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    • Bastrop Groundbreaking Ceremony Press Release
      March 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm

      Today, officials from the City of Bastrop and KSA gathered to break ground on construction of a brand new, state of the art, Wastewater Treatment Plant. Due to Bastrop’s existing plants number 1 and 2 reaching the end of their useful life the City of Bastrop selected KSA to design the new wastewater treatment plant. This development is in accordance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), whereby when the city is operating at or near capacity, the city is required to begin expansion. KSA was awarded the contract to design the new wastewater treatment plant and collection system on October 31, 2018. 

      KSA designed this initial plant to process 2.0 million gallons per day with an expansion possibility for up to 8.0 million gallons per day as needed. City of Bastrop Mayor, Connie Schroeder has reminded the community that “We have spent hours and hours on this plant. It is state of the art, it is the right thing to do, and we have the ability to expand. We cannot be a city if we cannot provide utility services. We have to have it.” The development of this wastewater treatment plant also coincides with dramatic population growth happening today and also in the near future.

      When you think wastewater treatment plant you probably don’t think of something visually appealing. Architects from KSA worked with the City of Bastrop staff to develop an operations center that would not be a visual distraction. Some of the visual components include: a tree buffer around the plant, a landscaping fence, directional lighting, and a rancher/home style office facility that uses materials to resemble surrounding neighborhoods.

      The City of Bastrop asked KSA to take every reasonable and fiscally responsible measure to mitigate potential odor from the plant. “All of the reasonable technological advances that are available to us today to mitigate smell have been built into this plant,” said Bob Lane, P.E., Lead Project Manager for KSA. In preparation of the design, KSA Engineers field tested odor emissions from the existing wastewater treatment plant in Bastrop, and other wastewater treatment plants in the area.

      Because this wastewater treatment plant is in a different location from the existing plant, it is necessary to design new collection system components redirecting the wastewater to the new location. Designing the best collection system infrastructure has to do with selecting the most appropriate pipe materials and flow capacity. KSA worked diligently to find the right balance of pipe diameter and pipe material that will allow the best use of funds while giving the longest practical life.

      The city hosted an open house with the public relations team from KSA in September 2019. During the open house, technical team members were available to answer questions and present information to residents. The City of Bastrop will continue to inform the public with major milestones related to the development and construction of Wastewater Treatment Plant Number 3. 

      KSA and the City of Bastrop are excited to give the citizens of Bastrop a wastewater treatment plant that will be able to adequately and efficiently treat wastewater for the current and increasing population.

       

UPCOMING

COMPLETED

    • The Main Street Rehabilitation Project, unanimously approved by the Bastrop City Council on December 10, 2019, will promote economic vitality, value, and growth for our Downtown Bastrop businesses, increase livability and walkability for the downtown core, and will grow our Historic Main Street District into a lively and vibrant community space to be enjoyed by generations of future Bastropians.

      The project encompasses sidewalk improvements from Farm to Chestnut Street, along with proposed sidewalk improvements and roadway resurfacing from Spring to Water Street.  There will also be improvements to existing sidewalks and roadways, with new sidewalks built from Pine to Water Street. The upgrades will include the installation of street trees, widening of the walkways, installing new streetlights, and providing a planting strip. Project completion is set for late summer with landscaping installation occurring in the early fall. The result will be a Downtown District that will be a delight to drive, dine, and dwell in and centers on creating a thriving, lively, and vibrant community space with Main Street and the Colorado River at its heart.


      Main Street Rehabilitation Project Plans

  • UPDATE: Board of Adjustments added as alternates to Planning & Zoning Commission - Updated B3 Code

    On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, City Council unanimously voted to adopt the Bastrop Building Block (B3) Code, Technical Manual and Pattern Book.

    View the Interactive Character District and Place Type Map to see the Character Districts, LCRA Overlay and the like-to-like zoning translations to Place Types for the new code.

    Building Bastrop is a City of Bastrop initiative to guide responsible development that honors our authentic past and prepares for our sustainable future.

