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Council tentatively backs Belle Sharkey MUD; allows cementitious siding as a project material
Summary
City staff and Pulte Group outlined a proposed in‑city municipal utility district (MUD) for the Belle Sharkey neighborhood. Council voiced general support to advance the MUD and to permit cementitious siding for this agreement, with staff to draft material standards and agreement language.
Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery briefed the Georgetown City Council on a proposed in‑city municipal utility district for the development currently called Belle Sharkey, located at the northeast corner of East University and Northeast Interloop and inside city limits. He said the developer is seeking MUD reimbursement for wastewater, drainage, streets, parks and a regional trail connection and that the proposal would stay within the council's MUD financial limits (tax rate cap and 25‑year bond maturity).
Dante Montivas, director of land acquisitions for Pulte Group, said Pulte expects the project to include roughly 380–400 homes with a mix of single‑ and two‑story plans, and projected a buildout timetable that begins site work in 2027 with homes delivered from 2028 through about 2033. Montivas said the plan includes nearly 5 acres of dedicated public parkland, a 10‑foot wide regional trail segment and a 1.5‑mile internal natural trail network that connects to private amenities.
The most contested subject during council discussion was a developer request to treat cementitious siding (a fiber‑cement, board‑and‑batten look often marketed under trade names such as Hardie) as an allowed exterior building material for the MUD. Montivas said buyers increasingly choose that elevation and Pulte wants the option to offer those elevations alongside masonry.
Council members questioned whether the material should be substituted for masonry, whether lower‑quality siding could be excluded by specification, and how a material allowance would affect long‑term neighborhood appearance. Nick Woolery said the city's MUD agreement language typically lists allowed building materials rather than using the single term "masonry," and staff can add specific product or quality standards in the agreement.
Several council members favored allowing the siding as part of the Belle Sharkey MUD while keeping a requirement for a mix of elevations so the development does not become homogeneous. One council member urged that, if allowed, staff should specify acceptable product standards so low‑grade siding is not used. The mayor summarized council's general consensus to proceed with the MUD process and to permit the cementitious siding for this particular agreement, directing staff to return with appropriate agreement language and material standards.
Pulte thanked the council for the feedback. No formal vote was recorded during the workshop; staff said the presentation was an early opportunity to get direction before drafting final agreements and noted additional technical details would be worked out with the developer.
The council's next steps are for staff to draft MUD agreement language that reflects the material standards and to return to council for further review as the MUD and development details are finalized.
