Star council approves Serrano Estates subdivision with conditions

The Star City Council on Tuesday approved the Serrano Estates subdivision, a 92.68-acre rezone and planned-unit development south of State Highway 44 that will include detached and attached homes, three commercial lots and roughly 27.3 acres of common open space.

Staff introduced the project as a rezone, development agreement and preliminary plat. City planner Sean told the council the application met the unified development code and comprehensive plan requirements and that staff was recommending approval with conditions. Applicant Becky McKay of Engineering Solutions presented a master plan calling for 108 detached lots, 84 attached townhome lots, three commercial lots and extensive amenities including a more-than-6-acre pond, a pool and pickleball courts. “Our qualified open space is 18.02 acres, or 19.44%,” McKay said, noting the code requires 10%.

Council members focused questions on timing, connectivity and mitigation. McKay said phasing is market-driven, with the Bent Lane extension planned in phase 3; she also said the project’s traffic impact study is under review by ITD and Highway District 4 and that the developer will pay ITD proportionate-share mitigation fees. On landscaping and neighbor concerns, McKay said the applicant prefers open aluminum-style fencing along the southern boundary to maintain a rural feel and will work with Canyon Ditch Company on required drainage easements.

Mayor Chadwick and council members asked staff and the applicant to include explicit public-easement language for sidewalks and multiuse pathways so those amenities remain accessible even where sidewalks fall on HOA-maintained strips. The council also requested an ADA-accessible parking space at the pool amenity. The motion to approve the rezone, PUD, development agreement and preliminary plat included those conditions and passed by roll call; councilmembers recorded their votes as “Aye.”

Next steps call for the applicant to satisfy remaining agency conditions, finalize the development agreement language and return for any preliminary-plat-level approvals and engineering sign-offs required before recording.

The council’s approval does not waive any agency permits or future reviews. Staff said coordination with Highway District 4, ITD and Canyon Ditch Company remains required and that the applicant will need to finalize easements, stormwater and floodplain responses before building permits are issued.