    We live in a beautiful city with an irreplaceable community. The secret is out. Bastrop is a great place to live and work, and more and more people have come to that conclusion and want to move here. We are 9,000 strong but are we are also, quite literally, bursting at the seams. Flooding has been more pronounced, our infrastructure is aging, traffic is increasing, and development – while following regulations that were in place – wasn't indicative of a fiscally responsible or sustainable city.

    Bastrop isn’t unique; many vulnerable cities throughout Texas and the U.S. are confronting similar issues as a result of decades-old policies and land-use regulations. The difference, however, is that Bastrop chose to do something about it. The City of Bastrop chose to control growth rather than letting growth control us. We chose to roll up our sleeves and begin Building Bastrop in a manner that will ensure a sustainable future.

    Taking a holistic approach, Building Bastrop was launched in August 2018 to create a new set of tools that will support the community in a responsible manner for generations to come by improving development, helping the City continue to invest in the infrastructure Bastrop needs, and providing the services our residents deserve.

    Over the course of 15 months, City staff and the consultant team diligently worked to craft new land-use regulations to preserve and promote what the community loves about Bastrop today and what residents want to see moving forward. On November 12, 2019, City Council unanimously voted to adopt the Bastrop Building Block (B3) Code.

    We’re excited to complete this journey with the adoption of policy that matches the heart and soul of this city.


     

    Building Bastrop Timeline

    On August 14, 2018, the Bastrop City Council initiated a temporary moratorium on new development that would be detrimental to our community based on current land-use regulations and kicked off the Building Bastrop initiative. The City expanded its planning team to include Simplecity Design, who completed an in-depth analysis of Downtown Bastrop’s DNA and how it functions as a complete neighborhood as well as conducting an extensive evaluation of Bastrop’s current development codes.

    We held two Community Open Houses and three Community Tours over the course of September and October 2018, as well as multiple developer meetings and a Developer Open House, to provide opportunities for questions and feedback as we discussed what the future of Bastrop development could look like.

    We held a Design Rodeo on November 29 and 30, 2018 where our team, along with key stakeholders and the general public, worked on designing the city to code. We then hosted a Code Rodeo on December 13 and 14, 2018 where we began to code the city we designed. Both events included multiple opportunities for the community to see examples of what Bastrop’s updated building codes could look like while having a chance to ask questions, provide feedback, and more.

    On February 26, 2019, City Council adopted a policy statement to ensure clarity and consistency for all revisions and additions to the City's land-use regulations. The City also hosted a Transportation and Drainage Rodeo on April 10, 2019, providing an opportunity for the community to share input on the City's thoroughfare plan and drainage standards, and a Code Update Rodeo on May 9, 2019 to preview elements of the new draft code.

    Originally set for 90 days, the temporary moratorium on new development was extended to ensure the City would be able to deliver updated land-use regulations that are informed by our geography and reflect what we already know works. Effective as of May 14, 2019, City Council repealed the temporary moratorium on new development (Emergency Ordinance 2018-1) and the emergency ordinance implementing temporary drainage standards for permit applications (Emergency Ordinance 2018-2). In their place, Council voted to adopt an Enhanced Permit Review process to be implemented on an interim basis until the City’s new building, construction and land-use regulations were completed, along with an updated Stormwater Drainage Design Manual.

    The first draft of the B3 Code was released for public review and comment on May 24, 2019. The City then hosted a Pop-Up Street Project in downtown Bastrop on June 8, 2019, highlighting what future development could look like based on the proposed land-use regulations, as well as a Community Open House on June 26, 2019.

    An in-depth review of the draft technical manual was held on August 22, 2019, and a B3 Code Open House was held on September 19, 2019. Additionally, a Development Community Input Meeting was held on October 10, 2019 to discuss the adoption of the 2018 International Building Codes.

    The final Bastrop Building Block (B3) Code was adopted by City Council on November 12, 2019.


