MEMO TO OAKCREST AND SURROUNDING SUBDIVISIONS
SUBJECT: HILLWOOD COMMUNITIES CONSIDERATION TO PURCHASE 750-ACRE TRACT OF WOLF LAND

OBJECTIVE:
Minimize the traffic impact on Oakcrest 2 and the surrounding neighborhoods.
We are not going to stop this development, and that should not be pursued. It will be a great asset to our community. We do want to organize and influence local government officials and planning department members to protect and minimize the impact on our Oakcrest and surrounding neighborhoods from related increased traffic.
BACKGROUND:
As you may have heard or read recently, members of the Wolf family have been in talks with the Hillwood Communities developer to develop the 750-acre tract of land that surrounds Georgetown Country Club and extends down to and just across from Hwy 29. See link for map. http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/georgetown/wolf-family-planning-750-acre-development/. This will be a wonderful development and great addition to our community. The northwest side of the land being purchased is where several members of the Wolf Family currently reside, and they are planning to remain there and receive lots from the developer and continue to live in this section of the development. This section of the development, which is closest to Oakcrest and is expected to connect to Oakcrest, will probably be larger, more expensive lots and homes.
WHAT WE KNOW:
The City of Georgetown Ordinance rules require roads to connect through our neighborhood. Roads in Oakcrest and surrounding neighborhoods will receive a portion of the traffic from this development. A Traffic Impact Analysis will be required to analyze this impact and has likely been started, as it will be a necessary component to the approval process from Georgetown City Council. The developer is seeking approval related to this by the end of April 2014.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT:
Development on the north side of Highway 29 that will impact the Oakcrest subdivision will be between 500-750 units including apartments and an estimated 1500-2000 cars. Talking with the developer representitive, the majority of the homes adjacent to Oakcrest 2 will be single family larger homes. Certainly, if there is a connection, construction traffic will come through the neighborhood to access the development even before homes are occupied.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN:
(1) The developer needs to design and build the development to influence the traffic generated from this neighborhood to enter and exit the neighborhood from Wolf Ranch Parkway, including building a bridge over the Middle Gabriel River at the beginning of their construction process. If this does not happen, the Oakcrest and surrounding neighborhoods will become construction paths for the construction crews and vehicles working on this development, particularly the areas situated north and west of the development and west of the Georgetown Country Club. This would mean that they would connect roads to Oakcrest as their connection points to access the back of the new development. (2) Multiple access points, not just one, need to be studied in the Traffic Impact Analysis to see if more connections are better than one or two IF there is a regulation requiring connection to Oakcrest. Limiting the amount of connections would only increase the amount of traffic to those residents that live on the connection rather than dispersing traffic uniformly throughout the Oakcrest neighborhood.(3) The developer needs to install Traffic Calming Devices similar to the guard house at the entrance to Sun City at Williams Drive to deter thru traffic that does not live in the neighborhood. This is commonly used in developments to deter unwanted traffic. This is also better than gating the community, as fire and public safety departments typically prefer not to have gates for response reasons.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Contact these City of Georgetown Council Members to express these concerns.
   Patty Eason
   Phone: 512-930-3651
   Email: district1@georgetown.org
   https://government.georgetown.org/city-council/district1/
   Keith Brainard
   Phone: 512-930-3651
   Email: district2@georgetown.org
   https://government.georgetown.org/city-council/district2/
   
   1. Share points above.
      
   2. Express to them to push the developer to send most of the traffic out to Wolf Ranch Parkway.
      
   3. Express to them to push the developer to consider purchasing another connection for an additional access point into the development.
      
   Note: Please do not involve County Commissioner Valerie Covey into this process yet. Start with City Council, and we can go to the County Commissioner if necessary.
   
2. Attend upcoming City Council meetings and speak on this Agenda Item. https://georgetown.org/council-boards-agendas/
   
   • Tuesday March 25th 2pm - City Council Workshop - Presentation on Hillwood
     
   • Tuesday March 25th 6pm - City Council Meeting - Agenda Item on Hillwood
     
   • Tuesday April 8th - City Council Workshop 4pm & Council Meeting 6pm
     
   • Tuesday April 22nd - City Council Workshop 4pm & Council Meeting 6pm
     

CLOSING REMARKS:
Our focus is to protect our neighborhood as this wonderful development moves in next door to our neighborhood. We want to welcome them and minimize their impact on us. Thank you for your time and your participation. Please visit the Hillwood Communities website www.hillwoodcommunities.com to explore some of their other developments and to see the quality of developments they are known for and will be bringing to our community. Oak Crest II Home Owners & Neighborhood Association