The Williamson County Regional Planning Commission voted to allow a gated connection between the King’s Chapel and High Park Hill subdivisions to permit resident access, reversing a prior condition that limited the gate to emergency and utility use.

The commission approved the revised concept plans after staff presented a traffic analysis and recommended conditions, including revisions to HOA documents to require High Park Hill phases 5 and 6 to assume maintenance of Majestic Meadows Drive and provide access easements and other legal documentation before access is granted. The motion, made by a commissioner and seconded, carried by raised hands (6 in favor, 2 opposed).

The vote follows a lengthy public hearing in which roughly two dozen residents and stakeholders spoke. Opponents, including King’s Chapel residents such as Cindy Jennings, said routing traffic onto Majestic Meadows and nearby narrow neighborhood streets would endanger pedestrians and children. “Iona Drive is a very narrow street … it’s not meant for 78 more houses, potentially 150 more cars,” Jennings said, urging use of an unpopulated route to Highway 96.

Supporters — including some King’s Chapel residents and the developer’s representatives — said the gate relocation and accompanying improvements would better distribute traffic and add pedestrian infrastructure. Developer Greg Davis told the commission the plan would relocate the existing gate, add a fence and walking trail, and transfer maintenance responsibilities to the new HOA for phases 5 and 6. “We’re keeping separation between the two communities,” Davis said, and the developer has proposed repaving, sidewalks and other concessions to the neighborhood.

Staff and the applicant cited a traffic study — reviewed by the county’s traffic consultant — concluding that full use of Majestic Meadows by the new phases would disperse peak-hour trips and reduce traffic through other High Park Hill streets. The applicant’s traffic engineer estimated the added trips from phases 5 and 6 would total about 60 trips in the AM peak hour and about 60 trips in the PM peak hour.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on legal and maintenance details. County staff and the developer said the roads are currently owned by the developer and will be turned over to the HOA; the motion’s conditions require the applicant to file CCRs, access easements, a maintenance agreement and other legal instruments clarifying which HOA is responsible for which portions of the road and gates.

The commission attached additional conditions captured in the motion: documentation of the fences, sidewalks, walking trails and timing for repaving and debt relief promises the developer made publicly to neighbors. The record includes a comment that a developer concession involved reduction or forgiveness of an amount described by a resident as approximately $130,000; that figure was raised during public comment and is reported as a claim by a resident.

The commission’s approval of the King’s Chapel and High Park Hill revisions does not immediately change gate operation; the staff conditions require submission and county review of the CCRs, access easements and maintenance agreements before the new access is permitted.

What’s next: the developer must deliver the required legal documents and the revised HOA materials for staff review before access changes take effect.