    Building Bastrop Open House
    Downtown Bastrop Walking Tour
    Building Bastrop Code Rodeo


     

    Frequently Asked Questions >

      • Building Bastrop is an initiative the City is undertaking to guide responsible development that honors our authentic past and prepares for our sustainable future.

        On August 14, 2018, the Bastrop City Council initiated a temporary moratorium on new development that would be detrimental to our community based on current land-use regulations. Originally set for 90 days, the moratorium was extended to run through May 21, 2019, to ensure we are able to deliver updated land-use regulations that are informed by our geography and reflect what we already know works.

        Taking a comprehensive approach, Building Bastrop was launched to create a new set of tools that will support the community in a responsible manner for generations to come, including the complete reform of Bastrop’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. This effort will simultaneously promote new development that is in line with what we know and love about Bastrop. It is completely aligned with the City of Bastrop’s comprehensive plan.

      • Drainage and stormwater planning is one of the most critical elements to building a resilient city and ensuring new development doesn’t negatively impact the existing population or environment. This effort will allow us to develop appropriate systems to prevent small area flooding in the future.

        Beyond drainage, we also have the opportunity to take a holistic approach to create geographically-sensitive development standards and improve our infrastructure to address the city’s long-term needs. By stepping back to assess the city’s needs, we will make appropriate changes to all our land-use regulations to ensure Bastrop is fiscally sustainable moving forward.

      • Bastrop has a unique ecology with many geographies meeting in one place – the piney woods, the coastal plains, the hill country and more – that makes it imperative to create regulations that ensure development respects these differing ecological challenges.

        In recent decades, the technology did not exist to analyze the land in an effective way and understand the full extent of how development impacts the environment. City Council held a special workshop on February 20, 2018, to study Bastrop’s drainage patterns alongside new FEMA data and updated floodplain maps.

        Now that we have the technology and data we need, we plan to analyze our natural land patterns and the DNA of Bastrop to create a new set of tools that will support the community in a responsible manner for generations to come. Creating and updating policy is the responsible next step based on the strategy we’ve already started to implement. This effort is in line with the City’s comprehensive plan.

      • Building Bastrop will improve development in this community and yield new opportunities for a sustainable future. It will help the City continue to invest in the infrastructure Bastrop needs and provide the services our residents deserve.

        We have the benefit of knowing what is and has been successful for our community; we simply need to ensure our land-use regulations are informed by our geography and reflect what we already know works.

        Our downtown is the perfect example of what we want to replicate: timeless buildings and forms that pay for themselves and can turnover for multiple uses such as shops, restaurants, banks, offices and more.

        We want to promote responsible, sustainable growth that combines the heritage of Bastrop with modern amenities that benefit everyone.

      • Bastrop is pro-development. We see this moratorium as an opportunity to protect our city and to create a roadmap for responsible development that honors our authentic past and prepares for our sustainable future.

        We’ll use our natural geography and the various land-use patterns already in play to create a new set of tools that will preserve authentic Bastrop. These policies will promote geographically-sensitive developments with a variety of housing options, walkable and unique neighborhoods and a diversity of commercial, retail and modern services and amenities.

        We know there will be project-level questions, and our staff is available to meet with developers one-on-one to discuss specific projects. Contact information for the Planning and Development Department can be found at www.cityofbastrop.org/page/plan.home. There will be some qualified exemptions and exceptions, but we will work through that process as defined by the approved ordinances.

      • Exceptions include:

        No Impact Projects:
        Applicants must certify that the project will not (a) increase density, (b) increase or impact impervious cover, (c) expand the footprint of an existing structure, or (d) alter the current drainage pattern on the property. Examples include trade permits (electric work, water heater change out, HVAC work, new roof) and an interior remodel.

        Ongoing Projects: A permit that was submitted, approved and under review as of Tuesday, August 14, 2018, or a permit that was submitted, approved and work is being performed as of August 14, 2018.

        Grandfathered Project: A project that qualifies for rights under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 245. A Project has multiple permits. A Grandfathered project is generally one that has successfully applied for one or more permits for the project and provided the city with notice of the nature of the project.

