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Commission approves land‑use change and 29‑lot Shady Oaks plan with conditions on 114 frontage and tree preservation
Summary
The commission voted to recommend amendment of the City of Southlake future land use plan and to approve a zoning change and development plan for 1835 Shady Oaks that will allow a 29‑lot neighborhood. Approval included conditions on setbacks, landscape and noise mitigation along Highway 114 and a commitment to protect the adjacent western tract.
The Planning and Zoning Commission on April 3 recommended both a future land‑use amendment and a zoning change/development plan to allow a 29‑lot single‑family subdivision at 1835 Shady Oaks, subject to multiple conditions intended to protect adjacent properties and reduce noise and visual impacts along Highway 114.
Staff said the property is currently designated office commercial in the comprehensive plan and zoned agriculture; the applicant asked to change the north portion to medium‑density residential and the south portion to low‑density residential to create 29 lots across just over 21 acres. The proposed lot sizes average just over 18,000 square feet, with several public and private open spaces shown on the plan.
Applicant representative John Huffman told the commission the residential concept is intended to better match the surrounding pattern of development and to preserve more trees and open space than a hypothetical office project would. He said the project team is willing to work with staff and neighbors on details for tree preservation and on options for noise mitigation along 114.
Neighbors and the commission discussed noise and visual buffering along 114, and several speakers urged a practical, maintainable solution rather than a raw concrete TxDOT‑style noise wall. Resident Marcy Peters (1816 Shady Oaks Drive) urged a “sound mitigation” solution and asked that the developer adopt a 50‑foot setback from Shady Oaks; the applicant agreed to increase the Shady Oaks setback to 50 feet and to research attractive buffering options. Commissioners also directed the applicant to develop a consistent, HOA‑managed fence treatment and a detailed landscape/tree preservation plan for council review.
The commission’s motion to recommend the land use amendment (CP‑25‑0001) passed unanimously and a separate motion recommending approval of the zoning change and development plan (ZA‑25‑0005) also passed unanimously, each with conditions. Conditions captured in the motion include protecting the adjacent western tract from additional encumbrances (no new setback or slope obligations to be imposed by the new zoning), a 50‑foot setback from Shady Oaks, an investigation of using the Highway 114 service road for construction access, a preference for vegetative buffering and HOA‑managed fencing on 114 (rather than an exposed concrete noise wall), and a commitment to provide a detailed tree‑conservation and landscape plan for council consideration.
Commissioners noted the project had been the subject of prior hearings and that re‑notice was performed to reflect minor changes. The applicant and staff were asked to prepare specific, illustrated options for the 114 frontage (visual and acoustic buffering) and to consult with immediate neighbors before the council hearing.
Both the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning recommendation will be transmitted to City Council; staff and the chair suggested an initial council hearing could be scheduled April 15, 2025, with any second readings on later dates.
