Williamson County Schools (WCS) requests consideration of a rezoning proposal for the property located at 9714 Split Log Road, situated along the eastern edge of the City. The property is commonly referred to as the "Foster Property". The requested zone change is from the R-2 zoning district to the SI-2 zoning district.
WCS has entered into an agreement to purchase the property. A closing date is expected sometime around the middle of March. A new kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5) elementary school will be built on the site. WCS also plans to construct a middle school at some point in the future. However, the immediate need in the area is for an elementary school to help relieve overcrowding at Kenrose Elementary School. Original plans were for the new school to open in August 2018 in time for the 2018/2019 school year. However, construction funding delays at the county level may alter this schedule. Modifications to the attendance zones will be prepared to accommodate the new school. Dependent upon the design of the proposed modified school attendance zone plan, it is possible that the new school could also relieve some pressure on Crockett and Sunset Elementary Schools. The timing of School Board consideration of the proposed attendance zone plan will be dependent on construction funding authorization and the timing of the opening of the new school.
The design of the building will be very similar to that used for the existing Clovercroft Elementary school. The two-story school (except for the gym) will have a building footprint of approximately 69,000 square feet and a total building area of 118,000 square feet, along with a capacity of 825 students and approximately 65 staff. The facility will include a total of 46 classrooms (42 general education, 2 special education, one music and one art). Article VI of the zoning ordinance requires that parking be provided at one space per employee plus one space per classroom. For this site a total of 111 parking spaces are required. The submitted site plan shows a total of 213 parking spaces. Internal vehicle stacking lengths for parents dropping off and picking up students are provided as part of the design and should be sufficient to accommodate stacking onsite without impacting Split Log Road.
To help minimize topographic issues and preserve the potential for future development, the new elementary school will be built on the flatter portions of the property to the west, adjacent to Split Log Road. Athletic fields will be located to the north of the school, between the elementary school and future middle school. Access to the campus will be provided via a new drive at the intersection of Split Log and Pleasant Hill Roads. The newly configured intersection will be signalized. WCS has contracted to prepare a traffic impact study (TIS) that will help to determine the improvements necessary to the adjacent roadways to mitigate the traffic impact created by the school. That study has not yet been completed, but is expected before final reading of the proposed ordinance. The TIS will be forwarded to Neel-Shaffer, the City's transportation consultant, for review and assessment of any proposed improvements. WCS is also working to complete a boundary survey for the property, Planning staff has requested a copy of the survey, which will show utilities, easements, structures, etc. currently encumbering the property.
Presently, there is one house located in the eastern portion of the property. According to the Property Assessor, the house includes an area of 3,224 square feet and was originally constructed in 1965. There are also several accessory structures on the property. All structures will be demolished as part of the development of the site.
Bernini Place, in the adjacent Tuscany Hills Subdivision is designated as a temporary dead end street. There are no plans to extend this street into the site. However, it is possible that a pedestrian trail could be installed at the end of the street, which will allow students in Tuscany Hills to safely walk or bike to school. City and WCS staff have had some discussion for such a trail, although the plans for the school site are in the very early stages of development. WCS will be asked to install a sidewalk along their Split Log Road frontage. The City is exploring the possibility of constructing a new sidewalk from the western school property boundary back to the west across the frontage of Tuscany Hills to Tuscany Way which will allow students living on the north side of Split Log Road to walk/bike to school. Please remember that there is an existing multi-use trail along the south side of Split Log Road that will allow pedestrian access to the school via a protected pedestrian crosswalk the signalized school entrance road.
Finally, Water Services staff has completed a water and sewer capacity analysis for the proposed schools and determined sufficient water and sewer capacity exists to support the new schools on this site.
If approved on first reading, the proposed ordinance will be added to the April 4, 2017 Planning Commission agenda for its review and recommendation. Prior to that meeting, the applicant will conduct a community meeting with adjacent property owners within 1,000 feet of the project to explain the proposed rezoning and to answer any technical questions regarding the tract. A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for April 10, 2017, with second and final reading to be held April 24, 2017.
Should you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact the Planning and Codes Director. |