The commission voted to recommend denial of both a master plan amendment and rezoning of the 21 acres in a 4-2 vote during its March 24 meeting. Commissioners Scott Jostes and Gregory Schultz voted against the recommendation of denial.
The details
Realty Capital, the firm that oversees development for Lakeside DFW and Lakeside Village, sought to create a new mixed-use district called Lakeside East, which sits along Long Prairie Road between Spinks Road to the north and Lakeside Parkway to the south. Jimmy Archie, a managing partner at Realty Capital and Lakeside’s developer, said that the proposal for the 21.1 acres of land was a unique opportunity to create an area with the same look and feel as what has already been constructed in Lakeside.
“We have an opportunity to create something extremely special at the gateway of Flower Mound that nobody else in Dallas Fort-Worth has,” Archie said.
According to town documents, an updated master plan amendment and the rezoning would allow:
- Up to 326 residential units, which would primarily be multifamily, based on the concept plan
- A maximum of 250,000 square feet of commercial space
- A full-service hotel that could have up to 180 rooms
- A height of no more than five stories for an office building and six stories for a hotel
Within the non-residential space, a concept plan from Realty Capital showed a proposed hotel along Lakeside Parkway and an office building near the intersection of Spinks Road and Long Prairie Road. The developer would also be required to construct at least 35,000 square feet of non-residential space before a certificate of occupancy would be issued for the proposed multifamily residential complex, Planning Manager Poornima Kashyap said.
Over 3.6 acres of open space is proposed, which would include an entertainment plaza, a dry detention park area and a courtyard, per town documents. Kashyap said that the minimum requirement for a development of this type would be 1.7 acres.
“We need to continue creating a sense of place on the property to give customers a reason to drive a farther distance than normal to come down and experience Lakeside,” Archie said.
Diving deeper
Lakeside East would be made up of two zoning areas: 13.2 acres that would include the commercial, office and hotel uses and 7.9 acres that would house the residential component of the development.
Once completed, the new Lakeside East area would be adjacent to new and existing neighborhoods, such as the Toll Brothers’ Oakbridge Crossing, which is under construction.
“This is an extension of Lakeside’s formula to provide financial as well as community value,” said Peter Stewart, one of the development partners. “For the neighborhoods to the northeast, they will be able to walk for goods and services for the first time.”
What they’re saying
Several commissioners raised concerns about the development, including the timing for the construction of the initial commercial buildings and the transfer of entitled units from Lakeside DFW to Lakeside East.
Commission Vice Chairperson James Hobbs said he would have preferred if Realty Capital proposed new residential units instead of reallocating 326 entitled units to the new development.
Chairperson David Gilmore added that he wanted a stronger commitment from the developer to construct specific commercial buildings prior to the certificate of occupancy issuance for the apartments. Archie said his plan would be to construct those buildings across from the future multifamily complex as part of the initial requirement of 35,000 square feet of non-residential space.
Lori Walker, president of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, said Lakeside East would build on the town’s success with the existing Lakeside development.
“This is our opportunity to solidify Flower Mound’s reputation as a premier community, attracting quality businesses, new residents and visitors who want to be a part of something special,” Walker said. “Lakeside has already proven to be an economic driver and this final phase will only elevate what has been built.”
What’s next?
The rezoning request and the master plan amendment are expected to be heard by Flower Mound Town Council at its April 7 meeting, according to the town’s website.
Because the request includes a master plan amendment, and with the recommendation of denial, a supermajority vote from four council members will be required to approve the project.
