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Council approves companion land-use and PD amendments for 300-unit multifamily development
Summary
The council approved a future land-use map amendment and a planned-development concept for about 14 acres that would allow an approximately 300-unit apartment complex; staff said the underlying zoning already allows multifamily uses and the approval codifies the concept plan for Phase 2.
The Grand Prairie City Council on May 6 approved companion items amending the comprehensive plan and adopting a planned-development concept plan that together accommodate an approximately 300-unit, eight-building multifamily development on about 14 acres adjacent to I‑20.
Staff told the council the underlying PD-18 zoning already permits multifamily uses by right, and the proposed comprehensive-plan amendment (from mixed-use to high-density residential) and PD amendment provide a concept plan to guide future site-plan review. Planning staff said the conceptual design includes up to 300 apartment units with one- to three-bedroom units, a clubhouse, pool, dog park and pickleball court. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 8–0.
Several council members and the applicant discussed orientation and buffering: staff noted the applicant oriented the building nearest single-family homes to avoid unit windows directly facing the neighborhood. The applicant confirmed Phase 2 materials would be coordinated with Phase 1, and that the two phases have separate clubhouses and could have separate ownership in the future. The applicant said typical hold periods for newly developed apartments are multi-year (the applicant said roughly a five-year hold is common), and that Phase 1 was conventionally financed while Phase 2 had not been evaluated yet for any housing finance corporation (HFC) financing.
Members of the public raised concerns about the state-level issue of housing finance corporations and the potential for HFC deals to remove properties from the tax rolls for a period; council members noted the city is supporting state legislation addressing HFC authority but said zoning decisions must follow local code and the existing zoning rights. Council approved items 33 and 34 together by voice vote.
