Instead, council voted 7-0 to deny the request overall and the motion to table.
The big picture
The request by Sunrise Partners LLC owner Bo Trainor was for:
- To allow for maximum lot coverage of 50% for main buildings and 60% for other buildings, driveways and parking.
- To allow up to 50% of the garages to be front entry, with the remainder required to be exclusively J-swing, which are garages that face at a 90-degree angle and are not visible from the street
“The hope is to continue for 30 days to have conversations with HOA members and city staff and if we can portray better the issues with it,” Wilson said.
The details
The Keller Planning and Zoning Commission denied the request at the Sept. 10 meeting. Due to 23 objections from residents within 200 feet, a supermajority of council—six of seven—had to vote yes to pass it.
Mayor Pro Tem Ross McMullin said he was open to approving the tabling of the issue at first but stressed his disappointment at the lack of communication.
“It's unfortunate that there was not discussions with the residents before today, because this was a highly discussed topic,” he said.
The background
The 11.79-acre development is near Rufe Snow Drive, between Rapp Road and Shady Grove Road. City Council approved the 33-lot development on a tract that was previously zoned commercial/retail on Oct. 19, 2021.
“Based on how contentious the last hearing when this was approved in 2021 was and that there was apparently no effort made to reach out to the neighbors even to discuss these amendments, I personally, am unwilling to re-litigate something that was already previously decided,” council member Greg Will said. “I'm just reluctant to open that can of worms up.”
