Sign this petition TODAY to STOP the Balcones Ranch high density housing development that will be voted upon by the Cedar Hill city council on July 9!

The proposed community will be comprised of 856 homes on approximately 299 acres, with a density of 4.5 dwellings per acre. This plan is in stark contrast to our current community with most homes on a one acre (or larger) lot size.

The proposal failed to pass when presented to the Cedar Hill Planning and Zoning committee on June 4 and now must receive a supermajority vote (5 of 7 members) from the City Council on July 9. 

The land in question is along the west side of Lake Ridge Parkway, south of The Timbers community. It is composed of 299 acres with mature trees and a natural escarpment. The parcel is currently zoned as SF-E (single family estates) on ONE acre (or larger) lots. The developer is seeking to change the zoning to PD (Planned Development). Proposed lot sizes range in width from 30 to 60 feet, with home size ranging from 1225 square feet up to 3100 square feet. The plan is for high density dwellings with the smallest homes built 5 feet off the street, with zero lot lines. The remainder of the dwellings will be on 40, 50, or 60 foot wide lots with front facing garages.

Why should you be opposed?

1.  Lot sizes are too small, negatively impacting existing Lake Ridge home values.

2.  Drainage issues are a significant concern both on the subject site, adjacent Lake Ridge homes, and downstream.

3.  The proposed 856 houses could be built on other vacant land in Cedar Hill which is already zoned as PD, bringing in the same amount of property taxes.

4.  The location and use of a lift station for handling sewage is a concern.

5.  Proposed lot and home prices could significantly lower existing Lake Ridge property values.

6.  Proposed houses are too close together and the minimum house sizes are too small.

7.  A 1,225 square foot house priced at $400k, as proposed by the builder, is unrealistic.

8.  Similar housing can be built within a 3-mile radius of this property, such as in the Historic Downtown area. There are parcels of vacant land in Cedar Hill with zoning that will allow these proposed homes.

9.  The existing property should remain SF-E (single family estates) to maintain comparable property tax revenue that could be derived from the proposed subdivision.

10.  Increased crime is a potential risk within high density housing areas.

11.  Narrow streets and on-street parking present traffic and safety concerns with 858 homes and approximately 3,000 people.

12.  Meritage’s history of similar developments is not suitable for the luxury environment of Lake Ridge.

13.  The developer's conceptual drawings with mature trees are unrealistic for at least 20 years.

14.  Front entry garages facing the street do not align with the existing Lake Ridge homes' character and are not generally permitted within other areas of Lake Ridge.

15.  Traffic to and from the proposed Balcones Ranch subdivision is a major concern.

16.  Land and lot values have at least doubled since 2020, allowing Walton (the landowner) to profit from its investment WITHOUT rezoning.

17.  Current residents purchased their SF-E lots/homes expecting the adjacent property to remain SF-E.

18.  Although there have been requests to the POA and developer, no market data or feasibility studies have been provided to support the proposed development’s impact on new local retail, if any.

19.  The proposed amenities areas appear to be insufficient for an area that will encompass and service 858 homes with roughly 3,000 people.

20.  According to Walton, they purchased the subject property which was zoned SF-E, in 2020. A Walton representative at a recent Q&A meeting stated that Walton does not build or develop SF-E lots and has never constructed a $700k house. Per the Zoning Change Application under “Background/History”, in 2022, a change to the Comprehensive Plan was made to allow for a Master Planned neighborhood. This change was needed to facilitate the PD zoning change that Walton now seeks. How did Walton anticipate in 2020 that the SF-E land they acquired, which is not a part of their product mix, would be recharacterized in 2022?

21. The children in Phases 1-4 of this project will be educated by Midlothian ISD. According to trustees, the district was NOT made aware that this is high density housing. They are opposed to the project in its current format. This puts an undue burden on their system and would require the construction of new schools. The tax revenue from this development would not begin to cover the cost of the schools and they indicated that passing a bond would be difficult.

As members of the Lake Ridge community, we MUST ACT NOW or lose the peace, quiet, and privacy we have all come to love. To show your opposition to the proposed zoning change, please add your signature and SPREAD the WORD. 

TIME IS SHORT! The city council will vote on this matter on July 9. All meetings are open to the public. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending. The meeting will have a briefing session at 6:00pm with the formal meeting at 7:00pm.

Address for meeting:

T.W. "Turk" Cannady/Cedar Hill Room of the Cedar Hill Government Center 

285 Uptown Blvd., Bldg. 100

Cedar Hill, Texas 75104)

The best way to show the city council that this development is not good for our community is to SIGN THIS PETITION & SHOW UP IN NUMBERS AT THEIR MEETING.

PRESERVE LAKE RIDGE TODAY!