Bastrop planning commission workshop spotlights flooding, housing and trees in proposed B3 code changes

Bastrop — Planning staff and residents sparred on Oct. 30 over proposed amendments to the city’s B3 development code that aim to reduce flood risk, protect trees and steer how the city accommodates new housing.

At a workshop of the Bastrop Special Planning and Zoning Commission, staff framed the package as an effort to address flooding and water quality by tightening impervious‑cover limits, adding on‑site parking flexibility and strengthening tree protections while balancing housing needs. Sylvia (city planning staff) told the commission that the package grew from a year of outreach including past “code rodeos” and workshops, and emphasized that the items remain under discussion rather than final rules.

Why it matters: City staff said high levels of paved and impervious surfaces have increased runoff and flood risk and that the city faces significant drainage and street‑maintenance needs. Staff presented studies and cost estimates cited in the meeting — examples ranged from $20 million for drainage improvements in specific areas to larger, citywide figures presented earlier to council — and argued that reducing impervious cover across new development will limit future flooding and long‑term costs.

Key proposals and staff rationale

- Impervious‑cover caps: Staff proposed lowering residential impervious cover and reducing some commercial caps (staff cited a proposed commercial cap near 65% down from current figures discussed as 80% in some code tables) and returning residential caps toward 50% from a current practice staff described as effectively allowing up to about 60% in many new lots. Sylvia said research presented at the meeting links each 1‑percentage‑point rise in impervious cover to approximately a 3.3% increase in annual flood…