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Coppell approves land-use and zoning change for proposed Natera headquarters and distribution center
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Summary
Council approved a future land-use and zoning amendment allowing a proposed 439,689 sq ft Natera headquarters and distribution facility on ~25.4 acres at Point West Boulevard and Dividend Drive, subject to staff conditions requiring detailed site plan and engineering review; council voted in favor after applicant presentations and public testimony.
The Coppell City Council voted to approve a requested future land-use and zoning amendment that would allow a proposed Natera world headquarters and distribution facility on approximately 25.4 acres at the southwest corner of Point West Boulevard and Dividend Drive.
Staff read Item 9 into the record: the request would change the site's future land use from Freeway Special District to Industrial Special District and rezone PD-221 Revision 4 to permit a 439,689-square-foot building with a 44,738-square-foot two-story office component and a 394,951-square-foot warehouse component. Staff reported required parking calculations (1 per 300 sq ft for office, 1 per 2,000 sq ft for warehouse) produced a requirement of 348 spaces; the applicant proposed 368 parking spaces. The proposal included landscaping with 197 overstory trees, two retention ponds and a 14-foot concrete screening wall around dock areas.
Mr. Steer (staff) said Planning & Zoning had unanimously recommended approval subject to conditions (detailed site plan and additional comments at building-permit stage) but staff recommended denial of the land-use amendment because it differs from the city's 2030 comprehensive plan and prior expectations for the Freeway Special District.
Applicant CEO John Song told the council Natera is a family-owned consumer goods and contract-manufacturing group with brands such as TreeHut and Baby Magic; he said the company currently operates three sites and proposes to consolidate them into Coppell, stating the combined existing properties represent roughly $200 million in real-estate assets and the new facility would add $75 million for a $275 million total. Song said the headquarters would create 250 jobs in Coppell and that average current pay at the company is roughly $91,000 annually.
Jared Mahan of Capital Commercial Investments (the property owner) urged approval, calling the project a $275 million headquarters-and-distribution campus that would create jobs, provide predictable tax revenue and avoid leaving the parcel as a vacant lot.
Council members questioned staff and the applicant about long-term commitment, operational differences (applicant said Natera's facility would be warehousing only while sister company Beauty Manufacturing Solutions Corp. would continue manufacturing nearby), and whether the city should amend its comp plan. The applicant and owner said the proposed project is a long-term investment and submitted letters of support; staff reiterated the requirement for a public hearing and detailed plan review.
Councilmember Walker moved to close the public hearing and approve the request subject to the staff-recommended conditions; Councilmember Prem Kumar seconded. Roll-call vote recorded seven yes votes (Walker, Hinojosa Smith, Carroll, Nevills, Premkumar, Matthew, Hill); motion carried.
Actions required next: the applicant must submit a detailed site plan and address any additional engineering or permitting comments during final review.
