The Kennedale Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Nov. 20 to recommend conditional approval to City Council for a request to change the Alta Landing property from multifamily zoning to a Planned Development (PD), after residents urged the city to require enforceable fixes to longstanding nonconforming conditions.

Residents at the meeting argued the site currently violates setback and retaining-wall standards and poses safety risks. "They are nonconforming in multifamily and will be nonconforming in PD," said Tracy Hoyt, who identified herself during the public-comment period and asked that the city not treat a PD as merely a change "on paper." Mike Watson, another nearby resident, asked that any PD "contain the equipment that ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance moving forward," including firm deadlines, annual compliance reviews, mandatory HOA communication, limits on administrative amendments and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Bill Dahlstrom, representing Wood Partners, told the commission the developer is not proposing additional units or increased height and outlined specific commitments that were drafted into the PD. "We are not adding any additional units. We're not increasing the height. We are proposing to plant an additional 26 trees," Dahlstrom said. He also said the developer would raise boundary fencing from six feet to eight feet, relocate dumpsters (noting engineering constraints), ban carports and parking garages, require annual meetings with the neighborhood and provide 30 days' prior written notice to the Steeplechase Homeowners Association before submitting any future PD amendment application.

Staff and the developer said some items—such as lowered lighting and a recently added guardrail—already have been completed. On other items, Dahlstrom said trees would be ordered the week after Thanksgiving and that bids for drainage and concrete work to move dumpsters were in hand.

Staff explained that a PD becomes an ordinance and is therefore enforceable against future owners, and the draft PD includes conditions the developer agreed to. The PD draft referenced potential penalties for violations under Texas law (the draft cites an enforcement penalty figure), and staff said that once adopted as an ordinance the PD’s conditions bind subsequent owners unless they return to the city to seek a rezoning.

After questions about outreach and whether the neighborhood and developer had met since the previous cycle, a commissioner moved to recommend conditional approval to City Council with the conditions discussed and with additional information on how the PD would affect the Steeplechase neighborhood and the city. The motion passed unanimously. The recommendation carries to the City Council, which will consider final action.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation and the draft PD will appear on a future City Council agenda for a final vote; residents may submit written materials to staff to be included in the case record.