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Council approves minor Longhorn Ranch plan amendment; developer presents PAD concept that could add up to 1,200–1,400 homes
Summary
Council approved a minor general‑plan amendment for a 16.25‑acre mixed‑use portion of the Longhorn Ranch master plan and heard a detailed PAD presentation. Developer and staff said the full PAD could allow roughly 1,200–1,400 housing units, 29–30% open space and a small neighborhood‑serving commercial hub; council and residents raised traffic, wildlife and land‑use concerns.
The council voted 7–0 on a minor general‑plan amendment that redesignates about 16.25 acres of the Longhorn Ranch site to a mixed‑use hub, and then heard a detailed presentation from the applicant on a larger planned area development (PAD) concept for roughly 83.73 gross acres west of Highway 260.
Nicole (planning staff) framed the amendment as a targeted change to allow neighborhood‑serving commercial uses in a small portion of the master plan, noting staff recommended approval with conditions and that the Planning & Zoning Commission had previously forwarded a favorable recommendation.
Tom Snyder, a planner with EPS Group representing developer Capital Investments, walked the council through the PAD concept. Snyder said the PAD organizes the site into four parcels — single‑family attached, single‑family detached, additional attached units and a mixed‑use parcel of about 16.25 acres. He said the PAD would preserve roughly 29% (about 29%) of the site as open space and included circulation, trails and a village marketplace concept. Based on the PAD, Snyder said, the development’s full buildout could be in the range of 1,200 to 1,400 housing units.
Residents and council members pressed the applicant on traffic, school impacts, wildlife and the kinds of commercial uses that would be allowed in the mixed‑use parcel. One resident asked whether the proposal included a gas station; staff and the presenter said a gas station is not proposed and would not be permitted under the PAD without an additional rezoning. On traffic, staff explained that traffic‑impact analysis requirements are triggered by specific density thresholds: a TIA would be required at a later phase if a phase’s density and roadway impacts meet the trigger; the council asked staff to identify the TIA trigger and return with that information before the next hearing.
Council members also discussed fire and emergency access; staff said required access points and phased roadway improvements would be reviewed as civil improvement plans and that some off‑site roadwork could be required as part of infrastructure commitments.
Next steps: This is the first reading for the rezoning and the council will consider second‑reading action later; staff will provide follow‑up detail on traffic‑impact‑analysis triggers, phasing, and any conditions needed to address access and wildlife concerns.
