Parks board approves Southside Hills phase 1 plat and accepts 11.6‑acre park donation

The Rockwall Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously to approve the final plat and site plan for Phase 1 of the Southside Hills subdivision and to accept an 11.6‑acre park in lieu of some cash‑in‑lieu land fees.

Travis, Parks staff, told the board the project covers 284 single‑family lots on a roughly 262.94‑acre tract and that the developer’s fees would have totaled $524,641.72 (cash‑in‑lieu land fees of $996.38 per lot and pro rata equipment fees of $851.45 per lot). "The applicant will be donating an 11.6 acre park in lieu of paying cash in lieu land fees," Travis said, and the applicant is proposing approximately $1,250,000 in park improvements, which staff said "substantially satisfies the pro rata equipment fees."

Staff described planned amenities including an 8‑foot concrete hike‑and‑bike trail, playground, plaza, covered pavilion, picnic areas, landscaping, a lake overlook and a rock‑skipping station. Travis said certain routine maintenance (mowing and landscape) would be handled by the HOA while city park staff would maintain concrete trails and major playground/pavilion equipment per city specifications.

Board member (speaker 2) moved to approve the final plat and associated fee assessments; the motion was seconded and the board chair called the vote. The board approved the final plat and later approved the site plan and acceptance of the donation, both by unanimous votes.

The board packet indicates the donation and amenity commitments are to be constructed and installed to city specifications; staff said the developer will return with detailed design documents during the design phase so installations meet city standards. The board’s approval is a recommendation to city council for acceptance of future public improvements and for any related council actions.