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Council approves Pecan Square amendment to allow Northlake Bible Church site after traffic and buffering assurances
Summary
Council approved an amendment creating an institutional subdistrict for the Northlake Bible Church site within Pecan Square, 4–3 after questions about traffic, setbacks and lighting. Church representatives said they would provide buffering, lower lighting and hire officers for Sunday services until a long‑term traffic solution is in place.
The council voted 4–3 on Oct. 10 to amend the Pecan Square planned‑development regulations to create an institutional subdistrict that permits a place of worship and daycare by right and establishes development standards for setbacks, height and buffering.
Nathan (planning staff) said the amendment adds an institutional subdistrict on the church site, introduces a 150‑foot setback from streets in this subdistrict, a 75‑foot side/rear setback, and landscaping/buffering standards to treat adjacent edges as if adjacent to residential. Representatives of Arlo’s Group and Pastor Dusty Burrows of Northlake Bible Church presented renderings, a site plan showing ingress/egress and a traffic impact study. They said Hillwood reviewed the renderings and that buffering and design will conform to Pecan Square standards.
Council members questioned timing and traffic impacts on FM‑407 and Faught Road and whether the traffic impact study covered later development phases; the church representatives said the study reflected current conditions and that Sunday service traffic will be managed with off‑duty or contracted officers until roadway improvements and traffic lights align with TxDOT timing.
Supporters living in Pecan Square said the design and buffering addressed neighborhood concerns and welcomed the church; opponents and some council members said traffic remains a major unknown without full phasing data. The motion to approve the planned‑development amendment passed 4–3.
What's next: The amendment proceeds to Planning & Zoning for specific plan review and the church will return with site‑specific permits and detailed traffic mitigation steps.
