Commission staff backs comprehensive plan change at Esther’s Road but recommends denying developer’s zoning plan

Planning staff told the Irving Planning and Zoning Commission on April 7 that they recommend approval of a comprehensive plan amendment to change the future‑land‑use designation for 4105 Esthers Road from regional commercial to community village, but they recommended denial of the developer’s concurrent zoning request for mixed‑use, special plan (SP2) with the State Highway 161 overlay.

Staff said the land‑use amendment better reflects surrounding lower‑density residential uses and the city’s community‑village category. The developer’s zoning application would authorize a two‑phase project of 575 multifamily units, with commercial uses concentrated in a separate 15,000‑square‑foot strip at the corner rather than integrated into the residential buildings. Staff characterized the revised layout as effectively a large multifamily development rather than true mixed use.

The recommendation matters because the Highway 161 overlay requires a minimum of 10…