100-Duplex Resort, Christmas Village Planned Here
Fayette County Commissioners spent a large portion of their meeting last Thursday discussing a proposed resort development between Round Top and Carmine that would include Christmas market and as many as 100 duplexes for nightly rental.
The property owner, Dirk Winter, has developed similar properties in California, including the Cambria Pines Lodge, home of the Cambria Christmas Market, which has been featured on national primetime television.
Winter asked permission from Commissioners to divide the 150-acre property into five parcels. Winter said he doesn’t intend to sell the properties. County Inspector Clint Sternadel said county sewage regulations stipulate a 5,000 gallon per day maximum discharge per parcel or property. Winter’s engineer, Tim Sanders of BEFCO Engineering, said the project requires three 5,000 gallon per day systems.
“What we’re proposing to do is a resort with a Christmas Market being the first phase,” Winter said. “That’s mostly happening in the area to the west. The lot to the east will eventually be developed into a resort with duplexes that will be phased in as we feel the need is there.”
Winter said the duplexes will be rented on a nightly basis.
“What we based the sewer system on is an ultimate buildout of 100 units,” Winter said. “That isn’t in the first phase. Our primary goal is to create the Christmas Market and the infrastructure support for that. There will be a commercial kitchen. There are some restroom facilities. During the market the primary waste is through porto-potty systems. The resort is the driver of the main septic systems.”
The project will get water from the City of Carmine. Winter already inked a deal with the City to provide water. Winter will pay for the construction of a pipeline to bring water from Carmine to his property.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom raised concerns about traffic around the property, which is located near the corner of W. Fuchs Rd. and Hwy. 237.
“On Hwy. 237, isn’t that a blind hill?” McBroom asked.
Winter said he is working with the Texas Department of Transportation to improve the intersection. Winter said he is prepared to pay for the cost of improvements, along with any improvements needed on Fuchs Rd.
“I’m certainly not in the business of telling anybody what to do with their land, but what do the people in Fayette County up there think about this?” asked County Judge Joe Weber.
Sanders said the project “is not a secret” to residents in the area. Sanders said the Carmine City Council voted in a recent meeting to provide the project with water
“Have you approached any of the residents?” Weber asked. “Lots of people have property out there and purchased their homes to watch the sun set in the west. This is a big thing. It’s going to have an impact on infrastructure, quality of life for some. For some it’ll be good, because they like Christmas shows. I personally don’t have a feel for how big this is going to grow to.”
Sanders said Winter does not intend to bring any financial burden to the State, County or City of Carmine.
“I’m not so concerned about the financial burden,” Weber said. “I’m concerned about the burden of infrastructure, traffic, safety, quality of life and all those other things you sometimes can’t put a dollar sign on. I’m also sensitive to telling people what they can and can’t do. But we’re in the business of looking out for the best interests of our county and the residents who live here.”
Winter said he has met with adjacent neighbors.
“We have had one neighbor who was fairly adamant that this is going to hurt his quality of life,” Winter said. “My response to that is that hasn’t been the case where we have done this in other neighborhoods.”
Winter said the Christmas light display will be set up in a forested area that will not be visible to neighbors.
“There might be some glow,” he said. “We haven’t done that kind of analysis. The lights are in a forested area. They’re not going to be visible from any roadways adjacent to the property. There’s not any sound impacts. We don’t broadcast anything that’s an unusual decibel level. We don’t have any light issues or sound issues. The biggest impact is traffic, and we’re trying to deal with that appropriately.”
Winter said about half of the property will be used for the Christmas Market and resort. Winter said he plans to build a personal residence and privately retain the other half of the property.
Commissioners ultimately decided to hold a special workshop meeting in two weeks to further review the project. They deferred action on the plan until then.