Council approves first reading for rezoning that clears way for 97-unit townhome concept at 500 Woodhurst Boulevard

Hurst City Council approved, on first reading, an ordinance to rezone roughly 10.11 acres at 500 Woodhurst Boulevard to a general business plan development designation that would allow a proposed 97-unit rental townhome community.

City planner Michelle described the request as a rezoning from general business to general business plan development to accommodate attached townhomes and other multifamily uses. Shane Seybold, a representative of Republic Properties, presented concept renderings and said the company is proposing a gated development with the main ingress and egress on Highway 10 and emergency-only access on Arthur Drive. "We are showing 97 attached townhomes, that will be a rental product," Seybold said in his presentation.

Seybold described typical finishes and layouts for the product, saying each townhome would have a two-car garage and the design includes landscaped ‘‘muse’’ open spaces between clusters of homes to encourage neighbor interaction. He said the developer has not finalized architectural plans and will return with a detailed site plan if the rezoning is approved.

Councilmember (Speaker 2) asked whether the developer had personally observed peak-morning traffic conditions on Arthur Drive. Seybold said he had not visited during the earliest morning periods and offered to prepare a traffic-impact analysis to satisfy city engineering requirements. The mayor reminded council that the action before them was a concept rezoning and that final egress/ingress details will be governed by a future site-plan submittal.

Councilmember (Speaker 12) moved to approve ordinance 26-11 on first reading; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The action was a first reading only. If the rezoning proceeds, the developer must submit a site plan addressing lot counts, elevations, landscaping, open space and the traffic/egress plan required by city engineering.