South Padre Island, Texas

HIGHEST & BEST USE ANALYSIS/LAND USE PLAN

Client: Mundy & Associates (Greenfield Advisors)

Project Size: 740 Acres

South Padre Island is located at the southern tip of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico and extends 36 miles north. The subject site is located at the southern end of the island, approximately 3 miles north of the town of South Padre Island. The site contains approximately 740 acres with 1-1/2 miles of Gulf frontage. The white, sandy beaches and warm, sunny climate of this Gulf of Mexico locale are the major attractions of the island. At the time of the project, the town of South Padre Island represented the only development on the island. Marketing studies indicated the need for residential and recreational development which would take full advantage of the islands outstanding features.

R. W. Thorpe and Associates, Inc. created site plan alternatives which included single/multi-family residential, and mobile home development. An 18-hole golf course, golf clubhouse and tennis complex were proposed on the west, the Laguna Madre side of the site, with single family residential lots at approximately 1/3 acre each. A maximum number of lots would be developed adjacent to the fairways in conjunction with the golf and tennis recreation amenities.

Across Park Road, which bisects the site, the eastern portion boasts 1-1/2 miles of beach frontage along the Gulf of Mexico. Proposed development included clusters of single family lots, multi-family condominiums and/or mobile home/recreational vehicle sites. A public pedestrian right-of-way was provided at each development cluster with boardwalks or bridges through vegetated areas and over sand dunes to the beach.

Proposed site development on South Padre Island respected the existing system of sand dunes and the natural washover channels which run through the site. Clusters of development were created between the channels while maintaining the integrity of the primary existing dunes. The dune protection zone and washover channels provided natural open space, view corridors and pedestrian ways to beaches where natural vegetation was maintained and enhanced.

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