Future development irks some Steiner Ranch residents
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Thousands of Steiner Ranch homeowners had to pick up and leave without warning in September of last year after a wildfire ravaged their neighborhood.
The evacuation took over two hours, and now could take even longer if it happened again. Recent expansion plans for the subdivision have some residents worried.
The city has already approved plans for almost 250 more apartments in the spot, which overlooks Lake Travis. On another lot, there are also 300 more units in the works.
"If we maxed out 100 percent of what we could build in here, the density would only be 1.4 units per acre, most communities are 3 or four 4 per acre," Adib Khoury with real estate agency Taylor Morrison said.
Additional plans for 180 duplex homes at the entrance of Steiner Ranch are also just one Austin City Council vote away from being finalized.
The big time expansion plans make an already existing problem in the subdivision even worse—there is only one way out of Steiner Ranch. It’s a big issue for residents who are concerned about the potential 1,100 more people moving to the area.
"It's a concern for any future evacuation, but it’s also a concern on a day-to-day basis. Just look at the amount of traffic that has to go in and out of this very limited access corridor to our community," Brian Thompto with the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association said.
Around 1,400 people have signed a petition against the new development.
"There's also been a lot of dialogue on social media through Facebook and email,” Thompto said. "We've been meeting with the developer on a regular basis to work collaboratively to reduce the negative impacts that future development will have in this area."
The city council will vote on the third lot's plans Thursday. Click here to view the petition.