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Commission approves sidewalk variance for Ruby Gardens manufactured‑home community, 4–1
Summary
The commission approved a subdivision variance allowing a proposed manufactured‑home lease community at 2043 County Road 206 in the Manvel ETJ to be developed without sidewalks, voting 4–1 despite staff recommending against the variance citing county right‑of‑way constraints.
The Manvel Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4–1 to approve a subdivision variance allowing a proposed manufactured‑home lease community called Ruby Gardens at 2043 County Road 206 to be developed without constructing sidewalks along the street frontage.
Staff explained the property is a roughly 2.48‑acre tract in the Manvel extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) with frontage on County Road 206, a Brazoria County road that has open ditches and a roughly 60‑foot right‑of‑way and where the county does not permit sidewalk construction within its right‑of‑way. Staff noted the city ordinance generally requires sidewalks along street frontage but acknowledged that because the county does not permit sidewalks in its right‑of‑way and there are no nearby sidewalks to connect to, requiring sidewalks would increase costs and would not connect to an existing system; consequently staff advised against approval but listed conditions to consider if the commission chose to approve.
The applicant, speaking as the grandson and purchaser of family property, described the proposal as a leased manufactured‑home community intended to honor his grandmother (the site name, "Ruby Gardens") and said the development would include an on‑site maintenance manager. "This is her property. I'm her grandson," the applicant said while asking the commission to allow the variance. Commissioners discussed the county sidewalk limitations and future connectivity if surrounding properties developed.
After discussion, the commission voted 4–1 to approve the variance; the transcript records the motion and the tally as four in favor, one opposed. The approval allows the applicant to proceed without constructing sidewalks along County Road 206 under the conditions the commission specified in its motion.
Because the property fronts a county road where the county does not permit sidewalks, the city cannot require sidewalks within the county right‑of‑way; commissioners noted that future development of surrounding parcels could require different arrangements to extend pedestrian connectivity.
