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Commission recommends disapproval of O'Connor Road plan amid resident objections
Summary
The commission unanimously recommended disapproval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment and companion zoning case for 3131 North O'Connor Road after neighborhood residents raised privacy and compatibility concerns.
The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission on June 2 unanimously recommended city council deny a Comprehensive Plan amendment (case 2025142 CP) and the companion zoning case (2025141 ZC) for property at 3131 North O'Connor Road.
The applicant, Rod Sethi, told the commission the site currently houses a Sloan School and said changing conditions since the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the application. "After COVID, it's a drastic change in the business and it's literally hard to survive," Sethi said, explaining the request to redevelop the site as townhomes.
Neighbors objected to the proposal, citing privacy and compatibility with existing single-family homes. Gary Ross, who said he owns property that would share about one-third of a fence line with the proposed development, said he was "adamantly opposed" and asked for more time to speak with neighbors. Other residents raised similar concerns about two-story units overlooking backyards and the possibility that townhomes would set a precedent for more multifamily development in the area.
Commissioners who spoke in deliberations framed the decision around neighborhood compatibility rather than height alone. One commissioner said single-family residences surround the site on both north and south sides and described townhomes there as "not really compatible with the neighborhood." Another commissioner echoed that view, saying the proposed change would be "out of character for that area." The commission's motions recommending disapproval were both unanimous.
What happens next: The commission forwarded its recommendation of disapproval to city council. Council will consider the commission's findings and recommendations in a future public hearing and make the final decision.
Why it matters: Commissioners and neighbors pointed to compatibility with adjacent single-family homes and potential impacts on privacy and property values as the primary reasons for opposing the amendment and rezoning. The unanimous recommendation signals the commission's shared view that the proposed townhome development is not appropriate at this location under the requested plan change.
Vote and action: The commission voted unanimously to recommend disapproval of the Comprehensive Plan amendment (2025142 CP) and the companion zoning case (2025141 ZC).
