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Church and housing both proposed for 42-acre Coyote Hill Ranch; commissioners give preliminary feedback
Summary
Town staff and applicants presented competing informal concepts for Coyote Hill Ranch, a 42-acre parcel in Northlake's northwest quadrant. Overflow Life Church described plans to keep much of the land open for cattle and place a church building in the buildable frontage; the owner's agent also presented a conceptual replat of roughly 11 three-acre lots. Commissioners said both options appear viable but flagged water, sewer and floodplain constraints and noted clustering rules would affect lot counts.
Nathan, a town staff member, opened a briefing on Coyote Hill Ranch, a 42-acre property off Strader/Straighter Road that is currently listed for sale and includes a gas-well pad and extensive floodplain along Hog Branch. Staff said the property's comprehensive-plan designation is rural reserve (0.2 dwelling units per acre) and that agricultural zoning imposes a 20-acre minimum lot size, while an overlay district allows clustered development provided at least 40% of the site is preserved as open space.
"This is a look at the property where it is in town," Nathan said, describing constraints including limited utility service: "There's no water to this site currently" and "there's no sewer anywhere close and none planned." He told commissioners that utilities and floodplain limits would constrain the amount and type of development that could be built.
Pastor Kevin of Overflow Life Church described his congregation's vision for the site, saying the church would try to retain much of the land in its current, rural character, with cattle and horses still on the property, while placing a single church building near the road. "We started Overflow Life Church," Pastor Kevin said, and added that his lease at their current warehouse facility ends this month, so the group is actively seeking a new site.
The property's real-estate agent, Jonna Jackson, presented a conceptual replat that would create about 11 lots averaging roughly three acres. She described access ideas (including Gas Line Road and an existing central entrance) and noted the gas company needs access to a transmission line. Jackson also relayed a recently floated commercial possibility: a Rockerby Ranch-style sports and performance center that could include two fields and multi-sport outdoor space if a plan proves feasible.
Commissioners asked for clarifications about the overlay and density. Nathan said the overlay could allow two-acre lots in clustered locations while keeping the overall density at the comprehensive-plan target (0.2 dwelling units per acre), but that an 11-lot layout on 42 acres would not meet the conservation-residential overlay and would require either a different layout (about eight lots) or a planned-development rezoning to increase yield while preserving open space.
Commissioners repeatedly raised water, sewer and drainage as the principal constraints. A commissioner asked about state well/septic requirements and staff replied that the town requires a minimum of two acres for lots on septic and that fitting wells and septic on smaller lots would be "pretty tight." On floodplain and parking, staff said much of the northwest corner is in floodplain and would not be suitable for parking; engineers would require a drainage study and possibly on-site detention if impermeable surface increases.
Commissioners and nearby residents offered mixed responses to the sports/rec concept: one commissioner questioned whether baseball fields and parking would fit on the site, while a neighbor who said her property backs up to Coyote Hill Ranch welcomed additional youth sports amenities.
Why it matters: the site sits inside Northlake town limits and is large relative to surrounding parcels; future choices (church, low-density housing, or a recreational/commercial use) will affect neighborhood character, tax base and infrastructure needs. Commissioners asked applicants to return with formal proposals (a specific-use permit for a church or a rezoning/replat application) that resolve utilities, floodplain and circulation issues.
Next steps: staff said the feedback would guide the property owner and potential applicants if they decide to pursue a specific-use permit or a rezoning/replat; no formal application or vote was taken on the Coyote Hill Ranch concepts at this meeting.
