Waxahachie planning commission recommends approval of Alpine Meadows site plan

Waxahachie’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of SP-68-2025, a site-plan request from Alpine Star Development for Alpine Meadows, a roughly 69-acre multifamily development south of FM 878/879 that will be reviewed next by Waxahachie City Council.

Planning staff summarized the proposal and conditions. Zach, a planning staff member, told the commission the site-plan request covers 74 multifamily buildings and three clubhouses across three phases and that the plan meets current Waxahachie zoning standards for setbacks, parking and landscaping. “This is not a public hearing or a zoning request,” Zach said, adding that staff recommended a condition requiring the amenities for each phase — a clubhouse, pool, sport court and picnic area — to be installed before issuance of the initial certificate of occupancy for that phase.

The requirement drew questions from the applicant and commissioners about construction sequencing. Jake Mento, the developer representative for Alpine Star Development, said the condition as written could force the developer to activate amenities in areas still undergoing vertical construction and asked to work with staff on a sequencing approach that guarantees delivery without creating unsafe on-site conditions. “The request here tonight is to allow us to continue to have those conversations with planning staff and come to a mutually agreeable amount of COs that makes sense,” Mento said.

Commissioners also raised traffic and neighborhood-notice concerns. One commissioner pressed whether an entrance on FM 879 — described as a sharp curve — posed safety risks; Zach said a traffic-impact analysis will be required as part of civil permitting and could identify turn or deceleration lanes or other improvements the developer must install. A resident asked whether the developer had reengaged five homes with frontage on FM 878; the applicant said those property owners were contacted during earlier zoning work but noted that administrative site-plan approvals do not legally require additional public notice.

Staff and the developer discussed tools to guarantee amenity delivery, including tying sequencing to permitting through a development agreement or using escrow funds as a financial assurance. Zach said a development agreement accompanying the council request could address permit and sequencing nuances that fall outside strict zoning review.

A commissioner moved to recommend approval of SP-68-2025 subject to the conditions in the staff report; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes; the item now advances to Waxahachie City Council for final action.

What happens next: If council approves the site plan and the accompanying development agreement, the developer will proceed to civil permitting, including a traffic-impact analysis and coordination on the timing of phase amenities and certificates of occupancy.