Only if: The 2025 thoroughfare plan From the cover
Digging deeper
The thoroughfare plan is a part of the city’s comprehensive planning efforts and serves as a blueprint for how major roads and connections should function as the community expands, Ford said. Rather than focusing on short-term construction projects, the plan looks decades ahead to identify where future roads are needed from a bird’s-eye view. The plan also explores how existing streets near Seminole Drive, Old Mission Lane, Elm Creek Road and River Oaks Drive could be widened or improved, and how traffic can move efficiently throughout the city, Ford said. The plan is in coordination with state and regional transportation agencies, including Comal and Guadalupe counties, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. It maps out the importance of different types of roadways—such as principal arterials, minor arterials and collectors—each designed to serve different purposes in vehicle mobility, city staff said. One of the main objectives of the thoroughfare plan is to preserve right of way for future transportation needs. ‘“Only when and if” development occurs can the city require dedication of land within developments or plan roadway improvements in locations identified on the map, Ford said. “All it forces that builder to do is to coordinate with the other roads so that it makes sense and it’s efficient,” Ford said. “So we’re not going to be building roadways in the middle of someone’s farm, because if they don’t sell the farm, there’s no need for a roadway.”
Notable parcels Seminole Drive, Old Mission Lane, Elm Creek Road and the proposed outer loop saw the most feedback in the latest version of the thoroughfare plan, according to the city’s website.
2722
35
306
1
46
RIVER RD.
1101
3
HUECO SPRINGS LOOP RD.
337
2
1863
1 Additions 1 Requested removals
4
758
GUADALUPE RIVER
N
1 Hwy. 46 to FM 2722
2 Outer loop
140
SCHWARZLOSE RD.
46
2722
758
N
N
BARBAROSA RD.
Description: The plan recommends a connector road between Schwarzlose Road to FM 758 to ease traffic congestion.
Description: The plan recommends a connector road between FM 2722 and Hwy. 46 to ease traffic congestion.
3 Old Mission Lane
4 Seminole Drive
2722
SEMINOLE DR.
337
WALZEM MISSION RD.
46
HUECO DR.
35
OLD MISSION RD.
46
N
N
SOLEDAD LN.
Description: The plan recommends a connector road from Old Mission Lane to Hwy. 46 to lessen emergency response times.
Description: The plan recommends a connector road between Seminole Drive and FM 1101.
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
How it works
Roadmap to rights of way
Developer buys land The developer meets with the city to determine which jurisdiction the property lies in and what regulations it must follow.
Once land is bought or platted for development, the property owner must meet with the city to dis- cuss the proposed project. The city will determine where the property lies—either within the city, the county or extraterritorial jurisdiction—and what regulations apply, Ford said. The property owners must then ensure it is properly zoned, and if it is not, they must seek a zoning change, according to the city’s website. For larger parcels or subdivisions, a master plan is required to identify all city-required improve- ments, such as roadways, drainage and wastewa- ter infrastructure. A traffic impact analysis is also completed so city officials can determine if any other improvements are needed, Ford said.
Rezoning request If the property is not zoned properly, the owner must apply to have the land rezoned. This must be approved by City Council.
Master plans For larger subdivisions, a master plan must be created and presented to city staff for approval.
Building roads The developer must build a new road on the property proportional to the development and dedicate right of way to the city for future expansion.
City expands roads After a traffic impact analysis, the city determines what additional expansions will be needed for the roads.
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
32
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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