Planning and Zoning Commission approves 36-unit MDM townhome site plan

The City of Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 10 approved a site plan for MDM Developers to build 36 townhome units on roughly 3.1 acres in the PD-37 zone.

Staff presented the plan, saying the project proposes an internal private street, a gated second access point to the 360 frontage road for emergency/exit use, and guest parking accessed from 360 Frontage Road. Staff said the proposal was evaluated against single-family townhome standards and meets the applicable density and dimensional requirements for the lower range shown in the chart provided to commissioners.

The commission imposed conditions that must be met before building permits are issued: the applicant must replat the property so lot lines and private streets conform to the approved site plan; the homeowners association must own and maintain the private street and common areas; screening along the 360 frontage must include a masonry screening wall or a wrought-iron fence with masonry columns and a wrought-iron gate; the applicant must provide a revised screening plan; and a revised landscaping plan must show one 3-inch-caliper tree in front of each unit and 30 gallons of shrubs per townhome lot.

Staff noted the units are two-story with brick and stucco elevations. City staff also said a prior site plan from February 2003 authorized 45 units but expired after no progress; the current applicant purchased the property and refiled a new site plan after earlier submissions were no longer valid.

A resident, David Yacobian of 609 West Springdale Lane, urged minimizing front-yard turf and questioned the requirement for an HOA, saying HOAs can increase ownership costs and complicate future redevelopment. Planning staff replied that the Unified Development Code requires HOA or public improvement district (PID) arrangements to ensure long-term maintenance of shared features such as cluster mailboxes and common open space; staff said cluster mailboxes are typically required and that HOA arrangements help maintain common areas and curb appeal.

MDM president Daniel Risby said the developer has updated plans with a new architect, secured financing and is ready to move forward; he told commissioners the design choices, including the unit sizes, reflected the architect's approach to the smaller lots.

Commissioners asked about unit sizes, whether the developer had considered fewer units to allow larger floor plans, and whether the units would be sold (the applicant said units, not lots, would be sold). After discussion, the commission closed the public hearing and voted to approve the site plan as presented, per the development review committee recommendations.

The commission recorded the approval vote as unanimous.