A 500-acre development that includes a full 18-hole golf course could soon be coming to the rolling hills of Driftwood.
On July 10, the Dripping Springs City Council approved phase one of the site development plan for Discovery Land Company’s planned golf course. The development spans the Ranch Road 1826 and FM 967 intersection to the southeast and northwest.
See map: Driftwood_Golf_Course_PPT-6
In addition to the golf course, Discovery Land Co., a development company that specializes in luxury private club communities both nationally and internationally, plans on the development to have a mixture of residential and retail components. The property will also coaexist with the Driftwood Project, a massive development overseen by Salt Lick BBQ owner Scott Roberts.
“The Driftwood community is very important to us and we are keeping Roberts’ dream alive,” said Don Bosse, vice president for planning and entitlements at Discovery Land Company. “We will have roughly 124 housing units and no higher than 17 percent impervious cover.”
Although the site development plan for the golf course was approved by council, the development is still in its preliminary stages. The approval of the site development plan will allow Discovery to begin shaping the golf course.
The city will provide water through the West Travis County Public Utility Agency, which already provides water to parts of the area. Wastewater will be treated by the city, contingent on how quickly permits are issued for its treatment system expansion.
“The development will help the city accomplish its goals with treated effluent reuse,” said Ginger Faught, Dripping Springs deputy city administrator. “There will be a 15,000,000 gallon pond on the development, which will be used as storage for the city’s effluent, and will help meet obligations made out in the permit.”
The water stored in the pond can then be used to water the golf course and landscape, all while providing additional storage space for the city, she said. The city is actively negotiating the utility and development agreements for the property.
However, a few citizens shared their dissent with the project.
Terry Tall, who lives a mile out from the project, urged council to stay vigilant throughout the planning process, as the project runs through Onion Creek and is within the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.
“We’ve been impressed by the quality of the project,” said local resident Ester Snyder. “But with the cuts and elevation in the golf course, how will this affect runoff? We don’t want chemicals or pesticides from the water coming to our properties. We just urge you to stay on top of all of that as this goes forward.”
The News-Dispatch reached out to Discovery Land Company for comment for more information about the development, but the company declined comment at this time.
