GUNTER, Texas — The Gunter City Council on Oct. 17 opened public hearings on a voluntary annexation of roughly 62.1 acres and on zoning changes for the same planned-development project, but continued both hearings for a later meeting after receiving no public comment.

City staff described the annexation as part of a process tied to a developer agreement approved in a prior meeting. The zoning concept presented would create a planned development (PD) that includes single-family detached housing, green space and open amenities, floodplain preservation and a small neighborhood commercial area reserved within the PD. Staff said formal action on zoning will be taken at a later meeting and that tonight’s item was intended to receive public comment and present exhibits for review.

Separately, staff presented a preliminary plat for three lots at the corner of Preston and College Street. The plat would create two rear lots that rely on a mutual-access easement for frontage and one front lot that includes floodplain that will need to be addressed during development. Staff noted that TxDOT has raised driveway spacing concerns and that, while informal correspondence indicated TxDOT was generally willing in principle to grant a driveway permit, a formal permit letter is still pending. The developer plans to submit a driveway permit application after platting. Staff said additional instruments, such as drainage easements or amended plats, may be required during later plan-development stages.

No council action was taken on the annexation, zoning or plat at the Oct. 17 meeting. Council continued the hearings to a future special meeting date and directed staff to provide exhibits and any outstanding permit correspondence for the next session.

Next steps: the city will continue the annexation and zoning public hearings at the scheduled special meetings, and the developer will submit a driveway permit application to TxDOT once the plat is recorded.