Council gives conditional approval for subdivision plat
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

The Lampasas City Council last Monday approved a preliminary plat for Diamond Ridge, Phase II, subject to annexation, variances on lot shape, and amendments on setbacks and patio home square footage.

As conditions of the plat, the nine-acre development will be annexed into the city and rezoned from the agricultural category to single family-10. Other stipulations include the approval of variances for wedgeshaped lots in the subdivision and the submission of drainage calculations for review by the city engineer.

The council's conditional approval of the plat also requires Riva Ridge Subdivision to be vacated.

Amendments approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission -- which include a reduction of the 25- foot setback to 20 feet, a rear-entry garage on each lot and a 1,200-square-foot minimum for homes on lots larger than 5,500 squre feet -- will not take effect until March 6, said Deb Williamson, Planning and Zoning Commission chairman.

State vesting laws bind developers to city rules in existence when the property owner begins a development, City Manager Michael Stoldt said. Stoldt said he thought the developer might not be considered "vested" in city ordinances until the annexationi of Diamond Ridge, Phase II, which would be after the amendments become effective.

The city manager said he would seek clarification on vesting requirements and recommended the council approve the preliminary plat subject to verification that parking, setback and home size amendments would apply. If the amendments cannot be enforced, the council can disapprove platting for the subdivision, Stoldt said.

The council also unanimously approved an agreement to allow utility easement acquisitions for the extension of utilities to the new high school on U.S. Highway 281. In exchange for giving the city a 20-foot permanent utility easement and a 30-foot temporary construction easement, property owners will receive one free residential water and sewer tap.

Under the agreement, the city will not annex an easement grantor's property for five years unless the owner requests annexation. If the grantor ceases to use the property continuously and exclusively as single-family residential or agricultural land, however, the city may annex the property before five years.

Although the agreement offers free taps to participating property owners, residents do not have to tie in to city water.

Homeowners Connie Hartmann and Andy Garcia addressed the council, saying they believe utility easements could damage their property and reduce income potential. Ms. Hartmann said she is concerned about damage to her electric gate and about the loss of land she could use to lease storage sheds.

"It is a damage to me and my property," she said.

Garcia said he grew one thousand bales of hay last year and does not want to lose either productive agricultural land or space he could use for storage sheds.

Stoldt said the temporary easements would revert back to homeowners upon completion of construction. Residents may continue their farming activities and may build a parking lot to attract business to their property, he added.

"Council's action tonight does not approve us taking your property," Stoldt said.

Public Works Director Randy Clark said the offers of free taps will benefit homeowners south of town.

"I think it adds to the value of the property (by) having those city utilities available for future property owners," he said.

In addition, the council voted 6- 0, with Mayor Pro Tem John Cole absent, to deny a final plat for Whitetail Crossing, a subdivision planned for an area southwest of the intersection of West Sixth Street and South Rice. Stoldt said the Planning and Zoning Commission already had voted to deny the plat because it did not contain all the information city staff require on final plats.

In other business, the council voted 6-0 to award a bid for $4,009 to PMTS for replacement of a motor for the Hancock Park Golf Course pump station. The motor failed after a water leak developed in a line in the pump house.

One motor still works and is sufficient for the winter, Stoldt said., when ground crews water mostly greens and tee boxes. The golf course will need two functional motors for the spring and summer, though, when the city waters the whole course every night, he said.

Although revenues remain down, the course is starting to attract more players, said golf course manager Van Berry.

"People know that everything is open out there now," Berry said. "The numbers are starting to come back up."

In another item, the council approved an agreement to waive overdue book fines for Lampasas Public Library patrons who contribute one item per fine to the library's Support Our Troops effort. About $1,200 of library materials are at least one year overdue, and Library Director Shanda Subia said she hopes the agreement will convince patrons to return overdue items in good condition.

The council also OK'd two March 10 performances at the Lampasas Municipal Airport by the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus -- a fund-raiser for the Lampasas Lions Club -- and approved R/C Drag Races at the airport on April 19 and Sept. 20.

In his report to the council, Stoldt said the contractor for the Hanna Springs Swimming Pool began work Feb. 5.

"That project should be moving on fairly well," the city manager said.