Council approves PUD amendment to locate new fire station, including $567,000 parkland fee

Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the Cherry Knoll/Flintrock PUD to allow a Lake Travis Fire & Rescue station on a 3.09‑acre tract of a roughly 25.949‑acre site at 1567 Flint Rock Road.

Assistant City Manager Rick Goodman introduced the application and said the zoning change (from C‑1 to GUI for a fire station) included several requested deviations: a height allowance up to 50 feet, elimination of a proposed parkland dedication in favor of a fee in lieu, and an allocation of impervious cover. The staff report said the zoning and planning commission recommended approval unanimously.

Dan Brown of Malone Wheeler presented plans showing the station location and access; he described the site as positioned to take call volume off an existing station and to improve coverage for nearby neighborhoods. The application proposed cutting a $567,000 check to the city as a fee in lieu for parkland rather than convey park acreage.

Lake Travis Fire & Rescue Chief Bobby Abbott said the proposed station would reduce response times in the proposed coverage area by approximately two minutes — a change that could matter for medical and fire outcomes. He gave the current average response time for incidents within Lakeway proper over the last 30 days: "5 minute and 2 second response time," and said the additional station would help avoid delays when the single unit assigned to Lakeway is committed elsewhere.

Council members asked few questions and expressed support for the public‑safety rationale. The ordinance (listed on the agenda as ordinance number 2024-11-18-02) was approved by motion and unanimous vote.