Commission approves two of three landscaping warrants for Bulleit Multisport Complex, rejects crepe myrtle substitution

The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 22 considered warrants tied to the Bulleit Multisport Complex development plan at 8700 Princeton Road and voted separately on three requested landscaping and parking deviations.

Planner Liliana Morjon said the development plan is a phase‑2 portion of an approximately 10‑acre master plan and that the applicant seeks minor warrants related to planting and parking‑island design. The three warrants before the commission were: (1) omit crepe myrtles along New Princeton Road in favor of holly bushes and gravel next to a chain‑link fence; (2) remove trees from parking islands nearest the turf fields and relocate some trees to the detention area; and (3) permit gravel and alternative plant materials where the code is silent.

Applicant Melvin Bullitt, who operates the training center and fields, told commissioners that artificial turf is expensive to repair (he said one field can cost about $2,000,000) and that grass, trees and leaf litter near turf risk damage and maintenance costs. "Once this happens and grass starts to grow and finds a place inside of turf, your turf is ruined," Bullitt said, urging omission of trees adjacent to the turf and proposing gravel and low‑maintenance shrubs in limited locations.

Commissioners questioned whether low‑litter, noninvasive tree species could meet screening intent while protecting turf; staff offered a list of 10 species (including Texas mountain laurel) that fit the criteria. Commissioners debated aesthetics, noise‑buffering benefits of vegetation and the applicant’s operational concerns; several members suggested exploring alternative species or design compromises to preserve screening while preventing turf damage.

On a hand vote the commission defeated Warrant 1 (replacement of crepe myrtles on New Princeton Road) 3–2. The commission approved Warrant 2 (moving interior parking‑island trees nearest the turf to the detention area) in a separate hand vote (transcript recorded as passing 5–1). The commission then approved Warrant 3 (allowing gravel/alternate plant materials where code is silent for specified locations near the fence and a parking terminus) 3–2.

Commissioners said they want the project to proceed while preserving the attractiveness of the urban village district and encouraged the applicant and staff to continue looking for plant species and placement that meet both the form‑based code’s intent and the applicant’s maintenance concerns. The Planning and Zoning Commission’s approvals are recommendations that will be forwarded to City Council for final action.