Schertz wrestles with amending the city’s comprehensive land-use plan

Developer Scott Felder Homes requested Schertz change its master plan that covers 363 acres on Trainer Hale Road near FM 1513. Felder Homes wants to build detached single-family houses on smaller lots and, in fact, has proposed to build approximately 1,000 homes on the land in a subdivision to be called Sterling Grove.

Under the current future land use plan, written in 2002 and updated in 2013, that property could only be considered for agriculture conservation consisting of five-acre minimum lots reserved primarily for farm and ranch uses or “estate neighborhood,” single-family homes on lots of at least a half-acre in size.

Four property owners currently hold the land: Wiederstein Trust Fund (166 acres), Valier Hartmann and Brian Beutnagel (78 acres), Brycap Commercial Properties (69 acres), and Kneupper Bryson Properties.

While that area of southern Schertz has traditionally been rural, in the last two years the city has approved two comprehensive land use plan amendments to allow the development of Saddlebrook Ranch with 636 residences proposed and Carmel Ranch with 131 homes planned, explained Megan Harrison of the Schertz Planning Division.

“With the recent amendments, we have seen a shift in the southern Schertz area,” she said, a shift away from farmland to the development of residential neighborhoods. Faced with that precedent, city staff recommended approval of the change.

Of the 24 citizens who spoke at the public hearing, slightly more than half did not agree that southern Schertz needed new homes. Several pointed to promises they say were made to them in 2001 when the area was annexed into the city of Schertz. Others predicted increased flooding and massive traffic jams in their rural area.

Steve Penshorn, who described himself as a “fifth-generation agricultural resident of southern Schertz,” said that in 2001, “we farm and ranch owners were assured, at each step of the way, our agricultural heritage and way of life was of significant value to Schertz and that, when housing development came, it would be spacious, with large lots and that we would have a voice in the process.”

It now appears, he said, that by attempting to amend the land use plan, “city council is sidestepping any obligation to invite us to the conversation. I don’t like that.”

Charging that Felder Homes would build minimalist, small housing, resident Reagan Rowe who said his family has held nearby land for more than 100 years, told the council, “What you are doing is cheapening everything else around it. That’s not what we thought we were promised in development from Schertz.”

But others, including several members of the Wiederstein family, strongly supported the change, saying new housing was needed in Schertz and asking council members to allow them to sell their land.

Council members themselves were clearly divided over the issue, citing the rights of current landowners to sell their land as opposed to the desires of existing residents’ to maintain a rural “country life” existence.

“There are two different sets of dreams here,” Councilwoman Jill Whittaker summed up, “and unfortunately, we can’t make all of the dreams come true.” City Council, however, has to look at the city as a whole and what is best for the entire city, she added.

This issue is a question of opportunity, Whittaker noted, pointing out that no developers have appeared wanting to build estates on two- to five-acre lots. But Felder Homes has stepped up with its proposed neighborhood development plans. Offering an amendment to the land-use plan is part of the process the city employs to include citizens in land-use decisions, she said.

The ordinance on its first reading passed five to two with council members Rosemary Scott and David Scagliola dissenting. A second and final vote is scheduled for Jan. 25.