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Farmers Branch council approves detailed plan for 391‑unit development at 4707 Alpha Road
Summary
The City of Farmers Branch on July 21 approved a detailed site plan for a 391‑unit multifamily development at 4707 Alpha Road (PD 107). Council members pressed staff on parking, safety reviews and bonding; staff said the project meets the city’s 1.6 spaces‑per‑unit requirement. The motion passed on voice vote.
The City of Farmers Branch City Council approved a detailed site plan on July 21 for a multifamily development at 4707 Alpha Road, clearing the way for a 391‑unit project located in Planned Development District (PD) 107.
Planner Brian Campbell presented the plan and said the development would include 261 one‑bedroom units and 131 two‑bedroom units arranged in two buildings wrapped around a seven‑story parking garage and 10 additional surface spaces, for a total of 656 parking spaces. Amenities listed in the staff presentation included pool and courtyard areas, ground‑floor club/amenity space, an art installation, a dog park, two trails (a 6‑foot trail along Welch Road and a 10‑foot trail along Alpha Road) and enhanced landscaping; staff said 24 of 36 existing trees would be preserved.
Campbell said the project was evaluated against the Farmers Branch 2045 plan and the city’s multifamily development policy and that the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval on June 22. On the question of parking, Campbell told council that the city’s parking requirement is 1.6 spaces per dwelling unit and that the project “is exceeding that requirement,” roughly 1.68 spaces per unit under the current proposal.
Council members pressed staff and the applicant on several points. Councilwoman Gonzalez said she was concerned about how many vehicles the development might generate, saying, “If there’s 391 units, let’s say at least two people have a car, that’s 782 cars, but there’s only 656 parking spaces.” Councilman Reid asked whether the police department had reviewed the site plan for safety and vehicular circulation; Campbell said police review was part of the development committee’s review and that no concerns had been relayed to staff. A city attorney briefed council on the limits of the city’s authority with regard to performance bonds and off‑site infrastructure obligations.
After questions and brief discussion, a council member moved to approve the detailed site plan for 4707 Alpha Road (PD 107); the motion was seconded and the mayor announced the motion passed.
What happens next: staff will proceed with permitting and other required development approvals consistent with the approved detailed site plan.
