Irving Planning & Zoning sends multiple rezonings to council, rejects Greenview office‑warehouse request and advances data‑center rules

The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, March 3, 2025, voted on a slate of zoning and land‑use requests, recommending denial of a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning request for a proposed office‑warehouse at 4216 South Greenview Drive while forwarding several other cases, including two data‑center proposals and an amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) on data‑center standards, to City Council.

Why it matters: The meeting’s decisions affect where industrial, warehouse, housing and data‑center development can occur in Irving — potentially shaping job growth, infrastructure demands and neighborhood compatibility near DFW Airport and established residential areas.

The Greenview proposal denied after staff concerns Jim Dewey of JDJR Engineers, speaking for the property owner, sought a comprehensive plan amendment and companion rezoning to allow a roughly 22,000‑square‑foot “office‑warehouse” at 4216 South Greenview Drive. Dewey told the commission the building would be “about 22,000 square feet” and argued the use is consistent with nearby industrial builds and would generate jobs and tax base.

Commissioners and staff raised infrastructure and compatibility concerns tied to the site’s history of airport buyouts and existing utilities. One commissioner said staff expertise on infrastructure weighed against approval and asked the city council to have more detailed impact information if the applicant seeks action there. The commission voted to recommend disapproval of the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning change, citing a need for further impact analysis.

Data‑center proposals advanced; city narrows review for future projects Two separate data‑center related rezoning requests were forwarded to City Council after discussion. - Scott Ellerman, representing a partnership between Constellation Real Estate Partners and Calvary Church, sought a future‑land‑use change and rezoning for about 24 acres at 4401 North State Highway 161 to enable a data center. Ellerman said the intent is to build a data center and that the site’s access to high‑capacity transmission lines and fiber make it feasible. The commission recommended both the comprehensive plan amendment and zoning case be sent to City Council with a 4–3 vote. - Edge Data Centers presented a rezoning proposal for 300 North Loop 12. Bill Greenwood, Edge’s director of development, and civil engineer Sean Alexander described the project’s low‑water cooling design and security measures. Greenwood said the development is designed for “zero water per year” cooling through closed‑loop chiller systems. The commission moved the rezoning to City Council by a 5–2 vote.

At the same meeting the commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of an amendment to the UDC (ordinance amendment 2024‑326) that would require data centers to seek a conditional use permit (CUP) rather than to be allowed outright in certain industrial districts. Resident Andrew Lawhen of the Parkside HOA raised concerns about noise, power lines and notice; city staff explained the ordinance change would require individualized review and notice for each data‑center application and noted an exception for properties owned by DFW Airport, which are outside city jurisdiction. The commission recommended the ordinance amendment to City Council unanimously.

Other actions of note - Conditional Use Permit 2024‑449 (116, 120 and 124 Strickland Plaza): The commission recommended approval of the CUP with a five‑year term and forwarded it to City Council (unanimous). - Development Plan 2025‑46 (8350 North MacArthur Boulevard) and Zoning Case 2025‑2: The commission approved the development plan (final action) and recommended approval of the rezoning (both unanimous). The applicant said the project is a sports entertainment restaurant with bar. - Zoning Case 2025‑11 (2705 North Beltline Road): The commission recommended approval to rezone the former Boston Market site to allow a Pollo Campero restaurant (unanimous). Applicant Sharon Barbosa Crane represented the owner. - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025‑45 and Zoning Case 2025‑15 (1660 North Westridge Circle): The commission recommended approval of both items (6–1), enabling redevelopment to flex‑warehouse uses. - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025‑20 and Zoning Case 2025‑18 (1301 Ronnie Drive): The commission recommended approval of both items (5–2) to allow three townhomes on a lot and related zoning changes. - Zoning Case 2025‑27 (7600 North MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 110): Recommended approval (unanimous). - Zoning Case 2025‑29 and Multifamily Concept Plan 2025‑30 (6201 Colwell Boulevard): The commission recommended approval and will forward the multifamily concept plan and rezoning to City Council (vote recorded as passed with one abstention noted).

