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Bastrop council holds visioning workshop to guide 20-year growth, urges broader outreach
Summary
Half & Associates presented updates to chapters on land use and growth; council debated land-use priorities (preserve historic downtown vs. accommodate Western-edge growth), and staff outlined surveys, stakeholder listening sessions and next steps including a Nov. 21 Planning & Zoning stakeholder meeting.
Consultants Whitney Linder and Ilda Capricioso of Half & Associates presented chapters 2 and 5 of an update to Bastrop's 2016 comprehensive plan at the Oct. 22 council meeting, outlining a process to refine the future land-use map and seek public input.
The presentation highlighted existing conditions, the role of utility capacity as a growth constraint, patterns of development concentrated along the western corridor, and survey results so far (roughly 80 responses in week one). Consultants emphasized the need for community engagement through stakeholder listening sessions, targeted focus groups (HOAs, developers, schools, natural-resources organizations) and a planned public open house in March. The recommended process includes aligning the future land-use map with the city's capital-improvement program and zoning code.
Council discussion focused on where to direct growth, how to protect Bastrop's historic core and natural resources (impervious-cover concerns were raised repeatedly), and how to improve survey participation and outreach. Councilmember Meyer urged making outreach materials plain-language and hosting a larger community workshop; Councilmember Lee pressed for better survey response rates and proposed stakeholder meetings and joint P&Z workshops. City staff said they will schedule additional Zoom briefings for council and coordinate with chairs and stakeholders to ensure broader participation; planning and zoning and stakeholder engagement sessions were scheduled for Nov. 21.
The consultants asked the council to provide council-specific input on "what is the ideal Bastrop in 20 years" to inform map choices; council members offered a range of views from preserving "authentic Bastrop" to identifying locations appropriate for higher-density growth and infrastructure investment. Staff noted future ordinance amendments related to parking, density, drainage and impervious cover will follow as part of the broader process.
Next steps: staff and consultants will continue surveys and stakeholder meetings, refine land-use map options for future workshops, and return with recommended map changes and ordinance language for Planning & Zoning and council review.
