Pflugerville officials discuss rezoning changes for Lakeside Meadows project
The Pflugerville City Council on Tuesday began initial discussions regarding several revisions to the 420-acre Lakeside Meadows project south of Lake Pflugerville.
The mixed-use development project will include single-family homes, townhomes and a multifamily development. Portions of the project also include an industrial campus.
The revisions include the rezoning of approximately 61 acres of the development’s corporate campus area, roadway changes and modifications to density and height requirements. Developer James Kerby said the revisions would allow for the project to maintain an urban style to adapt to market demands changes since the project’s initial approval a year ago.
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Based on the proposed revisions. the corporate campus area would be rezoned to campus industrial. Kerby said the revisions are necessary as the market demand for office buildings is much lower than when the original project was approved.
Some council members expressed concerns that the rezoning is not necessary to maintain an urban style and does not fit the original vision of the project.
“We are concerned that as people are driving to Pflugerville, are they going to see these big type warehouse buildings?” said Council Member Ceasar Ruiz. “That just projects an ugly image of Pflugerville. We are very mindful of that.”
Developer Grant Hromas with Northpoint Development said that if the revisions are approved, they would plan to hide what is considered back-of-house facilities to put the best face forward.
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Other revisions include road changes such as maintaining the current Pflugerville Parkway alignment and ensuring connections to Texas 130 and Weiss Lane via other roads. Additionally, the revision would allow for the construction of a bridge or tunnel across Pflugerville Parkway to facilitate pedestrian crossing without disturbing traffic. As the development is expected to extend to Hidden Lake Elementary, north of Pflugerville Parkway, some council members expressed concerns there might be dangers for children crossing the street.
To support the urban design of the development, proposed height and density requirements were increased. Mixed-used commercial zone density would increase from 28 to 45 residential dwelling units per acre with a minimum building height of four stories. Single-family homes in the area would have a minimum density of 10 per acre, city staff said.
The development will still maintain its original intent to provide a mixed-used development with a diversity of housing, employment and commercial uses in a walkable environment, city staff said.
The council postponed voting on the revisions until its next meeting on Jan. 25 so city staff could address some of the concerns.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville officials discuss rezoning changes for Lakeside Meadows project
