Commission backs rezoning of former school site for 55 townhomes, amid parking and traffic concerns

The Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 voted 6‑1 to recommend a zone change from Public Use (PU) to Planned Development Townhouse‑2 (PDTH‑2) for a 3.211‑acre parcel at 701 South Charles Street, previously used by the Lewisville Independent School District, to allow a 55‑unit townhouse development proposed by TSMJV LLC.

Planning staff explained the property was auctioned by the school district and purchased by the developer. The proposal calls for 55 two‑story townhouses, some fronting Charles Street and others fronting a new L‑shaped street the developer would construct. Staff noted the project uses the Townhouse‑2 product similar to Belleville Village but with smaller lots to reach the requested density. Staff highlighted the adoption of a 53‑foot street‑right‑of‑way standard that allows planting street trees in the parkway because individual lots would be too small for canopy trees.

A key variance from typical suburban standards is parking: outside the Old Town Design District the code requires three off‑street parking spaces per unit, but the proposal provides two‑car garages and relies on on‑street parking on the new streets and existing nearby streets. Staff estimated roughly 22–24 on‑street spaces would be provided in the proposed layout and noted Belleville Village (a nearby comparison) functions with two‑car garages and on‑street parking.

Several commissioners questioned whether on‑street parking could spill into adjacent single‑family neighborhoods and whether emergency and sanitation vehicles could navigate streets with parked cars on both sides. Planning staff said the proposed street and alley cross‑sections meet city standards and that widened alleys were included to discourage parking in alleys. One commissioner who drives the area daily said they retained parking and safety concerns but said they would support the project since staff reported it meets standards.

A member of the public raised multiple concerns, including school‑zone traffic impacts, parking spillover into neighborhoods, infrastructure and utility capacity, property‑value effects and increased noise and congestion; the resident opposed the zoning change. In response to questions about ownership versus rental, a developer representative said the homeowners association (HOA) document would limit purchases to two units per owner and stated the HOA would prohibit renting so that units would be owner‑occupied.

Planning staff concluded the proposal supports the Lewisville 2025 vision plan by increasing opportunities for ownership and walkability to Old Town. On motions (moved by Commissioner Aram; seconded by Commissioner Ainsley), the commission recommended approval of the zone change by a 6‑1 vote. Staff said the matter will go before the city council for a second public hearing in April for final action.

Why it matters: Rezoning public‑use land to allow higher‑density townhomes changes housing type and density near Old Town and school properties. The commission’s recommendation advances the project but leaves open council review and any additional conditions addressing parking, circulation, and school‑zone impacts.

Meeting context: The item included an extended discussion about parking supply, on‑street parking impacts, alley widths and emergency access; staff compared the product to Belleville Village and cited applicable setback and screening standards.