Commissioners approve rezoning on South 2nd Avenue to allow for-sale rowhouses and live-work units

The Mansfield Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 18 approved a zoning change that clears the way for a for-sale rowhouse and limited live-work development on about 2.55 acres at 501 and 601 South 2nd Avenue.

Staff recommended rezoning the property from SF‑7512 (single-family) to D2 (Downtown District, urban transition). Place Strategies and Housing Channel — the applicant and developer — described a project of roughly 30 owner‑occupied rowhouses, with up to six live‑work units and alley-loaded vehicle access. Brad Lohnberger of Place Strategies told the commission the project is intended to provide smaller, lower‑priced for‑sale homes aimed at working families and that deed restrictions and an HOA would help enforce owner‑occupancy.

The developer said designs use rear alleys for garage and service access, include sidewalks and pocket parks, and will provide detention and drainage measures; the team said a detailed site plan will follow if zoning is approved. Lohnberger and Housing Channel staff said price points were expected to be below recent townhome market rates and that financing and down‑payment assistance programs would be available to qualifying buyers.

Residents who spoke during the public hearing were split. Supporters, including a Tarrant County representative and residents who said they had experience with Housing Channel work, urged the commission to approve zoning that would create more affordable homeownership opportunities for teachers, first responders and other local workers. Opponents asked for an independent traffic study, said the proposed density (opponents described up to 36 units) and multi‑story buildings were out of character with the adjacent single‑family neighborhood, and warned of safety concerns at the Hunt Street and 2nd Avenue intersection.

Housing Channel’s chair, Joel Burns, said a traffic study is typically performed during site‑plan review after zoning is in place and that the developer intends to provide required parking and to work with the city to mitigate pickup/drop‑off and school‑bus conflicts. Donna Van Ness of Housing Channel said the project focuses on homeownership, not rental units, and that deed restrictions and civil remedies are part of the developer’s approach to discourage conversions to rentals.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about drainage and detention, emergency access, parking and unit configuration. Staff said a detailed site plan — reviewed by the development review committee and the planning director — must demonstrate compliance with D2 lot and building standards, streetscape, parking and landscaping before building permits are issued.

Commissioner Lambert moved to approve the rezoning; Vice Chairman Axon seconded. The motion carried 6–0 with 1 member absent. Commissioners and staff urged the developer to continue neighborhood outreach and asked staff to prioritize improvements at Hunt and 2nd to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity as the project advances.

The rezoning decision allows the applicant to proceed to the required detailed site‑plan and platting steps; those reviews will determine final unit counts, layout, exact setbacks and required public‑infrastructure improvements.