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Planning board recommends Magnolia Creek Phase 3 PUD despite residents' traffic concerns
Summary
The Crestview Planning and Development Board recommended City Council adoption of Ordinance 20-14 to rezone 22.27 acres for Magnolia Creek Phase 3 (52 single-family lots). Staff said the project locks density at about 3 units per acre; nearby residents raised traffic, sidewalk and access concerns.
The Crestview Planning and Development Board on Jan. 2026 recommended that the City Council adopt Ordinance 20-14, a rezoning request to allow Magnolia Creek Phase 3 to proceed as a planned unit development with 52 single-family lots on roughly 22.27 acres.
Planning staff member Nick told the board the application, received Oct. 9, 2025, had addressed major comments and would result in an effective density of about 3 units per acre. He said the PUD would permit narrower lots down to 40 feet and reduced side setbacks of 5 feet, and that a substantial portion of the site borders wetlands. "All major comments have been addressed, and no substantial changes to the site development plans are expected at this time," Nick said. He added that the developer provided a traffic report that did not require operational roadway improvements, and that a mobility fee will be assessed for each home as construction proceeds.
Neighbors urged caution. John (Jack) Lynch, who said he lives at 137 Steeplechase Drive and has been in the neighborhood about 29 years, asked whether the cumulative traffic from Magnolia Creek phases 1–3 and nearby apartments had been fully evaluated and raised safety concerns for pedestrians and children in an area without continuous sidewalks. Milton Harris of 141 Steeplechase urged the developer to provide an additional exit, asking, "Why do those people have to take Steeplechase? Why don't this developer create another exit?"
Board members asked staff to follow up with the fire marshal about secondary-egress thresholds and confirmed that rezoning to the PUD would lock the project at the proposed unit count unless the developer returned to the board seeking a change. After discussion, Mister Wirtz moved to recommend Ordinance 20-14 to the City Council, Mister Midlock seconded, and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote; the chair declared the ayes carried.
The recommendation advances the rezoning to the City Council, which must act for the rezoning to take effect. Staff noted fees associated with the rezoning were $750 and that the city expects future ad valorem, building-permit and utility revenue from development. No operational roadwork was required by the developer's traffic report, and a sidewalk feasibility study for Steeplechase has not yet been completed.
