Planning commission approves Rancho Lago rezoning but denies single-side sidewalk variance

The Midlothian Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved a rezoning request for Rancho Lago (PD 187), a proposed 248-acre residential development north of FM 1387 at Hays Road that would yield roughly 600 single-family lots and dedicate 54 acres for a community park.

Staff told the commission the plan would provide 151 lots in the west area and 449 in the east area for a net density of about 2.72 dwelling units per acre and meet the comp plan's low- and medium-density modules. "There are 600 single-family lots on the 284 acres," staff said during the presentation, and staff recommended approval because the proposal is compatible with future land use and surrounding zoning. The applicant team described an amenity center, pocket park and a network of trails centered on an existing soil-conservation lake.

Commissioners questioned timing and access for amenities, how density was calculated with floodplain and park dedications, and the amenity center's limited parking. Developer Mike Collins of Bloomfield Homes said the west area will be developed first and estimated roughly five years to complete infrastructure and initial sales, adding the developer will work with the city on a development agreement for Hays Road and park construction. "During that five year period of time, what our expectation would be is that the city would be constructing Hayes Road," Collins said.

A final point of contention was a requested variance to allow sidewalks on only one side of some local streets. Staff explicitly recommended against that variance. After public comment and deliberation, a motion to approve the PD per staff recommendation but deny the sidewalk variance (requiring sidewalks on both sides) passed by a 5–1 vote with one abstention. The motion also included the standard development conditions on screening, lot transitions, architectural variety and timing for amenity construction.