Killeen Council approves PUD amendment for Rosewood Drive apartments

Killeen Daily Herald
By Kevin Limiti | Herald
January 16, 2024

Following a public hearing Tuesday, the Killeen City Council approved, 6-1, amending the Planned Use Development for a potential development on Rosewood Drive. The vote required a three-fourths vote of approval by the City Council.

Councilman Riakos Adams voted against the amendment.

Before the vote, Councilwoman Jessica Gonzalez made a motion of direction for the City Council to be updated on the traffic impact analysis for the development as well as the FEMA flood analysis.

The vote on the motion was 6-1, with Councilman Joseph Solomon voting against.

A motion was made to include having a town hall for the residents, but it failed without a second.

This amendment calls for adding three more apartment buildings for 96 dwelling units. There are already nine apartment buildings on the property.

The potential site has a dog park and playground.

The Planning and Zoning board voted to reject the ordinance, which is why it required a three-fourths vote to win approval.

As approved, the developer will need to pay a total of $64,800 in park fees.

The property is also in a FEMA designated flood zone and will need a floodplain permit.

Not everybody is happy with development plan.

In a public hearing held before the vote, several residents spoke in opposition to the PUD amendment. The biggest complaint was about the traffic impact.

Mellisa Brown, a former councilwoman, said this was her neighborhood.

“I don’t have a whole lot of hope tonight, but I’m still going to try,” she said.

“As people we feel we can control the elements like we feel we can control other people. (We) can’t do either,” Brown said, explaining you can’t get rid of flood zones.

She said the new apartment buildings would be “detrimental” because of the traffic.

“Anecdotally, as someone who has to drive down Rosewood two or three, four times a day , I can tell you that the number of accidents has increased there,” Brown said.

She said the council and mayor need to listen to the community.

Resident Sean Price said he thinks the speed limit on Rosewood should be lowered to 30 mph. “It’s dangerous. There are quite a few accidents,” he said.

Another resident, David Opalewski, who lives on Acorn Creek Trail, said that traffic on that street increases every time there is an accident on Rosewood Drive.

“It used to be a quiet neighborhood,” he said, explaining he has lived there more than 20 years. “I’m worried about the congestion. I’m not too worried about the floodplain.”

In a response attached to the presentation, Jerry and Silvia Crankfield wrote that they were in opposition to the PUD amendment.

“The area of Heather Glenn and Morning Glenn has no green zone to speak of,” they wrote, referring to districts instituted by local governments for sustainability. “The property — 3701 Rosewood Dr. — should remain a park with a hike and bike trail, maybe a playground and connect along Rosewood Dr. with the Purser Family Park and the Heritage Oaks Park. Killeen needs to be a more attractive, green city.”

Solomon asked about the flooding, saying he had calls from residents who were concerned about that.

Edwin Revell, executive director of Development Services, said the city of Killeen has rules that state developers can’t make flooding conditions worse, and they have to meet FEMA requirements.

“They have to do a detailed study,” Revell said.

He said the flood maps are based on data from 2008, so it’s outdated information.

But the developers would have to prove that the development won’t make the flooding worse.

Jeff Hamilton, the engineer on the project, said it was initially denied by planning and zoning for four buildings.

“We understand, I understand as the engineer, the client and the owner—if we are able to garner favor this evening and get approval, it is simply for land use,” he said, explaining they would go through all the city ordinance requirements.

“If we can’t get the permits, we’re not building,” Hamilton said.

He said the project will leave at least two acres for green space.

Councilman Jose Segarra said the development would “complement the area.”

He said the developers would “make sure that piece of property is taken care of.”

Councilman Riakos Adams said there are a lot of elderly people living there who are “very concerned about their backyards.”

Hamilton said he would be willing to meet with some of those living there.

“We would know very quickly what type of impact there would be and what would be required to mitigate that,” he said.

Mayor Debbie Nash-King said the city of Killeen is growing and would want to do bigger developments.

“That’s why we are working on Station 42,” she said.

She said she thinks the developers’ willingness to meet with the residents was good.

In other action, the council approved, as a consent item, the selling of the Hack’s Levis building to the Southern Roots Brewing Company.

The plan, according to the presentation attached to the City Council agenda, is for the Southern Roots Brewing Company to act as a catalyst project for further downtown revitalization, a high priority for the city.

The brewing company would invest approximately $1.2 million into opening the location in downtown Killeen which includes real property improvements as well as personal property improvements for a $300,000 warranty deed, according to city documents.

This would come with a lien on the property, which would be forgiven after five years of operations.

In addition, the city of Killeen would give an economic incentive of $150,000 to be used for renovating the Hack’s building, 324 N. Gray St.

If all conditions of the deal are met by the company, the city would not receive any funding from the actual sale of the property. But, if successful, city officials are banking that the new brewery — which would serve food and be a venue for live music — would spur more growth in downtown Killeen.

One resident, Leo Gukeisen, questioned whether bringing the brewing company to Killeen was like a ponzi scheme.

“The briefing says we’re going to give them the money and they’re going to pay us back. That was part of the briefing last week,” Gukeisen said. “But this doesn’t match what was said. “

He said he does understand paying them to bring them to Killeen.

“I’m not against that,” he said. “But what I’m against is that the information needs to be fair and straight across the board. If we’re doing this to get them here, just tell us.”

City Manager Kent Cagle responded that the presentation was very clear and reiterated what was in the presentation. He didn’t want to comment on Guikeisen’s confusion, who walked out during the City Council’s comments.

Other items on the council’s Tuesday consent agenda include:

• A wildland vehicle allocation.
• Fitness equipment for the Killeen Police and Fire Departments for more than $90,000.
• Conder and AA Lane Park improvements, including drainage, for more than $71,000.
• Reimbursement to infrastructure improvements for MGC Pure Chemicals America for $600,000.