Residents returned to inquire and seek clarity about the Hat Creek Estates development at the March 12 Pilot Point City Council meeting.
“We do not wish to slow growth,” Simon Kenward said during the public hearing. “We ask for responsible growth, and with considerations taken for those of us who are the local residents and property owners who will be most impacted by this development.”
He also posed several questions related to development, including an influx in traffic, lighting standards, landscape, construction and drainage protection.
City Manager Britt Lusk delivered a presentation to further discuss the questions and answer inquiries from both the public and the council regarding the development agreement between the city of Pilot Point and Blue Norther for the Hat Creek Estates development, before the council was set to vote on it.
“This already had a development agreement,” Lusk said. “It was already good to go. They could have done exactly what they wanted to do with what they had. They wanted to make it a little bit better.”
Lusk addressed comments regarding Walcott and stated that, because it’s a state road, there are limitations.
However, he added that the city is working with a floodplain engineer to conduct drainage studies.
“We’ve actually had a huge meeting already with TxDOT, the county, and the city, and our state representative to try to bring together all of those stakeholders to try to make Walcott’s drainage better, to try to make the road better,” Lusk said.
A similar concern about roads, railroads, emergency services and traffic impacts from the development was discussed, and both residents and the council mentioned their concerns.
“Chief Hudson and Chief Cox have already been studying this area to find out where the next fire station could be that would serve this in case of a train breakdown on railroad tracks that cuts off all of our entrances or ways across the track,” Lusk said.
Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Ambrosio suggested alternative solutions to traffic, such as seeking grants, creating a bridge to mitigate congestion and reaching out to the railroad system.
“With the new growth, with the new stuff coming onto the tax rolls, it actually helps fund some of those solutions, and so it actually helps us throw money at a problem that we know that we have and we know is existing,” Lusk said.
The council approved the resolution with two amendments: “a perimeter fence not less than 8 feet and fences constructed of pressure-treated lumber or better,” as said by Ambrosio.
Community Services Director Darrell Gentry outlined new and modified recommendations to Chapter 10 of the Unified Development Code in a presentation that discussed regulations for issues such as traffic, signage, landscaping and stormwater management.
The updated code will be the standard for the city and for properties annexed into the city limits, and the council can propose modifications to it.
Gentry indicated there is no immediate deadline as the council takes time to be thorough.
“I do want to read it, and I want to understand it from a citizen’s standpoint or from a developer’s standpoint,” Mayor Chad Major said.
A proposition was suggested to create a workshop toward the end of the process to educate the public and to coincide with the meeting for the developers to review changes.
What followed were several amendments to the code ordinances that the council approved, including updating protection standards for the public water supply well to prevent water contamination by aligning with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requirements.
Along with amendments to parking, included a “no parking zone” along the north side of Liberty Street, where the Starbright Center for Performing Arts is.
That was approved after the owners raised safety concerns for students who attend the center.
Also in the meeting, a discussion was opened regarding an “intergovernmental relations program and legislative priorities for the Texas Legislature,” with Lusk talking about why it’s needed.
“It seems like each legislative session, we get more and more legislation that impacts cities and looks to lessen our local control,” Lusk said.
The council gave its support, as more will be discussed in preparation for the next legislative session.
The plan is to educate the public about the impacts of state legislation on the community, including infrastructure, the environment, transportation and growth.
Lusk said that, in doing so, the hope is that residents vocalizing their concerns to elected representatives will prompt them to take more notice.
“One size doesn’t fit all,” Lusk said. “What’s good for Austin, what’s good for Houston, what’s good for Dallas doesn’t mean it’s good for Pilot Point.”
