High Sierra Subdivision, 6th Filing, is a proposed subdivision that would create 21 lots for residential use out of 7.18 acres. It is the second filing in the larger master planned area of High Sierra Subdivision, 5th through 12th Filings. The property is located north of Annandale Road and east of Greenbriar Road in the Lake Hills area, and is zoned Residential-9600 (R-96) and Residential-7000-Restricted (R-70-R). City Council granted conditional approval of the preliminary plat of High Sierra Subdivision, 6th Filing, on February 9, 2009. Section 23-302.M. of the City Subdivision Regulations stipulates that the conditional approval of major preliminary plats shall be in force for not more than three years unless extended by City Council to a period of time mutually agreed-upon by Council and the subdivider. The City Council may issue more than one extension. 

The three-year preliminary plat approval period was to expire February 9, 2012. At its meeting on February 13, 2012, City Council granted the subdivider a request for a two-year extension of the preliminary plat approval period to February 9, 2014.

The owner has continued development in the overall High Sierra Subdivision, completing a 7th Filing last summer which resulted in the delay of this 6th Filing. As such, the owner requests an additional one year extension to the preliminary plat approval (see attachment). The new expiration date would be February 9, 2015.

The City Council may: 

• Approve the request to extend the preliminary plat approval for one more year; or
• Deny the request to extend the preliminary plat approval for one more year. 

Platting 21 lots on property that is currently vacant and reselling them to private individuals would increase the tax revenues for the City. Allowing the subdivider up to one more year to prepare the final plat documents for approval and recording should not have any direct financial impact to the City.

Planning staff recommends that the City Council approve the request for an extension of the preliminary plat approval date for High Sierra Subdivision, 6th Filing, for one year, and set the new expiration date to February 9, 2015.