City Council approves several pivotal projects
HUTTO — Several large development projects that have been in the works got the green light from the City Council at last week’s meeting.
The Stromberg planned unit development, the Kirk Tract annexation and the Texas 130 Mixed Use annexation will all move on to the next steps in their evolution and financing phases.
“Overall, I believe the city continues to move in the right direction and work with developers who are willing to annex into the city and pay development fees, whereas if we tell them ‘no,’ they’ll build anyway, but without any benefit to the city,” Councilman Peter Gordon said Nov. 6 regarding approval of a number of the items.
Officials with the 372-acre mixed-use Stromberg development, located in the city limits just south of the Hutto Megasite industrial complex, requested a change in its planned unit development, or PUD, agreement from 50% commercial and 50% residential to 90% residential.
When the council approved the PUD in August, members left open the option for the change.
City representatives OK’d the request 5-2 with council members Aaron King and Evan Porterfield dissenting. King had previously objected to bringing more residential development into the city.
In August, the developer also asked for the establishment of both a Public Improvement District and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. On Thursday, the request was only for a PID. With the council’s approval, that moves on to a public hearing.
Rick Rosenberg with Development Planning & Financing Group said the developer is planning to build 1,335 single family lots and 208 townhomes. There will also be 21.8 acres of commercial use and 34.5 acres dedicated to three- or four-story apartment buildings.
Rosenberg said the property when completed will have an estimated $680 million assessed value, providing $2.5 million in annual municipal property taxes and $8.2 million in yearly Hutto Independent School District taxes.
In addition, the developer will pay a $5.6 million community benefit fee to the city.
Another project that made its way back to council chambers was the 77-acre Kirk Tract, with officials requesting both a municipal services agreement, or MSA, and annexation.
The development is on FM 1660 South in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
In July, the council voted 4-3 against approving an MSA because the agreement would include providing water to the development.
The property is in the Jonah Water Special Utility District, but Jonah Water does not have a nearby connection so getting water to the development would be expensive and could cause long delays, officials said.
At the beginning of the year, the council resolved to halt expansion of its water services, a decision which ultimately affected the Kirk Tract project. On Thursday, city Planning Manager John Byrum told the council the issue had been resolved.
“There is an ongoing conversation between Jonah water and the applicant. Jonah has finalized that agreement with them so Jonah Water will be serving this site,” Byrum said.
Council members voted to approve both the MSA and the annexation. The property is planned to be a single-family residential subdivision with a commercial tract.
Another extraterritorial jurisdiction project being served by Jonah Water also received approval on its annexation and MSA request. The Texas 130 Mixed Use project, a 41-acre property along the toll road, is destined to become a primarily industrial lot with apartments and commercial uses included.
The development will also include formation of the Epitome Public Improvement District.
PID funds from this project will be used mainly for designing and constructing wastewater facilities to tie into the city’s wastewater infrastructure.
“
“Overall, I believe the city continues to move in the right direction and work with developers.”
— Councilman Peter Gordon
