la Frontera In the News
Round Rock Leader
February 22, 1999
Massive La Frontera wins approval at P&Z
by Jodi Berls, Leader Staff
Round Rock's Planning and Zoning Commission has approved planned development zoning for La Frontera, a mixedused project proposed for more than 300 acres at FM 1325 and Interstate 35.
About onethird of the development will be a 101acre shopping center fronting on the interstate. Plans call for the remaining twothirds to be office space, hotels and highrise multifamily space, possibly with a density as high as 35 units per acre.
Commission members praised the developers' efforts to work with nearby residents in the Chisholm Valley and Blessing neighborhoods before taking their plans to zoning hearings, an effort that meant a large development that includes multifamily housing raised not even a flicker of opposition.
They also made sure a traffic impact analysis that sets out a schedule for building roads was included in the PUD, to try to alleviate the development's impact on the alreadyoverloaded intersection at 1325 and the interstate.
"The intersections are failing at some points," said Amelia Sondgeroth, principal planner for the city. She noted that road improvements inside the development may help divert traffic away from some of the problem areas.
The ultimate solution to traffic on 1325 - State Highway 45 - cuts through La Frontera. But in the meantime, developers said they plan to keep from adding to the load by building roads within their site that can serve as alternate routes.
Trey Salinas, a representative for developers 35/45 Investors, said plans are to begin extending Hester's Crossing Road through the development to connect with County Road 172 this summer, possibly as early as July, to provide an alternate route for commuters heading to work at Dell or other businesses east of the freeway.
"We've got to get the road out to 172," he said.
Heidi Westerfield, a traffic engineer who worked on the project's plans, said the idea is to distribute traffic evenly within the development, so that it won't add to the load on FM 1325. And to assure as even a flow as possible, "no driveways will be allowed on 1325, with the exception of one service drive," she said.
Neighbors, too, praised the developers' efforts to work with them before an official vote set anything in concrete.
"We've been working with them, and we appreciate that," said Phil Kozar, president of the Chisholm Valley Neighborhood Association. "We feel like we can recommend that the PUD occur."
The residents particularly were happy that the Hester's Crossing extension was moved somewhat south of the original planned route to avoid having a major street that backed right up to homes. The developers also agreed to a 100foot buffer zone between homes and the PUD's buildings, 50 feet of which will be landscaped to screen the development from the neighborhood.
Commissioners asked numerous questions of the developers, but voiced no strong opposition to plans for the project.
"I had a little concern about the 35 units per acre," said commission chairman Al Kosik, "but I understand what you're trying to do."
Developers are hoping to attract an upscale, urbandensity multifamily complex to the southern portion of the project.
"That would be a good product to have," Kosik said.
The vote was unanimous, with commissioners Frank del Castillo and Michael Jergins absent.
The zoning change still must be approved by city council.
