Grapevine Bluffs The multifamily development will feature 454 units.[/caption]

A 454-unit multifamily project, which was approved April 19, will join Kubota Tractor Corp. and Mercedes-Benz on Grapevine's 185-acre tract of land that is owned by the city and located north of Grapevine Mills.

The project—called Grapevine Bluffs—which is being developed by Dallas-based development company JLB Realty, first came before the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 16. It was denied by both entities without prejudice, meaning the project could come back with revisions.

JLB re-presented the project at the joint meeting on April 19 with revisions. Some of the major changes included reducing the number of units from 472 to 454, rearranging the buildings and adding more amenities and open space areas.

The project was approved unanimously by the Planning and Zoning Commission and with a 5 to 1 vote by the Council. Council member Chris Coy voted against the project and Mayor William D. Tate recused himself.

Coy said he opposed the project because he believed it was not the best use for the property.

"I’m a little concerned," he said. "We have a master plan for the city that provides guiding principles that allows property owners and developers to plan and it represents the vision that [the council] agreed upon for the city and we just seem to be deviating further and further from that and this [project] is not in compliance with the master plan. I don’t believe this is the highest and best use for the property, so I won’t be able to support this."

Council member Mike Lease said he thinks it may be time to update the master plan to include the latest housing trends.

"I think Chris is right," he said. "Our master plan currently does not call for this type of usage in this area but I think probably the master plan needs to be revisited to take into consideration changes in American lifestyles and how folks tend to be living now days and more and more folks are living in multifamily housing. The occupancy rates are very high not only in our city but in every city, which shows there is a demand for this type of development."

The development will offer 31 different floor plans ranging in size from 635 square feet to 2,095 square feet. It will feature three different styles of homes:

  • Apartment home

  • Carriage house—a two-story home with a private, detached two car garage and private backyard.

  • Town home—a three-story home with an attached two-car garage on the ground floor.