At the March 19 City Council meeting, members approved three variances to city code to allow the developer of Tower Bay Lofts to receive a building permit prior to completion of all public improvements.

The Tower Bay Lofts are located on approximately 5 acres at 3000 N. Stemmons Freeway. The development, which is near Lewisville Lake will contain 308 units in a four-story building.

Lewisville code requires that all public improvements, such as public water mains and sanitary sewer lines, driveways and sidewalks, be completed prior to the issuance of a building permit.

This project requires significant public improvements for a trail system and water and sanitary sewer improvements both on-site and off-site. A significant portion of the off-site improvements will occur on Army Corps of Engineers-controlled property, which requires Corps approval for the improvements.

City staff has received written conceptual approval for the improvements from the Corps; however, a full approval of the improvements will take a significant amount of time for the Corps to process.

Given the conceptual approval of the improvements from the Corps and the applicant’s agreement to the terms of the agreement, council decided to approve the variances so the developer can begin building.

An incentive agreement between the city and the developer says the lofts shall be complete by June 2021.