      • Exemptions include:

        Planned Development District:
        For properties over three acres, custom zoning standards may be enacted by the City Council.

        Alternate Design Standards: Any property may submit plans showing a drainage design that exceeds current standards in the Code of Ordinances for City Council approval.

        ETJ Development Agreement: Any property in the ETJ may negotiate a contract with the City Council for construction standards, platting and development rules pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212, Subsection G.

        Waiver: Any property owner may agree to construct drainage infrastructure (public and/or private) at their own expense with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212, Subsection E.

      • The following steps must be completed to apply for an Exception:
         

        1. Applicant must complete the Submittal Package*, which includes: Application Form and associated Checklist Items.

        2. Staff will review the Submittal Package, with comments issued as needed.

        3. An Exception Determination Letter will be issued by Planning Director:
        • If it is determined that the project DOES qualify as an Exception by the Planning Director, the applicant should submit a permit application for their project
        • If it is determined the project DOES NOT qualify as an Exception by the Planning Director, the City Manager will make a determination, followed by a City Council determination if needed.


      • The following steps must be completed to apply for an Exemption:

        1. Applicant must request a Pre-Submission Meeting with the Directors (or their designees) of Planning, Engineering, and Public Works using the Pre-Submission Meeting Request Form.

        2. Applicant must meet with the Directors at the scheduled time.

        3. Applicant must complete the Submittal Package*, which includes: Application Form and associated Checklist Items. Package might require execution of negotiated agreements or enactment of additional ordinances.

        4. Staff will review the Submittal Package, with comments issued as needed.

        5. The application will be taken up at the next City Council meeting and approved or denied by Resolution or Ordinance:

        • If approved, the applicant should submit the appropriate permit application for their project.
        • If denied, the applicant will not be able to move forward with their project until the moratorium is lifted or expires and a traditional permit has been issued. Applicants may reconfigure project proposals (consistent with City feedback) for resubmission and reconsideration.
      • No. City Council has revised the ordinance to clarify that trade permits are not affected by the temporary moratorium because they do not impact drainage. Our focus is on making appropriate changes to our land-use regulations to ensure new development doesn’t negatively impact the existing population or environment.

         

        Anyone seeking a trade permit for projects such as roofing, plumbing, or HVAC repair should follow the standard trade permit application process.

      • The first step in the process was “mapping the DNA” of Bastrop: extracting the numerical data and creating models that show what fiscally sustainable development looks like. Under Council’s direction, the City expanded its planning team to include industry experts, Simplecity Design, to lead this process. Click here to see their in-depth analysis of Downtown Bastrop’s DNA, which was presented at a community open house on October 18.

        Simplecity Design also conducted an extensive evaluation of Bastrop’s current development codes, which was presented at a regular City Council meeting on October 23. It was evident from that evaluation that we need to make several changes from a regulatory standpoint to support the future development we want to see as Bastrop grows.

        Next steps include drafting the potential land-use regulations for Bastrop while incorporating feedback from the community. We held a Design Rodeo on November 29 and 30, where our team along with key stakeholders and the general public worked on designing the city to code, then we hosted a Code Rodeo on December 13 and 14 where we began to code the city we designed. Both events included multiple opportunities for the community to see examples of what Bastrop’s updated building codes could look like while having a chance to ask questions, provide feedback and more.

        Based on the input we heard at both Rodeos, the planning team is now in the process of taking all of this information and community input and drafting new land-use regulations to adopt moving forward.

      • Originally set for 90 days, the temporary moratorium on new development was extended to run through May 21, 2019, to ensure we are able to deliver updated land-use regulations that are informed by our geography and reflect what we already know works.
        We will work as quickly as possible, while ensuring we are effective in updating our land-use regulations to reflect the Bastrop we know and love. But, we want to get it right more than anything.
      • The project webpage is the best place to find information about Building Bastrop: www.CityofBastrop.org/BuildingBastrop

        All information related to this effort will be added to the webpage. Please continue to check back for regular updates.
      • Building Bastrop is a community effort; we want everyone to have a voice in the process. We hope that everyone who has been involved will stay involved, and we will continue to provide opportunities for every citizen to share feedback.

