Planning commission rejects rezoning and concept plan for 9701 Dalrock Road after safety, floodplain and tree concerns

The Rowlett Planning and Zoning Commission declined to recommend rezoning of 9701 Dalrock Road on Feb. 24, voting 0–7 against a motion to send approval to city council. Planner Liliana Moreno had described the proposal as a request to amend the future land‑use designation and to rezone a narrow 6.76‑acre lot to a planned development allowing 18 single‑family lots; staff flagged constraints including flood‑zone areas, mature trees, a lack of a submitted detention plan and a fire‑department concern that a dead‑end street exceeding 600 feet would not be supported.

Applicant representative Soji Ojeriade said he has been working on the project for about three years and told commissioners the homes he envisions are substantially larger than the packet indicates, saying “we are looking at the larger families…3,000 square foot” homes. Commissioners and staff noted that the application packet contained earlier iterations that included smaller dwelling sizes (packet text cited minimums in the 1,200–1,700 sq ft range), and several commissioners said the discrepancy was material and not enforceable unless put in writing.

Neighbors who testified during the public hearing urged the commission to deny the request. Carolyn Linehan, who said she has lived nearby for 39 years, described the property as “heavily, heavily wooded” habitat for birds and other wildlife and suggested the city consider other parcels for development; Ray Linehan and Mark Hollis raised traffic and flooding concerns and emphasized the lack of a detention plan. Commissioners repeatedly cited the fire‑department warning about cul‑de‑sac length and the absence of final engineering and mitigation details as reasons they could not support the recommendation. Commissioner Hernandez moved to recommend approval to council, but after debate the motion failed unanimously, 0–7.