From the cover
Ex-Northcliffe golf course’s future uncertain
BY JARRETT WHITENER
2P
The background
Area home counts Development proposals called for multifamily housing on part of the former Northcliffe Golf Club, which is surrounded by single-family neighborhoods.
In 2022, developers brought to City Council their first request to change the zoning for the planned development district to apartment/ multifamily residential. Their proposal included about 220 units developed as fourplexes. Residents expressed concern because the number of proposed units was larger than the number of homes in some of the surrounding communities, according to local homeowners associations’ data. Developers retooled the proposal and brought it back to council on Feb 28. On April 25, the item failed to get approval from a supermajority vote— or six of the seven council members that are required due to property owners’ protests. Developers scaled back the project plans two more times but residents remained concerned about dense development and abiding by the Unified Development Code. Mayor Ralph Gutierrez said the issues would have been addressed following the rezoning approval.
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EAGLE VALLEY ST.
Fairway Ridge: 219 Scenic Hills: 204 Northcliffe: 488 Fair Haven: 321
Northcliffe Estates: 166 Fairways at Scenic: 178
COLUMBIA DR.
COUNTRY CLUB BLVD.
Development area
BATTLE LAKE ST.
CHELSEA DR.
Proposed Public Improvement District
1103
Schertz
SOURCE: NORTHCLIFFE AREA HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
CHERRY TREE DR.
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A closer look
What they’re saying
As a way to preserve green space, resi- dents Heather Jackson and Paul Kendzior said homeowners are working to create a public improvement district near the development area with a goal of getting it on the council agenda before year’s end. “We are making really good progress,” he said. “It is going to be a lot of leg work and a lot to get done, but we are going to do it.”
“The process brought our neighborhood closer together while also showing the broken processes in our city codes. … Members of council that repeatedly voted in favor of the development now say that a ‘no’ vote should occur when out of compliance of the UDC.” CAROL ALLEN, SCHERTZ RESIDENT
“The Northcliffe golf course I don’t think will ever exist again. We just have to find a perfect balance for that neighborhood because the character of that neighborhood is going to change with the development.” MAYOR RALPH GUTIERREZ
Proposed projects Area residents successfully fought off four proposed plans to redevelop the former Northcliffe Golf Club property. 220 units, or 55 fourplexes September 2022 February 28, 2023 198 townhomes, or 51 buildings July 18, 2023
What happens next?
and reduce the number of planned development district proposals.
On Sept. 19, City Council hosted a workshop on planned development district projects and proposals. City staff asked council how zoning should be handled and to consider ways to reduce the number of proposals. Possible outcomes for the future of the planned development include: • Council revisits the Unified Development Code to set a definitive standard
• The property owner returns with a new development proposal, which will go through the entire development process again including planning and zoning. • Residents could succeed with the creation of a public improvement district for other areas of the former golf course.
170 units, or 85 duplexes September 5, 2023 140 units, or 70 duplexes
SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZ/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION
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