Plans for the Discovery Sands lagoon attraction development in Galveston will move forward following approval by the city’s planning commission Tuesday.
Courtesy Blackard Companies
A major lagoon development in Galveston moved a step closer to serious consideration by the city council this week.
Residents of Jamaica Beach and environmental groups are voicing concerns over Discovery Sands, a sprawling 170-acre master plan that would add at about 600 housing units, condos, retail and recreation amenities and anchored by a lagoon-style attraction.
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It will now be up to city council to decide whether the development would be an asset or a detriment to the coastal community of just over 1,000 people, with its wetlands and the wildlife that thrive there.
Here’s what to know about Discovery Sands.
Who is the developer of Discovery Sands?
Blackard Companies is a Dallas-based developer behind the project.
The firm’s CEO and founder, Jeffory Blackard, has maintained that his design would not encroach on the wetlands or wildlife, saying he builds “villages” and not resorts. His designs, Blackard told the Houston Chronicle, are developed “within the parameters of the environment.”
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The firm’s ethos is based on a concept, coined neoretroism, that takes a philosophical approach to real estate development, said Blackard.
How big would Discovery Sands be?
Discovery Sands would be developed on approximately 170 acres of a 350-acre site.
The project would be developed on a site adjacent to Jamaica Beach and northwest of the intersection of Bob Smith Drive and San Luis Pass Road/FM 3005.
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What needs to happen for Discovery Sands to continue?
Blackard Companies sought Planned Urban Development (PUD) approval for code changes that would remove minimum lot size limits and setback requirements to shrink the distance between buildings, increase height allowance to up to 75 feet for “architectural features” and allow for private roads.
Residents opposed say these allowances – if approved and passed by council – would set a precedent for future developers to rewrite regulations. PUD is a zoning classification that allows flexibility within a planned mixed use master plan community.
Plans for the Discovery Sands lagoon attraction development in Galveston will move forward following approval by the city’s planning commission Tuesday.
Courtesy Blackard Companies
Why residents are opposed to Discovery Sands
Residents of Jamaica Beach have expressed concerns about how the sprawling development would infringe on the community’s casual, beachfront lifestyle and its impact on the local environment, including the disturbance of wetlands and disruption to local wildlife.
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Environmental groups, including the Galveston Bay Foundation and Bayou City Waterkeeper, have also raised concerns over the PUD project and how requested code changes would alter the future of wildlife in the area.
Jamaica Beach has a population of just over 1,000. Some residents have opposed a planned 170-acre mix use development which include a lagoon-type attraction.
Courtesy Photo/City of Jamaica Beach
Planning commissioners’ approval
The city’s planning commission, which previously postponed its decision for the April meeting – approved an amended version of the plan, with recommendations for the developer to include the following:
Conservation area for the wetlands
Set a minimum for workforce housing units.
Ensure an adequate area for sewage plant expansion
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Blackard had previously agreed to build a sewage plant on the site.
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What is Discovery Sands?
The development is designed to mimic a European “coastal village” and – if approved – would include a lagoon-like feature and a nearly 200-foot lazy river. The possible amenities are a mix of resort, commercial and community features, according to documents:
Lighthouse no taller than 50 feet in the lagoon area.
Nearly 600 single-family and multi-family dwellings, and work housing units, including townhouses and condominiums
Hotel
Short-term residential units
Restaurants
Recycling center
Arena/stadium
Auto fueling station
Childcare and day care facility
Indoor and outdoor recreation centers
Hospital
Fitness center
Public and private schools
For a full list of proposed amenities and features see city documents here.
Where does Discovery Sands stand now?
The proposed development will go to Galveston city council for review. The city has not yet posted an agenda item for consideration of the Discovery Sands development.