A proposed amendment to an existing agreement between Mountain City and developers of the Anthem subdivision could alter the scope of the project.
Following the city of Austin’s purchase of 250 acres of the Anthem property, developer Clark Wilson seeks to reduce the number of homes in the subdivision from 2,200 to 1,600. The proposed amendment also included plans for condominiums in future phases of the project.
Following the city of Austin’s purchase of 250-acres of the Anthem property, developer Clark Wilson seeks to reduce the number of homes in the subdivision from 2,200 to 1,600. The proposed amendment also included plans for condominiums in future phases of the project.
On Monday, the Mountain City City Council postponed a vote on the proposed amendment to allow its legal team to review the changes at the cost of Clark Wilson Homes. A public meeting, and possible action, on the amendment is scheduled for Feb. 28.
Wilson said several key aspects of the amendment include nixing language for a proposed wastewater treatment plant, as well as obtaining water from the Middle Trinity Aquifer.
In 2017, the city of Kyle approved plans to extend water and wastewater service to the Anthem subdivision.
Preliminary plans for Phase 1A, 1B and 1C of the project have been filed with Hays County. Wilson said construction within Phase 1A is slated to start by March, with total build-out of the phase taking anywhere from two to three years.
But Wilson said his team had been in negotiations with Austin for several weeks to address their proposed purchase.
Wilson said Austin officials had originally proposed to purchase approximately 500 of the 673-acre development. Following negotiations, Austin settled on a 250-acre tract that will become a conservation easement for aquifer protection.
Terms of the deal are unknown at this time. However, the purchase allows for connection between the Ruby Ranch and Dahlstrom Ranch conservation easements.
Wilson said Austin’s move led officials to possibly plan for 600 fewer homes. Anthem, located in Mountain City’s Extraterritorial Jursidiction (ETJ), is expected to be completed in approximately three phases. The development is slated to possibly have an elementary school, as well as an amenity center, parkland and a mixed-use commercial element.
Wilson said the proposed 10-year total build-out could be shortened by two-years, if the amendment is approved.
But part of the “ask” to Mountain City was to approve detached condominium elements in Phase 2 and 3 of the project. Wilson said the request was part of a product Brookfield homes seeks to include.
The exact number of condos that will go into Anthem is unknown at this time. Officials said while there could be areas in the subdivision with a possible 10-acre lot for condos, it won’t change the 6,000 square-foot lot requirement.
Officials with Clark Wilson homes said the condo design element could allow for fewer trees to be cut down, as well as to promote improved streets.
However, Mountain City leaders cautioned against high-density subdivision with small streets, such as in Plum Creek. Clark Wilson Home officials said streets could range from 30 feet with parking on only one side, to 36 feet and parking on both sides.
“As long as I’m sitting in this chair, and you’re sitting in those chairs, this is going to be nothing like Plum Creek,” said Mountain City Mayor Philip Taylor.
