Spicewood Springs hotel plans withdrawn

Plans to build an 11-story hotel at 6315 Spicewood Springs Road are on hold after developer David Kahn withdrew a site plan application to work with concerned neighbors. The hotel, which already has its opponents, would be located in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, where the city has no land-use authority but does have some say over things such as water quality controls. In addition, unless Kahn requires a variance from the city that cannot be administratively appealed, there may not be any public hearing on the hotel. City Council Member Sheri Gallo announced the decision to withdraw the application “a day after” representatives from her office met with the developer. Her press release explains: “The Council Member discussed the serious concerns that both she and the neighborhood have about the project. Council Member Gallo emphasized how critical it was for Mr. Kahn to listen and work with the neighbors. She also suggested that perhaps the best approach would be for Mr. Kahn to consider withdrawing his current site plan application and begin again by working with the surrounding neighborhoods on what would be appropriate for the property.” According to a series of questions and answers provided by Gallo’s office, Kahn was proposing to build a “132,500 sq. ft., 11-story hotel, five rental cabins and an unspecified number of what appear to be rental Airstream trailers” on 0.66 acres of impervious cover.