kyle-logoThe Kyle Report is a column written by Kyle resident, Pete Oppel, that covers city leadership issues. You can follow The Kyle Report here on the Kyle Life or by subscribing to Mr. Oppel’s blog, The Kyle TX Report.

Kyle’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 (commissioner Irene Melendez was a no-show) tonight to recommend the City Council amend Chapter 53 of the Code of Ordinances to allow the construction of nine-story buildings in areas zoned RS (Retail Service Districts) on a case-by-case basis.

I would guess the proposed change will appear for a first reading on next Tuesday’s council agenda and will pass without much debate. The only discussion might come from those who, along with P&Z Commissioner Dan Ryan, believe restricting building heights to nine stories will hamper transit-oriented projects, to site one example. Ryan said he wanted to lift zoning restrictions to allow for high rise residential construction near the proposed Kyle/Buda rail station that’s being floated by the Lone Star Regional Rail Product.

“I love developments like that,” Ryan said. “They require only one water line, one sewer line.”

Commissioner Mike Wilson argued that current residential zoning does not allow for that type of density and that new residential zoning would have to be created before those height requirements could be addressed.

In the meantime, those developers that want to construct buildings up to nine-stories tall in areas zoned RS can so but on a conditional use basis. In other words, each such project plan would have to be submitted to and approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and then the City Council. But this does mean some interesting mixed-use developments combining first-story retail, topped with three-to-four-story office space and possible four-story residential on top could be in the works for Kyle, possibly along Kohlers Crossing. Imagine that — living, working and shopping all in one spot. It sure could put the city at a competitive advantage.