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Commission approves Trinity Christian Academy athletic-facility upgrades, including press box and tree mitigation plan
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Summary
The commission approved a PD amendment for Trinity Christian Academy (17001 Addison Road) that adds batting cages, dugouts, a new press box and an enhanced access drive; the applicant will mitigate removal of a significant live oak with on-site replacement.
The Addison Planning and Zoning Commission voted April 21 to approve a plan development amendment for Trinity Christian Academy (Case 1943 Z) that authorizes a series of athletic-facility improvements, including a new stadium press box, dugouts, batting cages and a security booth, along with modifications to the permissible building area.
Leslie Knight, director of development and neighborhood services, explained the proposal and said the updated concept adds a new access drive off Sojourn to improve circulation and emergency access, with a net gain of about 11 parking spaces (including accessible stalls). The press box will be just under 49 feet at its tallest point; proposed prefabricated aluminum bleachers would seat 194. The plan also calls for new dugouts (about 42 by 20 feet), a covered softball practice structure (around 32 by 56 feet), and a baseball batting cage roughly 100 by 65 feet.
Knight said the project requires removal of one significant live oak at the location of the enhanced access drive; the applicant proposes to mitigate on-site and exceed the minimum replacement requirement by providing roughly 30 caliper inches of new trees. The application also identifies removal of 12 non-protected trees along the western property line; staff and the applicant revised screening and landscape plans to respond to neighborhood concerns about noise, lighting and circulation.
Jeremy Rowe of GFF Architects, the project's architect, described the safety rationale for enclosed dugouts and said the team plans to redirect the public-address system to reduce noise toward neighboring homes. "We're going to do that and we are doing that as part of this plan," Rowe said, describing PA-direction changes already required under the 2016 PD.
The public hearing produced no comments from members of the public. Commissioner (S4) moved to approve Case 1943 Z as written; Commissioner (S3) seconded. The motion passed by voice vote; the chair (S1) abstained because they are a property owner and stated the abstention on the record.
What happens next: staff will verify tree-replacement species and caliper during the permit-review process, and the applicant will proceed with permitting if City Council or other required approvals are obtained.
