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Council approves Merritt Road Montessori and 10 townhomes with parking, access waivers
Summary
The council approved a development plan and warrants for a proposed Montessori school plus 10 townhomes at 9849 Merritt Road after deliberation about access, parking and an easement that remains under review. Council added a small amendment granting the developer flexibility on certain open-space amenities.
The Rowlett City Council approved a development plan and a package of waivers for a proposed Montessori school and 10 townhomes on a 3.26-acre site at 9849 Merritt Road (Hughes Addition Lot 1 Block B), presented by Mohammed Yonus on behalf of BM Real Estate Holdings.
Deputy City Manager Christophe Bauer told council the site is constrained by several easements — a sanitary sewer easement, a drainage easement and a fall-zone corridor for an existing transmission/tower easement — which limit the engineerable footprint. Planning and Zoning considered the project three times and ultimately recommended denial by a 5–2 vote; council heard detailed testimony from the applicant's team and reviewed traffic, parking and access studies.
Key council concerns included vehicle circulation for school drop-off and the location and width of access points onto Merritt Road. The applicant said the Montessori operation staggers drop-off times and provided a conservative queuing analysis showing the on-site drop-off lane and the 35 parking spaces proposed should be sufficient even under compressed loading. The applicant also said he had engaged with a neighboring developer (JPI) about adjusting a drainage easement; JPI provided a recent note indicating it would process an easement change to allow the site plan to be finalized.
Council member Reeves moved to approve the requested major and minor warrants with an amendment allowing the developer to substitute landscaping and park benches in place of a specific set of sports amenities listed in a minor warrant; council adopted the amendment and then approved the project by a 6–0 vote.
Why it matters: The development will add a small private school and 10 for-sale townhomes near Merritt Road and the President George Bush Turnpike, changing traffic patterns and adding housing options in a form-based zone. The decision included waivers from the form-based code because of site constraints.
Actions taken: Council approved the development plan and the package of waivers with the stated amendment (vote 6–0). The approval is conditioned on resolving outstanding easement matters and any plan adjustments required if the sanitary sewer easement is confirmed as a constraint.
