BRENHAM PLANNING AND ZONING APPROVES AMENDMENT TO VINTAGE FARMS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

  

Brenham Planning and Zoning Commissioners approved a pair of items relating to the Vintage Farms subdivision at their meeting Monday.

Commissioners approved an amendment to the subdivision’s planned development district, pertaining to 52.4 acres of land south and west of Dixie Road and north of Muscadine Trail.  The amendment allows the developer, Ranier and Son Development Company, to revise its plans for a retention pond and build a community park.

Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said permit requirements from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), paired with development timelines, meant the developer had to opt for a dry pond instead of an amenity pond.

 

In the wet pond’s place, the developer plans to build park amenities within 13 acres of dedicated greenspace, including covered playground equipment, a pavilion, a dog park, park benches and walking trails, all of which would be maintained by the Vintage Farms homeowner association (HOA).  Doland noted that the dog park would be located at the furthest point away from homes, next to the retention pond and near the bulb of a cul-de-sac.

The dog park will be gated and will only be open to residents.  The motion of commissioners upon their approval included a request to add gate codes to the park.  The retention pond will have controlled release at pre-existing conditions or less.

In a related item, commissioners approved a residential replat of four lots in Vintage Farms and the dedication of right-of-way to extend Trellis Pass, for a total of 0.689 acres.  The replat will turn the four lots into three and dedicate right-of-way for a punch-through of Trellis Pass to connect the 52-acre tract with the existing first phase of the subdivision.

Some residents expressed concerns about traffic, with one saying Muscadine Trail is being used as a cut-through by travelers on Highway 36 North who are trying to get to Dixie Road while avoiding the red light at the intersection of Blue Bell Road.  Another resident was worried about traffic causing safety issues for children and the elderly in the neighborhood.  Doland said two four-way stops will be added, one at the intersection of Trellis Pass and Muscadine Trail, and the other a block north at the intersection of Trellis Pass and Lake Ridge Drive.  She said the stops should help slow traffic crossing through the intersections and deter cut-through traffic.

Also on Monday, the commission held a workshop to discuss allowing a car wash as a specific use.   After discussion, the consensus of commissioners was to allow car washes on a case-by-case basis.  Their recommendation will be passed on to the Brenham City Council, who will discuss the matter at their meeting Thursday.

The commission also approved a zoning change from mixed residential to commercial, research and technology use for 0.99 acres of vacant land at 1408 North Park Street.  The property owner, Brion Webb of WBT Investments, LLC is seeking to rezone the property to match the current zoning of vacant land to the south that he also owns.  The rezoning allows the land to potentially be part of a 2.2 acre commercial development.