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Killeen council approves PUD amendment for Preserve at Thousand Oaks over resident objections
Summary
The council voted 5-0 to amend the Preserve at Thousand Oaks PUD to add 73 lots (about 71 net new dwelling units) and permit smaller lot options; staff said the change marginally increases density and aligns with state law and prior negotiations, while residents raised traffic, notification and neighborhood-character concerns.
The Killeen City Council approved an ordinance amending the Preserve at Thousand Oaks planned unit development, a change the city said will add 73 residential lots and increase density from about 3.04 to 3.22 units per acre. The council adopted the amendment on a 5–0 vote after a public hearing.
City planner Wallace Mescher told council that the amendment adds 45-foot lot options with a minimum lot area of 4,500 square feet and shifts portions of the plan from 60-foot and 50-foot lots to more 45- and 50-foot lots. The proposal reduces the number of dog parks in the development from two to one and replaces a single large pavilion with three smaller pavilions placed to avoid removing trees.
Mescher said the planning and zoning commission recommended approval on Nov. 10 by a 3–1 vote; the dissenting commissioner raised traffic-congestion concerns. Mescher also noted Senate Bill 15’s recent change to state law that allows certain parcels to offer smaller minimum lots under defined conditions and confirmed that a new traffic impact analysis (TAI) will be required as part of further development review.
Chris Dossi of Front Rock Builders, the applicant, said the amendment represents roughly a 7% increase in density and would place roughly 100 more homes within reach of affordability while retaining the PUD’s standards. "This amendment represents that," Dossi said, describing negotiations with city staff and the developer’s goal of affordable high-quality homes.
Several residents objected during the public hearing. Michael Fanino said the earlier public outreach drew long comment periods opposed to such density and warned the expansion would stretch police, fire and maintenance services. Resident Melissa Brown said many adjacent homeowners were not notified and described the change as “cram[ming] in a bunch of smaller lots,” urging the council to reject the amendment.
Council members asked staff about connectivity and traffic analysis; staff confirmed additional traffic study will be required and that the area is eligible for the 45-foot option under state law because it meets SB 15 criteria.
With the planning staff recommendation and the P&Z endorsement, Councilmember Segar moved to approve the ordinance; the motion carried 5–0.
