Council abandons section of Holly Hill Cemetery Road and approves PD zoning for private golf course

Granbury — The City Council voted 6–0 to adopt two actions tied to a proposed private golf course and associated development south of Porter Court: (1) Ordinance 26‑35 abandons roughly 1,220 feet of Holly Hill Cemetery Road at the request of adjacent property owners, and (2) Ordinance 26‑36 rezones 259.485 acres at 1010 Holly Hill Cemetery Road from interim holding to Plan Development — Residential Estate (PDRE).

City staff said the roadway was originally constructed decades ago and was never formally dedicated; as a consequence the land under the road surface is now claimed by adjacent owners. “This road was built in the 40s and 50s and was never dedicated to the county,” Cody Nolan said, explaining that no county deed ownership was found and that the applicants propose a cul‑de‑sac configuration and emergency access to address safety concerns.

Representatives for the applicant, including an engineer from Baron Hampton Brown Engineering, said they had worked with Granbury ISD transportation and the volunteer fire department on access that would include a Knox Box for emergency responders and paved connections to maintenance facilities. The applicant estimated heavy maintenance traffic — about 400 daily trips by golf carts and maintenance crews — as a reason to formalize the abandonment and construct turnaround access.

Multiple residents at the hearing urged the council to require sidewalks and additional public access in conjunction with the abandonment and future platting. “If we’re going to abandon this road that we use to travel, that you give us some sort of way to get off of [Loop] 567 — it’s pretty dangerous,” resident Jacob Marorrow said, requesting sidewalks on the loop. Another resident, Lewis Andress, said elderly family members frequently use the road and urged improvements to left‑turn access into Porter Court.

Staff replied that the platting and engineering review that follows zoning will address sidewalks and turn lanes; staff noted the city’s development process requires sidewalks as part of final plat engineering unless a legitimate topographical issue justifies relief. After discussion and assurances that emergency access and cul‑de‑sacs were coordinated with the HOA and local agencies, council adopted both ordinances by recorded votes of 6–0.

What happens next: With the abandonment and PD zoning approved, the developer will complete preliminary and final platting and engineering; those submissions will specify sidewalk locations, any needed turn lanes on Loop 567 and the design of emergency access and cul‑de‑sacs that staff and the HOA described.