Planning commission backs rezoning at 1001 Daniel Dale Road to allow townhomes

Cambria Jordan, Planning and Zoning Manager, told the DeSoto Planning and Zoning Commission that staff recommends forwarding a recommendation of approval to the City Council for a zone change at 1001 Daniel Dale Road from Mixed Use 1 to Mixed Use R to permit townhomes.

"Planning and zoning staff does recommend that the planning and zoning commission forward a recommendation of approval to the DeSoto City Council to permit a zone change request from Mixed Use 1 to Mixed Use R," Jordan said during the staff presentation. She said the roughly 10-acre site is owned by Saint Stephen Community Church and that staff re-reviewed plans submitted in November after an earlier approval in April that had been based on incorrect zoning assumptions.

A commissioner raised whether the proposed increase in residential density would require upgrades to roads or utilities. MD Hoshan, the city engineer, said the city is designing a widening project for Daniel Dale Road that will expand the corridor to four lanes, add sidewalks and replace and upsize water and sewer lines. "We are actually currently in the design phase of a roadway widening project ... It will be 2 lane each direction, total 4 lane," Hoshan said, adding the design accounts for projected development.

Applicant representative Tomaine Smith, speaking for his father Herschel Smith, showed a previously submitted presentation and described plans for phases of residential construction and retail. "We're planning on partnering with franchises that are already established," Smith said, adding the project would begin with about 10 townhomes and ultimately include roughly 46 units. When asked what would happen if retail partners did not materialize, Smith said retail would be part of the final phase and that the project is phased to allow time to secure tenants.

Commissioner Alexis pressed staff on how the earlier April approval occurred despite townhomes being disallowed under Mixed Use 1. Jordan said turnover and staffing gaps in development services at the time contributed to the oversight and that the city now has an active planning-and-zoning manager and has re-reviewed the plans.

The public hearing was opened and closed after the applicant presentation; a commissioner moved to approve case Z-1543-25 "as written" and a second was recorded. The chair called for the vote and the motion passed, sending the commission's recommendation to City Council.

The planning and zoning staff said public notice was published in the Daily Commercial Record on Nov. 24 and that no letters of support or opposition were received within the noticed radius. The commission did not take final legislative action; the City Council will consider the recommended rezoning next.