Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning And Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Denton trustees approve St. Mary’s Addition preliminary plat but require full cul‑de‑sac and sidewalks
Summary
The Board of Trustees approved the preliminary plat for the St. Mary’s Addition on Feb. 12, 2025, contingent on zoning changes and without the developers’ requested waivers for sidewalks and the cul‑de‑sac; the board also adopted Ordinance 25‑2‑1 to reduce minimum single‑family lot size from 12,000 to 11,000 square feet.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Denton on Feb. 12 approved the preliminary plat for the proposed St. Mary’s Addition, subject to required zoning changes and with no waivers for sidewalks or street standards.
The approval followed multi‑hour discussion about two waiver requests from the developer: one to omit a sidewalk along West Denton Road because of steep terrain and drainage, and another to allow a reduced, 35‑foot‑diameter cul‑de‑sac at the west end of 6th Street instead of the subdivision standard of a 90‑foot paved surface within a 100‑foot right of way. Village engineer Craig Bennett (Miller and Associates, via Zoom) told trustees the stormwater runoff from the proposed subdivision “has not been detained” and presented alternatives including a hammerhead, offset temporary turnaround, or a looped private circulation.
Why it matters: the board’s conditions require the developers to show a full cul‑de‑sac and sidewalks on the north side of the subdivision before final approval, addressing emergency access, pedestrian safety, and long‑term infrastructure standards for the village.
Trustees and public commenters pressed the developers on safety, drainage, and cost. Several residents asked whether grants could pay for sidewalks and whether impact studies had been completed. Scott Mickle questioned runoff and asked about impact studies; Jen Lemley said she was “concerned about safety at the dead end of 6th Street.” Developer William Jefferies told the board he had not built a subdivision of this size before and warned that if the project could not proceed the parcel might remain a church; Jefferies said the project could “potentially bring a 10 million dollar increase in value to Denton.”
After the public comment period and a request that the developers supply two cost estimates for sidewalks, paving of the 6th Street portion off St. Mary’s Avenue, and the full cul‑de‑sac, trustees voted 4–1 to approve the preliminary plat subject to zoning changes and with no waivers (Ayes: Amanda Fangmeier, Trent Wheatley, Joe Hobelman, Doug Rosekrans; Nay: Ryan Osborn). The motion to approve the preliminary plat was made by Trustee Trent Wheatley and seconded by Trustee Doug Rosekrans.
Related zoning action: the board also considered and adopted Ordinance 25‑2‑1, an amendment to the Village of Denton’s 2007 Zoning Ordinance (Section 5.07.06) that reduces the minimum lot size for single‑family detached dwellings from 12,000 square feet to 11,000 square feet. Developers Tim Aschoff and William Jefferies said the smaller minimum lot size would help fit more lots in the property. The clerk read the ordinance title aloud; the board approved introduction and the first reading, suspended the second and third readings, and then approved the ordinance. Trustee Ryan Osborn voted against the ordinance in roll calls recorded during the meeting.
What’s next: the developers agreed to withdraw the waiver requests and submit a revised plat showing sidewalks on the north side and a full cul‑de‑sac with a 90‑foot paved surface within a 100‑foot ROW, and the board asked staff to obtain two cost estimates for the sidewalk and cul‑de‑sac work before final plat action.
Other business: DCAC representative Melissa Dittmer told the clerk the DCAC would repair the community scoreboard. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
