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Court rejects groundwater variance and denies drainage variance for Mustang Estates; approves limited design variance
Summary
Commissioners denied a requested groundwater‑availability waiver and did not approve a drainage variance for Mustang Estates (Lots 1–7 Block D), citing liability and water‑supply uncertainty; they approved a separate design‑standards variance contingent on property owner funding road upgrades.
A set of variance requests for Mustang Estates (Precinct 4) drew close scrutiny from the Commissioners Court on June 22. Developer representatives asked for three variances covering design standards for streets, a waiver of the groundwater‑availability report for seven one‑acre lots, and a drainage variance. The court approved the street design standards variance after confirming the property owner will provide material and funding for road improvements under the county donation policy.
By contrast, the court rejected the groundwater waiver and did not approve the drainage variance. Terry Holm of Hugo Reed & Associates said the statutory waiver may apply for subdivisions of ten lots or fewer if credible evidence of adequate groundwater exists, presenting two nearby well reports; commissioners pressed on liability and the county’s responsibility if wells on new lots fail long‑term, noting that a county signature effectively ties the county to a 30‑year water supply determination. The motion to approve the groundwater variance failed (0–5). Road and Bridge recommended against approving the drainage variance, and commissioners said allowing the drainage waiver could establish an undesirable precedent; the court declined to approve that variance as well.
