The commercial space would have totaled 180,000 square feet and the entire development would have spanned 6.43 acres.
Both Keller City Council members and residents spoke in support and opposition to the project that would have sat at 1212 Whitley Road. Those in opposition cited concerns about traffic and the high density of the residential component of the proposed development.
The details
The zoning change was for a proposed project called Whitley Springs. It would have included 5,000-square-foot residential lots, with 60% of the lot occupied by the dwelling, and 10-foot front-yard setbacks.
Michael Garabedian, the developer behind the project, looked to get the zoning of the land changed from commercial to planned mixed-use development to include patio homes. The project also would have provided sewer services to the area.
Land on the east and south sides of the proposed development is zoned for single-family homes. Land north and west of the project is zoned for commercial use.
Another item on the agenda related to the project was a future land-use plan. This would have seen 56,000 square feet of the land amended from retail-commercial use to allow patio garden townhouses.
This request was also denied.
Zooming out
This is the second time the project has been brought to Keller City Council. Since the project was first considered in the summer, it was changed to increase the average lot size and amount of open space, as well as reduce the lot coverage of the residences.
At the end of October, city staff sent out 36 letters of notification about the project and posted a sign on the property. In response, city staff received 104 emails in opposition to the development, as well as eight emails and one letter in support.
Those in opposition said the project would disrupt the small-town feel of Keller.
What they’re saying
City Council member Chris Whatley said at the meeting that he was a fan of Garabedian and many of the projects he has brought to Keller. Other council members shared a similar sentiment.
“That being said, I'm not in support of this particular project,” Whatley said. “I believe in all the surveys we’ve done, [residents have] made it clear that they want Keller to stay [a] small town.”
He said he’d rather see a fully commercial project on the site instead.
Alonzo Liñán, director of public works for the city, said commercial developments usually generate more traffic than residential projects. There was also concern that the project would have pushed Keller’s population closer to 50,000 people, leading the city to take over some transportation responsibilities from the state, such as street traffic signals.
Despite the opposition over the density of the project, Mayor Pro Tem Ross McMullin said he carefully considers each project for the city on a case-by-case basis.
In this instance, he said, “I would hate to be that elected representative that takes a one-size-fits-all approach to development because I think it’s a true disservice to doing our job."
Whatley made a motion to deny the zoning change, which was passed by the council. The amendment to the future land use map was also denied unanimously.
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said the council will have to think wisely about what development it would like to see in this project’s place moving forward.
Editor's note: This article has been adjust to correct the spelling of McMullin's name and to clarify his stance on the development project.
