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Farmers Branch Planning and Zoning commissioners unanimously agreed July 27 to postpone action on the proposed redevelopment of the former Spot @ Myra property at 12150 Medical Parkway, continuing the public hearing until Aug. 10 at the applicant's request.
The 7-0 vote came after Planning and Zoning Chair Amber Raley announced that the applicant had requested additional time to accommodate a community meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, in the Farmers Branch City Council Chambers. Before discussing the request, commissioners voted to reopen the public hearing, which had been continued from the commission's June 22 meeting.
The request seeks to amend Planned Development District No. 18 to remove the age restriction on an approved independent senior living project and instead allow construction of a 301-unit multifamily development that would enclose the existing parking garage on the approximately 6.1-acre site. The proposal would also include four single-family lots.
The commission had tabled the request in June after asking the applicant for additional justification regarding the feasibility of developing the property as age-restricted housing.
Although the applicant did not present the project Monday, commissioners used the meeting to ask staff additional questions about protest petitions and public notification requirements before opening public comment.
Ten residents either addressed the commission or chose to defer their remarks until the Aug. 10 meeting.
David Koch, who spoke on behalf of multiple residents opposing the request, said those in attendance were willing to postpone their comments if the hearing would be continued.
"I believe all of us are willing to defer our public comments until the hearing on the 10th," Koch said. "I think everybody else is in agreement that if y'all make that motion, we'll step back and save you all a bunch of time tonight."
Before deferring, Koch also urged the commission to review how protest petitions are being calculated and whether surrounding property owners within the larger Planned Development District should be included in the process before any recommendation moves to City Council.
Not every speaker deferred.
Arturo Ortiz, who lives near the proposed development, said his family chose Farmers Branch because they believed the neighboring project would remain a 55-and-older community.
"I simply believe that the originally approved senior living community is a much better fit for the location and more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood," Ortiz said.
Other residents offered differing views.
Leslie Osbaldeston said she would prefer to see the approved senior housing built but would also support conventional apartments if it meant finally redeveloping the long-vacant site.
"I would love to see some sort of business there instead of just urban blight," she said.
Robert Burke also spoke in opposition, saying his family purchased a home nearby with the expectation that the project would remain age restricted. Several other speakers, including Lucy Gore, chose to defer their comments until the continued public hearing.
Commissioner Marcus Miller moved to postpone the case until the Aug. 10 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the public hearing is expected to resume following the Aug. 3 community meeting. Commissioners approved the motion unanimously, 7-0.
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