Council approves 82-unit affordable housing PD with condition requiring secondary emergency access

City planning staff and the applicant presented a proposed planned-development zoning to allow an 82-unit, three-building apartment complex on South Watson Road. The project was presented by Jake Mooney (JCM Ventures) and Sally Burchett (Structure Development), who said the development is targeted to households earning roughly $17–$24 an hour and that rents would be mostly between $1,000 and $1,400 per month.

The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval with a stipulation that the applicant explore a secondary emergency access because the only vehicular access lies within the 100-year floodplain. Council members pressed the developers for specifics: Mooney and Burchett described four options—neighbor negotiations to obtain access, purchases from nearby vacant landowners, coordination with parks to use park property, or a more expensive culvert-and-fill crossing to create a secondary access that would require stormwater work and engineering.

Council Member Bridal asked whether the city could make final approval contingent on securing that secondary access. Planning staff suggested the council could approve first reading with the condition and defer final reading until the access is demonstrated. Council Member Boxall moved to approve with a condition that the development provide a secondary emergency access; the motion was seconded and the council approved the amendment and the item.

Applicants told the council they would continue working with TxDOT, fire, neighbors and city staff and that they are confident they can secure a viable secondary emergency access. Staff cautioned that zoning persists with the land even if a development does not occur; the condition will remain with the land and would be enforced for future development.