The proposal to convert the former Nueva Vista Golf Course into Zoo Midland and The Preserve gained approval during the Midland Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Monday, November 6.
The commissioners granted the request by Boot Lake Ranch Property Owner to change the zoning from Agriculture Estate to Local Retail District.
Adam Cunyus of Dahlia Development is part owner of Boot Lake Ranch Property and expressed his appreciation for the proceedings of Monday's meeting.
“We’re extremely excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to do this project,” Cunyus told Midland Times. “We look forward to engaging further with the community, getting their feedback, and being able to provide a fun destination for families to enjoy in Midland.”
Cunyus and the other team members of Boot Lake Ranch Property held three meetings each week for two weeks with local residents prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that resulted in the approval. The community meetings were used to allow local feedback from residents.
The developers are encouraging residents to visit their website to submit any remaining concerns and questions. According to Cunyus, over 500 visitors to the site have expressed support for The Preserve.
Commissioners commended the developers for their outreach to local residents. Based on concerns raised by the public, developers of The Preserve and Zoo Midland provided plans for flood management, noise control, and waste management.
According to Jeff Beard, a board member of Zoo Midland, “building the zoo is complex, and it's going to be a process.” He said after the approval meeting that “this is one step of many, and we felt great walking out of the meeting with that approval."
Beard told Midland Times his group is considering the demographics in Midland, where the median age is in the 30s and more families are joining the community every year.
“The zoo will be an experience for the whole family,” said Beard. “It’s going to be an opportunity for kids to put down their screens, get outside, and learn all about what nature has to offer.”
According to Beard, his group’s plan is “to provide more opportunities like Zoo Midland for future residents to enjoy—that's how a community is truly created."