Circuit of the Americas PUD expansion is underway

At the July 18 meeting of the Environmental Commission, City Case Manager Sherri Sirwaitis informed the commission that Circuit of the Americas is preparing to develop 1,037 acres at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard. This planned unit development (PUD) will consist of 852 acres of commercial space, 186 acres of mixed-use space and 248 acres of open space. According to Sirwaitis, the amount of open space that is allocated in the PUD design is 10 percent above minimum requirements. In order to execute the design, Sirwaitis said that the project applicant will be “requesting to seek 10 modifications to the land development code requirements.” Modifications will relate to critical water quality zone crossings, critical environmental feature setbacks, impervious cover, slopes, and cut and fill. Michele Lynch with Metcalfe Wolff Stuart & Williams, who was representing the applicant, said that although there is currently no formal proposal, “we’re hoping to submit the formal application in late August or September.” Commissioner Andrew Creel asked Lynch to return with a master plan that outlines the project in more detail so that he can better see how much the proposed development overlaps with current development. “There’s a lot of impervious cover out here on the site as it stands now,” he said. The project will return to the Environmental Commission for review in several months. City Council will receive a briefing on Aug. 9.