Commission approves planned development for downtown Elam corridor with 76 homes and retail

The Balch Springs Planning and Zoning Commission on March 6 approved Rezoning Application 005-2025 to rezone approximately 9.123 acres at 12902 and 12904 Timothy Lane to a planned development (PD) to allow a mixed-use project with retail along Elam Road and medium-density residential behind it.

Staff said the PD responds to the city’s 2050 comprehensive-plan amendments that identified this corridor as the downtown Elam city center. The plan shown to the commission reserves retail frontage on Elam Road, requires sidewalks along Elam, and anticipates an 8-foot internal trail to connect to the city master trail. The mixed-use concept allocates about 7.24 acres to medium-density residential made up of 76 residential lots: 42 townhomes and 34 single-family homes. Staff described the project as market-rate housing, with single-family prices shown as starting around $495,000 and townhomes starting around $425,000. Staff also noted capital improvements…