberg parcel; consultant Rick Rosenberg said the PID would cover the whole development and provided early, illustrative financial projections, including estimates of assessed value and an approximate bond program for infrastructure. "The PID is to cover the entire parcel targeted for approximately 1,300 single family lots and 200 townhome units, plus commercial and multifamily, which will be non assessed," Rosenberg told the council. He emphasized the PID presentation was a start to the process: the council adopted a resolution to call a public hearing on the PID so the city can consider the district creation and later review any proposed assessment schedule.

Why it matters: The amendment reorients a large, long‑range development toward housing that will shape school demand, traffic patterns and utility needs. Requiring the updated concept plan to be attached to the ordinance creates a clearer legal record of how the zoning and preliminary plat align, addressing nearby residents' concerns about building heights and buffering.

What comes next: Staff must confirm the revised concept plan is attached to the final signed ordinance. If the developer pursues the PID, the council will hold a public hearing and later review the PID project and financing plan and any proposed assessment schedule before any bonds are issued.

Speakers quoted in this article appear in the city transcript and were part of the presentation or the vote, as cited in the council record.