Belton council vacates undeveloped Spanish Villa plat and approves Mill Valley final plat

Belton City Council voted to vacate the undeveloped portion of the Spanish Villa subdivision and approved a final plat that splits the 22.67-acre parcel into two tracts.

Planning staff told the council vacating rights of way, easements and lot lines for Lots 128 through 212 will allow a replat that formalizes an existing regional stormwater detention facility the city acquired in 2021. The planning commission unanimously recommended the vacation, though staff noted eight residents testified in opposition at the planning hearing citing concerns about traffic, privacy, impacts to schools and wildlife.

The final plat for “Mill Valley” designates Tract A for the drainage easement and Tract B as a tract eligible for future disposition only if council chooses. Staff said the final-plat sheet included in the packet was missing the ownership signature block; the surveyor will add the signature block before recording. The planning commission recommended the final plat 7–1 and staff recommended approval.

Council members asked whether splitting the property into two tracts would lock the city into a particular future use and whether conservation designation was possible. Staff replied the tract designation does not prevent the council from later directing further subdivision or conservation; Tract B would need additional subdivision review before any development could occur. One council member noted previous rough estimates at planning commission suggested the tract could hold roughly 10–12 homes if developed, but staff called that a speculative figure tied to a future RFP.

After questions from council and a brief discussion, council voted to approve both the vacation and the Mill Valley final plat. The action permits staff to proceed with the replatting and to add the required signature block for recording.