College Station planning commission approves rezoning of Seaback Tract for multifamily, middle housing and protected natural area

The College Station Planning and Zoning Commission on July 16 voted to approve a rezoning that would change about 35 acres of the Seaback Tract from rural to MF (multifamily), MH (middle housing) and NAP (natural areas protected), recommending the proposal to City Council ahead of an Aug. 13 hearing.

Planning staff described the request as implementing the city’s land‑use plan: Gary Seagraves of Planning and Development Services said the rezoning applies to approximately 35 acres of a 54‑acre parent tract and aligns with the 2021 comprehensive plan and prior planning dating to 2009. Staff identified the parcel as generally located at the northern corner of Victoria Avenue and William D. Fitch and described the comprehensive‑plan designations for the larger tract as urban residential, mixed residential and natural/open areas.

The staff presentation and application packet break the rezoning down by use: about 21 acres proposed as MF for higher‑density multifamily, about 4.5 acres as MH for middle‑housing townhomes or duplexes to transition to adjacent single‑family lots, and roughly 9.5 acres as NAP to remain largely undeveloped for natural functions. The developer team also said the project includes extending Castle Rock Parkway to Victoria Avenue and adding a shared‑use pedestrian and bicycle path through the property.

Chrissy Hartle of Mitchell & Morgan, representing the applicant, and developer Austin Martin described project intent and design. Hartle said the tract sits across from College Station High School and that townhomes are planned to act as a density step‑down between apartments and single‑family yards. Martin said the plan calls for market‑rate apartment units rather than student‑targeted or income‑restricted housing: “we’re planning on building market rate apartment… it’s not gonna be… low income or… any kind of income restriction,” he said, adding that townhomes would be two‑story duplexes that reduce density near the single‑family lots.

Commissioners and staff discussed the natural areas protected (NAP) designation and public‑realm elements. Hartle and Martin said the NAP portion will remain undeveloped and will not be added to the city park system, though limited grading related to floodplain or elevation work and a trail connection are planned. On drainage, staff said the creek that runs through the area is Spring Creek and that a portion is on land retained by the seller.

Traffic and notice to nearby neighborhoods were raised repeatedly. Staff said a traffic impact analysis (TIA) was performed for the rezoning and that the analysis assumed completion of the Castle Rock Parkway extension and nearby developments; the TIA, according to staff, did not identify traffic issues related to this rezoning. Staff also reported that Southern Plantation and Reatta Meadows homeowners associations were notified under the city’s standard 200‑foot notice boundary; Castle Rock subdivision was outside that boundary, though a Castle Rock resident called with questions.

Public commenter Aaron Gadbury, a Shenandoah resident, urged the commission to avoid connecting the northern portion of the tract — including any Southern Plantation Drive extension — to Victoria Avenue, saying the thoroughfare plan connection would route minor‑arterial and commercial traffic onto local neighborhood streets near Riata Park and Southern Oaks Park and provide a bypass for students and drivers to reach Highway 6. “In the 2025 citizen survey, 94% of our neighbors want the integrity of local streets protected and neighborhoods protected,” Gadbury said, and he asked the commission to “disconnect” the proposed Castle Rock Parkway extension from the neighborhood.

After closing the public hearing, Commissioner (S6) moved to approve the rezoning recommendation and Commissioner (S2) seconded. The commission called the question, took a voice vote and the motion passed; the record shows ayes and no recorded nays, though a numerical roll call was not provided in the transcript. The staff packet and the presentation note the rezoning will be considered by City Council on Aug. 13.

What happens next: the commission’s approval sends the rezoning to the City Council public hearing on Aug. 13; staff and the applicant said there will be further opportunities for neighborhood input if additional portions of the parent tract are proposed for rezoning later.

(Reported from the July 16 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at College Station City Hall.)