The Taylor City Council introduced a request to amend the comprehensive plan growth land and future use designations on 70.2 acres of land near the intersection of Old Thorndale Road and Gravel Pit Road.
The ordinance was discussed by opposing residents in a public hearing at the July 27 meeting.
While residents pushed back during the public hearing portion, the council passed it along by allowing it to be heard. No vote was taken, as it will occur at the following meeting.
“We’re just making it available for future use,” Councilman Robert Garcia said. “We’re not saying we’re going to build anything at all at this time.”
At the July 11 Planning and Zoning meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss the amendment request. Part of the area is for future growth, while another sector is for agricultural areas.
Mike Herzog, of Yupell LLC & Jona Enterprises LLC, submitted the request for the amendment and is the applicant of the land use designation.
“This change is consistent with the current adopted Comprehensive Plan and sup- ports many of the big ideas listed in the plan including fiscal sustainability and infrastructure as well as diverse housing,” he said in the request letter. “This area would be a great fit for a mix of housing to support people with varying income levels.”
Herzog also said the amendment is the first step in a future residential project.
The proposal is for the Control Growth Tier II, which includes infrastructure that is planned but not yet installed or lacks capacity. Water and sewer are available along Old Thorndale Road and Gravel Pit Road, but if the land is developed, upgrades would be needed to the infrastructure.
The proposal also includes Neighborhood Greenfield, which would become new communities with mixed residential uses and neighborhood services.
“For area of minimal change, it retains the existing land use from when the plan was officially made back in 2020,” said Courtney Peres, planning manager.
Notices were sent out to residents, that resulted in one phone call asking for more information. However, several residents attended the meeting to give their input on the proposal.
Gaston Gonzalez, a resident on Old Thorndale, expressed concern over the infrastructure being able to support the development.
“There are just some factors that have to do with if you’re going to put more people in the town, they need to be addressed,” he said.
Gonzalez said there are other issues such as speeding along the road with no immediate response from the police. While the drivers are not the biggest problem, he is worried about trucks with trailers or semi-trucks driving 70 mile per hour along the road.
“If they drive through your house, they’re going to kill everybody inside,” he said.
He also mentioned water pressure and electricity as potential problems once more houses are built. Gonzalez is not against growth, he said it needs to happen because “there is a ton of investment around,” but there are other concerns like fixing streets in residential neighborhoods.
Herbert Brinkmeyer Jr. believes the Planning and Zoning committee does not have adequate information to approval the amendment. He said the agenda packet does not have any indication of the scope of development or the project for the land. “Development of the property is welcome, if it works for the current property owners, the city an the applicant,” Brinkmeyer said. “If done properly, it will enhance the community and protect the property of existing residents.”
Brinkmeyer referenced a previous project by Herzog, in the same area where the adjacent properties are in a FEMA flood zone.
“If we cannot justify these concerns ... flooding is imminent,” he said.
Larry Pelchat said the city is being warned about how the flooding will happen and the impact it will have on residents.
“Our best interests are not being viewed as opposed to some landowner benefiting from this project,” Pelchat said. “I’m fearful of these ... houses being developed because I don’t want to be flooded out of my home.”
Herzog did not attend the Planning and Zoning meeting, which Tom Yantis, assistant city manager, said is not required. Yantis also said there is not an actual proposal for the request.
“They don’t have a development proposal for the property, but before they can move forward to develop and spent the money to develop ... they wanted to know that they would be able to achieve the land use designation that they’re requesting, as well as the growth sector change,” Yantis said.
Yantis explained that before a development proposal can be presented the land use and growth sector designation has to be done first. He also said concerns voiced by citizens would be addressed “several steps down the way” in the development process.