Quotes from the meeting - “I believe it's 22,000 square feet,” Jim Dewey said describing the proposed Greenview building. - “The main purpose of this zoning case is to secure the ability to build a data center,” Scott Ellerman said of the 4401 North State Highway 161 request. - “We will use, say, 0 water per year design,” Bill Greenwood said when describing Edge Data Centers’ closed‑loop cooling approach. - “I was notified of this change by a postcard… I am here more or less for questions,” Andrew Lawhen of the Parkside HOA said during public comment on the UDC amendment. - “It's gonna add over a hundred million dollars of additional tax base,” Taylor Bowen of Amlee Residential said when describing the proposed 406‑unit redevelopment at the AT&T site on Colwell Boulevard.

Votes at a glance - Consent approvals: Minutes (02/03/2025) and three plats (2024‑125‑PL Fun and Furious Addition; 2025‑4‑PL Freeport Industrial Edition; 2025‑42‑PL Avalon Luxury Villas) — motion passed unanimously. - Consent disapproval: 1202543‑PL Hardesty Revised Edition, replat at 103 East Pioneer Drive — motion for disapproval passed unanimously. - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2024‑446 CP (4216 S Greenview Drive) — motion to forward for approval failed; commission subsequently recommended disapproval and requested the City Council consider infrastructure/impact details (motion passed). - Zoning Case 2024‑429 ZC (4216 S Greenview Drive) — recommended disapproval (motion passed 5–2). - Conditional Use Permit 2024‑449 CUP (116, 120, 124 Strickland Plaza) — recommended approval with a five‑year term (motion passed unanimously). - Development Plan 2025‑46 DVP (8350 N MacArthur Boulevard) — final action approved by commission (motion passed unanimously). - Zoning Case 2025‑2 ZC (8350 N MacArthur Boulevard) — recommended approval (motion passed unanimously). - Zoning Case 2025‑11 ZC (2705 North Beltline Road) — recommended approval (motion passed unanimously). - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025‑45 CP (1660 N Westridge Circle) — recommended approval (motion passed 6–1). - Zoning Case 2025‑15 ZC (1660 N Westridge Circle) — recommended approval (motion passed 6–1). - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025‑20 CP (1301 Ronnie Drive) — recommended approval (motion passed 5–2). - Zoning Case 2025‑18 ZC (1301 Ronnie Drive) — recommended approval (motion passed 5–2). - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025‑25 CP (4401 N State Highway 161) — moved to City Council for approval (motion passed 4–3). - Zoning Case 2025‑19 ZC (4401 N State Highway 161) — moved to City Council for approval (motion passed 4–3). - Zoning Case 2025‑26 ZC (300 North Loop 12) — moved to City Council for approval (motion passed 5–2). - Zoning Case 2025‑27 ZC (7600 North MacArthur Blvd, Suite 110) — recommended approval (motion passed unanimously). - Zoning Case 2025‑29 ZC and Multifamily Concept Plan 2025‑30 MFCP (6201 Colwell Boulevard) — forwarded to City Council with recommendation for approval (vote recorded with one abstention noted). - Ordinance amendment 2024‑326 UDC (data‑center standards): Commission recommended approval to City Council (motion passed unanimously). This change would require a conditional use permit for data centers in specified districts and add procedural notice requirements for each project; DFW Airport‑owned property remains outside city jurisdiction.

What’s next Most items the commission recommended to City Council will appear on the council’s agenda for final decisions. Applicants and residents will receive formal notice for projects that require a conditional use permit or other public hearings at the council level.

Meeting context and engagement level The meeting lasted approximately 86 minutes of recorded agenda discussion (7:02–8:28 p.m.). Several items drew extended discussion: the Greenview proposal (multi‑point debate about airport ties and infrastructure), data‑center proposals (power availability and neighborhood notice), and the large multifamily redevelopment at Colwell Boulevard (project scale, unit mix and parking). The commission split on several higher‑impact items (data centers and the Greenview site), producing narrow votes in multiple cases.

Ending The commission adjourned at about 8:28 p.m.; most major items will now proceed to City Council for final action.