Planning commission approves rezoning of former Sears site for Towne East redevelopment
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Summary
The commission voted 7–0 to rezone the former Sears property at Towne East Mall to a planned‑development commercial district to allow phased redevelopment — including Main Event, outparcels for restaurants, a conference center and a possible future hotel — and sent the rezoning to city council for Oct. 6 review.
The Mesquite Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 22 unanimously approved a rezoning to a planned‑development commercial district for the former Sears site at 1738 N. Towne East Blvd (3000 Towne East Mall), forwarding the proposal to the City Council for consideration on Oct. 6.
Planning staff said the ~18‑acre property will be redeveloped in phases. Staff noted a recently granted conditional‑use permit for Main Event to occupy first‑floor space as phase 1; phase 2 would subdivide the property into outparcels for restaurants and service uses, add a conference center and reserve space for a future hotel and parking structure. "As part of the request, there's no proposed changes to the future land use designation," Garrett Langford said.
Langford described development standards in the PD including parking minimums, signage controls, rooftop screening, prohibited uses (tobacco stores, paraphernalia, auto repair, pawnshops and similar uses), and a proposed shared‑parking approach. He said Parcel 1 (the Sears building) "will acquire 400 spaces," the conference center would require about 100 spaces, and the PD contemplates a hotel with a parking minimum of 0.5 spaces per room. Langford cautioned that a hotel would still require a conditional‑use permit and a parking garage to be approved in later reviews.
Kim Bertram, economic development director, said the development envisions a roughly 150‑room hotel in later phases and confirmed access points into the mall and exterior. Steve Meyer, representing SRB Mesquite LLC (property owner), said staff and the developer have coordinated on utilities and are working through site investigations and design details. "We've been working with city staff on all the different facets of this," Meyer said.
Commissioners asked whether the PD should include a specific height limit for a future hotel; staff said the PD sets a maximum and a later conditional‑use permit could impose more restrictive limits. After questions and brief discussion, the commission moved and approved Z0925‑0416 by a 7–0 vote. Planning staff said the rezoning will be heard by the City Council on Monday, Oct. 6.
