P&Z against Belterra development changes

Belterra Commercial De- velopment appealed to the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission for a second amendment to its first amend- ment on its agreement with the City of Dripping Springs, at the commission’s August 28 meeting.

P&Z expressed frustration with what was termed as the sands shifting yet again with Crescent Belterra TX, LLC on its initial agreement with the City, and voted 5 to 1 to rec- ommend denial of all changes listed. This denial vote came despite the fact that Belterra had provided a number of representatives at the meeting to explain and answer questions about the various desired revisions.

The changes requested included: Raising certain hotel and multi-residential building heights, allowing any building con- struction material under current fire and building codes, allow- ing an automobile repair facility, extending length of buildings, allowing accessory structures to be located within building set- backs and separation boundaries, utilizing a refuse valet service instead of following refuse facility location requirements, and al- lowing up to 27 units per acre for multi-family use.

P&Z Commission Chairman Mim James asked, “Why all these changes?” After the vote, however, he properly advised Belterra’s developers that even though P & Z had voted not to recommend approval to the City, “ You may bring your request before the City Council, and appeal to them for the changes.”