Staff says rezoning request at 1822 Mobile Road lacks infrastructure support

City planning staff told the Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission at a March 10 staff briefing that it does not fully support a request to rezone 1822 Mobile Road from agriculture to Single-Family 5 (SF-5) because the property lacks adequate utility and road infrastructure.

Staff said Matthew Road Mobile Home Estates (established 1968 and annexed in 1969) is largely unplatted and served by private utilities. The property at 1822 Mobile Road lies within about 300 feet of existing public water and wastewater lines, which means the applicant may be required to extend those lines at the applicant’s expense to connect to city service. For much of the neighborhood, staff said septic systems that meet the Public Health and Environmental Quality Department’s requirements are currently used, and water for some parcels is provided by a private water district.

Staff also noted access concerns: the lot would be served via a prescriptive easement on Mobile Road rather than a dedicated, city-maintained right-of-way. Staff reported the Fire Department has encountered difficulty accessing properties in the neighborhood during extreme weather events and expressed concern about the long-term integrity of the water system and the installation of new septic systems near Joe Pool Lake.

Because of the infrastructure shortcomings, the Development Review Committee does not fully support the rezoning request. Staff said that if the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council were to approve the rezoning, staff recommends a condition that the applicant obtain approval of a plat and file it with the county prior to issuance of any building permits. Staff said it has informed the applicant of these requirements and will coordinate development and engineering review if the case proceeds to hearing.