A 53-lot subdivision on the edge of Midlothian city limits that was moved forward earlier in July continued to divide city leaders at the City Council’s July 22 regular bi-weekly meeting.
After two tied 3-3 votes each to confirm and deny, the logjam was finally broken as councilmembers voted 6-0 to deny without prejudice a planned development for a proposal known as Highland Village, on the south side of West Highland Road and east of Mockingbird Lane.
A denial without prejudice simply means the applicant can resubmit a proposal immediately and not have to wait a required six months for a resubmission.
Mayor Pro Tem Clark Wickliffe presided over the meeting in place of Mayor Justin Coffman, who was not present.
A similarly-split Midlothian Planning and Zoning Commission had approved the development at its July 15 meeting but only after two tied 3-3 votes. The approval there was secured only after a condition was added to extend a stub-out on the south side of the subdivision connecting to another development.
Applicant Chris Oliver stuck to maintaining the stub-out before the council, reiterating the adjacent property owner’s objection to a connection with Hayfield Road and noting that the subdivision as planned already has three points of access.
Lots range from between o.6 acres to one acre in size, which meets the city’s future land use plan for the area. However, the development only met five secondary amenities required by the city, with a minimum of six needed to satisfy city code. Oliver said several secondary amenities have been added since the P&Z meeting, but not in time for presentation to the City Council.
Each lot would be served by a septic system. City director of engineering and utilities Mike Adams told the council that the city normally has a 1-acre requirement for septic, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality actually sets the minimum at 0.5 acres. Adams added that a septic system could become problematic if a resident, for example, decides to add a swimming pool.
Oliver told the council that the goal of the development was to cut down on costs and provide a more affordable option for homebuyers.
In other items, an amendment to a planned development was unanimously approved changing the schedule to amenity developments to the Bluebonnet Hills subdivision. The 314-acre development lies generally north of U.S. Highways 67 and 287, and south of Auger Road.
Additionally, Wickliffe presented a proclamation declaring July as Parks and Recreation Month in the city.
