Nearly a dozen residents spoke out against a proposed mid-rise apartment development, the Astonia, at Spring Creek Parkway and Headquarters Drive at a regular city council meeting Monday night.
Councilwoman Andr Davidson originally voted against the item at a regular meeting on March 17, but said the next day she decided she wanted to bring the item back to the council for more thought and consideration.
"I though it was a very difficult issue, as many of us did," Davidson said at Monday's meeting. "I was very troubled with the vote that I had made and felt I had made the wrong decision on it."
The Planning and Zoning Commission denied a special use permit for the community, which would feature one-, two-and three-bedroom units. Pinnacle Housing Group applied for a 9-percent low-income tax credit for the Astonia with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs on April 15 and has until Sept. 1 to obtain the necessary zoning and special use permit in order for the state to approve the tax credit, said Shanette Brown, Plano community services manager.
The proposed use is consistent with the 2012 interim amendments to the city's current comprehensive plan, a point an attorney representing the developer reminded the council.
"The ordinance says you can build as many multi-family [developments] there as high as you want. I recommend you follow staff recommendations," he said.
Public hearing speakers stated the Astonia would be an isolated residential development situated in an area they said should be primed as an employment offshoot of nearby Legacy West.
Armed with signs reading "inappropriate land use," roughly 30 residents applauded speakers who urged council members not to be bullied by developers. Other arguments included Lewisville ISD's opposition to the development, as it would be zoned for LISD schools.
"This is just a square peg being jammed into a round hole," one resident stated.
Councilmen Pat Gallagher and David Downs agreed that while the development may appear isolated at the onset, it most likely would not be the only housing in that area once it is developed.
In addition, Gallagher said the awkwardly sized parcel would not be an ideal location for an office building.
"It's a good use of land and what Plano is all about," he said.
Another resident asserted that the council had been legally threatened by developers if denied the permit. City Attorney Paige Mims clarified this allegation, stating that while developers had made no indication of taking legal action, a resident who spoke out against the development during Monday night's public hearing had already threatened to file a lawsuit against the city on behalf of the "coalition" of residents present.
Davidson was joined by councilmen Pat Gallagher, David Downs, Jim Duggan and Mayor Harry LaRosiliere in favor, while Mayor Pro Tem Lissa Smith, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ben Harris, and Councilman Pat Miner voted in opposition to the special use permit. However, the 5-3 vote did not meet the 6-2 super majority voted required to pass.
"This is obviously an emotional issue," LaRosiliere said. "We make our decisions based on what we think is best on behalf of our city."
