Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Kyle City Council heard an improved presentation on Project Sahara from Abby Gillfillan with LionHeart at its Aug. 19 meeting.
Project Sahara, now titled “CityPoint Kyle,” consists of a 99-acre tract situated between County Road 158 and FM 150, which is currently located in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, but the new developers are hoping to annexate it to bring it within city limits, according to city of Kyle chief development officer Melissa McCollum.
“So, with that, all of the kinds of concepts and ideas that they’re incorporating into the development would be refined and really brought forward at a future agenda meeting to discuss all the specifics associated with that,” said McCollum.
Jorge Canavati with ATX Capital began by noting that several developments in Kyle have promised retail, without delivering, which will be different with them, as their “goal is the same as yours: to make this development a true retail hub for east Kyle, with shops, restaurants, services and amenities that residents can enjoy — not just housing.”
Beginning the presentation was Gillfillan. She explained that in terms of transportation, the new Chevo Pastrano Sr. Parkway will run straight through the development and will provide an option for residents traveling south toward Yarrington Road, instead of heading toward the intersection at IH-35.
With this new road, director of Transportation Mike Trimble stated that a traffic analysis estimated between 5-15% of traffic would be diverted to Chevo Pastrano Sr. Parkway once it was built.
“This project is really designed with the intention of having … a place where people can gather,” said Gillfillan. “One of the ways we’re doing that is by integrating the commercial piece with the residential, both the multifamily, as well as the single family.”
An example of this is by working to ensure that infrastructure, such as the Vybe Trail, are not compromised, proposing an option for families to walk and enjoy the parks and amenities, rather than driving, in hopes to foster community. These parks and open spaces would include a 1.5-acre community park — with an indoor meeting space, restrooms and a drinking fountain, covered sport court, playscape and native landscaping — and 7 acres of trails.
Additionally, she stressed that the housing options are to be varied and provide spaces for every age and income level.
Gillfillan stated that despite housing being an important aspect in this development, there are less residential units than what was initially presented to council in January, focusing more on the commercial plan. According to the presentation, there is a 5,000 square-foot increase in the commercial footage at 94,000, compared to the previous 89,000 that was presented.
Within the 94,000 square feet is 70,000 square feet of retail space, according to Canavati, which has been reviewed and revised based on feedback from council in executive session.
This retail area would come in four phases, said Gillfillan: “Seeing those residential units come on at the same time as the retail is important. So, that’s one of the reasons that this is phased out.”
The presentation included more than 20 retailers that the team is pursuing, including: The Learning Experience, Chicken Salad Chick Taziki’s, The Picklr, Kerbey Lane Café, First Watch, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Dos Gatos, 7 Brew, Culver’s, Planet Fitness, ALDI, Joe V’s (H-E-B concept), Lifetime Fitness, Pure Barre, Platinum Fitness and more.
Regarding the residential units, the plan is to include 315 market rate multifamily units, 315 affordable multifamily units, as well as 330 single family homes, both front loaded and rear loaded.
Gillfillan also noted the low impact development and water conservation efforts, such as utilizing the natural drainage, throughout the site.
“There is a significant wastewater extension, as well as we will be asking for city of Kyle water through a [certificate of convenience and neccessity] swap with County Line [Special Utility District],” said Gillfillan. “Talking a little bit about the financing district, the project is asking for a public improvement district (PID). This allows for the project to really enhance some of those public spaces, including streetscapes, the streets themselves, as well as the parkland and some of those major infrastructure improvements are all able to be funded through this public improvement district.”
In discussion, council member Bear Heiser asked how the pricing for the affordable housing would be safeguarded, to which Gillfillan stated that it is done through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, which is monitored and regulated by the federal government.
Because the parks and open spaces are something that everyone in the community and on the east side of Kyle can take advantage of, council member Robert Rizo stressed that there needs to be adequate parking available.
“What’s drawn me to this project, to advocate for it for so long, is because this is probably the first development proposal that will actually relieve traffic more than add it because of the new north/south connector from [FM] 150 straight down,” said Mayor Travis Mitchell. “When we say development should solve the problems that it creates, I cannot think of a better example that I’ve ever voted on than this one.”
Rizo echoed this same sentiment, stating that it is a “win for our city and for the people on the east side of Kyle.”
Council unanimously voted to move forward with the requested agreements and have staff bring back the documents in front of council at a later meeting.
According to Gillfillan, the next steps would be to come back to council in a few months for consideration and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and council.
