Council approves Lakeway Town Center PUD with conditions limiting by‑right drive‑thrus near residences

The Lakeway City Council approved an ordinance rezoning about 33.6 acres at Lomans Crossing Road to a Planned Unit Development (Lakeway Town Center) after extended presentations by staff, the applicants and dozens of residents from adjacent neighborhoods.

Director of Building and Development Services Erin Carr summarized the PUD request, noting existing built phases and conceptual plans for phases 3 and 4; the developer asked the council to allow preapproved drive‑throughs to help market the site. Applicant Tom DeChico said the goal is to attract national and regional retail and restaurants and that "we have people interested in phase 3." Zoning and planning commission (ZAPCO) had recommended limiting drive‑throughs and requiring special‑use permits for certain uses.

Many residents from Yaupon Creek and nearby neighborhoods testified against by‑right drive‑thrus and against uses they said would create late‑night noise, grease, litter and safety issues near an established residential entrance. Mary Bentley, representing local residents, said they "respectfully express our strong opposition to development of any type of fast food drive through restaurant, pub, or bar on the property directly across from our entrance." Council members debated traffic impacts on Lomans Spur, required buffers and the need for a revised traffic‑impact analysis specific to Phase 3 access points.

The council added conditions before voting: limit by‑right drive‑thrus to two per phase (instead of the three requested), preclude by‑right drive‑thru on the northern lot of Phase 3 that most directly fronts the neighborhood, require an updated TIA addressing Lomans Spur prior to site‑plan approval, require additional landscaping/buffers along the Phase 3 edge adjacent to residences, prohibit outdoor live music in Phase 3, and make Phase 4 approvals contingent on a satisfactory land‑swap and developer pro‑rata contribution for the Burrell Street realignment. The final motion passed unanimously after the amendments were read into the record.

Council directed staff to incorporate the stipulations into the PUD language and for the developer to provide the updated TIA and site plans as required by code.