DeSoto planning commission backs site-plan, landscape and elevation amendments for Park at Daniel Farms

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of DeSoto voted to recommend that the City Council approve an amendment to Plan Development 121, Section 9 to replace the site plan, landscape plan and elevation plans for the Park at Daniel Farms multifamily development.

Staff said the application updates exhibit materials—including square footage figures and exterior elevations—and that the full package was remanded to the commission by the City Council after council identified the site plan had not been included in the earlier submittal. Jordan Williams, city staff, told the commission the amendment swaps existing site, landscape and elevation plans with revised plans and that no new deviations from the approved PD are being requested.

The change affects the multifamily development tract at the northwest corner of West Daniel and Delph Road and Baltimore Drive in DeSoto. Williams said 44 notices were mailed to property owners within 204 feet of the property and that staff received no letters in favor or opposition. As presented, the PD continues to allow multifamily, medical office and general retail uses and the city’s future land use plan identifies the parcel as destination mixed use.

Caleb (city staff) clarified the amendment is a replacement of plans that were originally approved years earlier when the PD was adopted; he said the developer is now making minor adjustments related to site layout, square footage per exhibit and exterior elevations as the project moves toward construction. ‘‘There are deviations in the PD, yes, but there’s no new deviations or changing deviations. We’re just swapping out plans,’’ he said.

Commissioners asked whether the change in square footage affected the approvals; Williams said the reported square-foot changes do not affect the PD’s approved deviations and that the updated site plan is new to the commission because it was omitted from the prior advertisement and hearing. With no public speakers and no recorded opposition, the commission voted to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council.

The motion to recommend approval was made and seconded on the record and approved by voice vote; the commission chair announced the motion carried. The recommendation moves the amended PD back to the City Council for final action.

Details recorded in the staff presentation included a previously approved figure referenced in the presentation for a building type A (reported as 505,582 square feet in staff slides), and staff noted the PD continues to authorize multifamily, medical office and general retail on the parcel.

Next steps: The commission’s favorable recommendation is advisory; final approval of the PD amendment will be considered by the DeSoto City Council at a future meeting for which staff will provide agenda and notice.