        Everyone is encouraged to share input and questions at any time by contacting the Building Bastrop hotline at 512-588-8181 or by email at buildingbastrop@cityofbastrop.org.

      • The only way to keep Bastrop as we know and love it is to control our own destiny by updating our land-use regulations to promote fiscally sustainable development that we know works.

      • Moratorium Metrics
        To-Date 9/13/18 9/20/18 9/27/18 10/4/18 10/11/18 10/18/18 10/25/18
        Total Permits Issued 97 127 150 161 177 193 200
        Trade 72 95 110 118 128 142 148
        Non-Trade 25 32 40 43 49 51 52
        Exception Applications 5 5 5 5 6 6 9
        Exception Letters Issued 8 13 13 13 14 14 14
        Exemption Applications 1 3 3 4 4 7 8
        Exemptions Approved 1 1 2 2 4 4 7
        Pre-Submission Meetings Held 12 17 23 29 3 34 36

        Pre-Submission Meetings Scheduled For Upcoming

        6 6 7 2 2 1 2



     

    Building Bastrop News >


     

    Building Bastrop Development Projects Permitted during the Moratorium >

    Exceptions
    • Pecan Park Subdivision, Section 1A, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D-3E, 4, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B

      Pecan Park Subdivision, Section 1B, 2, and 7

      Piney Creek Bend Section 1 and future sections

      Rouseau Blakey Drainage Channel

      Bastrop Grove, Section 1

      Agnes Street Extension (adjacent to Bastrop Grove Sub)

      Piney Ridge Section 3, Lot 3-B, 307A Laura Lane

      The Colony MUD 1A, Section 1 Phases A&B

      The Colony MUD 1A, Section 2 Phases A&B

      The Colony MUD 1A, Section 3 Phases A&B

      Bastrop Storage Facility, 501 W. SH 71, Beck, NHP, & Prokop Subdivision, Section Two, Lot 1

      921 Main Street Project

      Pecan Park Commercial, Block 8, Section 1

      173 Mahalua Ln

      1507 Chestnut St (Stem and Stone)

    Exemptions
    • 437/443 Union Chapel Rd

      1700 Main St

      120 Akala Ln

      192 Shiloh Rd

      291 Hoffman Rd

      TBD Kohala Ln - R23880

      400A Magnolia St

      1515 Chestnut St

      2309 Water St

      2407 Pecan St

      Vargas Estates Subdivision

      202 W SH 71

      118 Piney Ridge Rd

      169 W SH 21

      304 Industrial Blvd

      Family Dollar

      751 Caylor Cv

      201 Maynard St

      747 Caylor Cv

      123 Tonkawa Hills Dr

      149 Mahalo Ct

      110 Corporate Dr

      The Colony 1B

      Tahitian Village Unit 1 Block 19 Lots 1-469 and 1-470

      Burleson Crossing Lots 1A and 2A

      173 Mahalua Ln

      294 Shiloh Rd

      414 Magnolia St

      BCWCID#2 Maintenance

      2016 Hill

      3300 E SH 21

      Wilson St Properties (2400 Block of Wilson St)

      Mauna Kea Lot 529

      463 Kaanapali Ln

      102 Bushmaster Bend

      145 BJ Mayes Rd

      2207 Pecan St

      206 Wildcat Dr

      101 Bush Cv

      QuikTrip (Jackson St location)

      Tahitian Dr Lot 1120

      1305 Water St

      1504 Farm St

      201 Maynard St


     

    Contact Us >

    Hotline

    (512) 588-8181

    Email

    buildingbastrop@cityofbastrop.org

The Mission of the City of Bastrop is to continuously strive to provide innovative and proactive services that enhance our authentic way of life to achieve our vision.