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Council denies Studio Rez by Marriott after hours of neighborhood opposition
Summary
The Grand Prairie City Council voted 8-0 to deny a special-use permit for a four-story, 118-room Studio Rez by Marriott on South Highway 360 after extensive public comment raising safety, traffic and proximity concerns to nearby schools and day-care centers.
The Grand Prairie City Council voted 8-0 to deny a special-use permit for Studio Rez by Marriott, a four-story, 118-room extended-stay hotel proposed at 4640–4650 S. Highway 360. Council member John Lopez moved to deny the SUP and the motion passed unanimously.
Supporters of the project, including developer Suraj Patel and representatives of Marriott and the property owner, described the brand as a midscale extended-stay product aimed at traveling professionals and longer-term guests. Suraj Patel said the chain holds “very high standards for operations” and noted the developer obtained a December letter from Arlington ISD indicating the district had “no concerns and no objections” to the project’s proximity to West Elementary School.
Residents and civic leaders packed the council chambers and delivered nearly two hours of public comments opposing the project. Speakers cited proximity to West Elementary and a nearby daycare, possible increases in crime and traffic, and a pattern they said of extended-stay hotels later deteriorating. Jonathan Plunkett, a retired police officer, said his experience “going into these hotel rooms” had exposed him to prostitution and drug incidents and urged council to protect children. Edward Beckworth, president of the Beacon Hill Homeowners Association, said neighbors had not been adequately notified and urged the council to prioritize child safety over potential tax revenue.
Planning staff noted the application required several variances, including increases to permitted building height (from 25 feet to 50 feet), a higher floor-area ratio, and reductions to landscape buffers. Staff also reported receiving one letter of support and 183 letters of opposition (representing 139 unique addresses); 55 of those addresses were within one mile of the site. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial 7–1.
Several council members said they were persuaded by neighborhood testimony and concerns about the site’s access and surrounding land uses. Mayor Pro Tem and others discussed that the property owner could pursue other commercial uses allowed under the current zoning, and council members encouraged the developer to engage the neighborhood if the owner chose to return with a different proposal.
The denial means the applicant must either redesign the proposal to reduce variances and address neighborhood concerns or pursue another allowed use for the commercially zoned property.
