The College Station city council took three different actions on three different land use requests at Thursday’s meeting.
The council unanimously approved the largest of the developments, located on the south side of Rock Prairie Road between the hospital and Bird Pond Road. Developers are receiving an economic development package to turn 228 acres into a variety of residential and commercial buildings. Nicknamed College Station Town Center, plans call for multi-story apartments, condos, and age-restricted residences…along with businesses that would include retail and other commercial uses, offices, and assisted living facilities. The council approved diverting the increase in property taxes generated by the Town Center to a separate fund to repay developers for the construction of primary infrastructure such as streets, utility lines, and parks. That won’t happen until the property owner creates at least $50 million dollars of taxable value and add at least 150,000 square feet of buildings that are not residential. The city also agreed to spend up to $15 million dollars approved by voters in the 2008 bond issue to extend Lakeway Drive and Pebble Creek Parkway through the property. Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz says it will be two years before streets will be built, which will precede construction of any buildings. The only issue was the makeup of the management board. Three of the five members are College Station residents while the other two have substantial business interests in the city. The council voted 5-1 to appoint the five as recommended. James Benham voted no because he wanted everyone to be a resident.
At the northeast corner of Rock Prairie and Bird Pond, the council supported another residential and commercial development. But action was delayed for a month in order to get formal agreements for a new sewer line to be shared with the town center and create a buffer to protect a neighboring rodeo arena. The landowner plans on building up to 75 homes along with a small scale commercial area.
And for the second straight meeting, the council denied a request to rezone land for a new housing development. James Benham was the only one supporting the proposal for an estimated 110 homes along North Graham Road from Dowling to near Holleman South. He cited the unattended consequences of moving new home construction outside the city limits.
John Nichols was part of the majority vote, joining neighborhood opposition due to the lack of adequate streets and utilities.
