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BASTROP — Bastrop’s Planning and Zoning Commission covered a lot of ground during a brief but packed meeting May 29, including new housing projects, commercial growth and a call for new commissioners.
Only five members attended the meeting, just enough to meet the requirement.
“Thank you for showing up, you barely made a quorum today,” said James Cowey, Bastrop’s director of development services.
Cowey opened the meeting by announcing that Commissioner Jimmy Crouch had stepped down, leaving the commission short two members. He encouraged others to help recruit replacements.
“Get two people to volunteer to be part of your great group,” he said.
Two municipal utility district proposals were passed by the board. Both involved plats in The Colony MUD, located in Bastrop’s extraterritorial jurisdiction—Section 4, which includes more than 31 acres with 89 residential lots and two non-residential lots, and the 29-acre Section 5 with plans for 106 residential lots and four non-residential lots.
The commission also approved the first phase of the Valverde subdivision, a 178-unit development on 35 acres west of Texas 969.
“This one is in the city, has city water and sewer and Bluebonnet Electric,” Cowey said. “They’re going to keep extending backwards. It is the phasing of a subdivision.”
Commissioners asked about through roads, lot sizes and whether the homes in the developments would be considered affordable housing. Cowey said prices would be in the typical $200,000 to $300,000 range.
In his monthly update, Cowey announced several new commercial projects in Bastrop. A Longhorn Steakhouse is being built at Burleson Crossing East, and a Sprouts Farmers Market and PetSmart are set to open east of Lowe’s. Fiesta Tortilla, a commercial tortilla factory, will also move into Bastrop’s industrial park on Technology Drive, according to the commission.
Concerns from the community about tree removal at the First National Bank headquarters were also addressed. Cowey said the removed trees were not growing well and had caused drainage and pavement problems.
He assured commissioners that a master landscaping plan is in place, including tree replacement, irrigation and overall beautification.
