At a Feb. 12 meeting, Richardson City Council approved a modification to the minimum unit size—the final sticking point for the project’s approval—of a previously approved 5.2-acre planned development that will allow the former Hyatt House property to be converted for studio and one-bedroom multifamily use.
“With this particular development, the applicant inherited those unit sizes. ... Even in the same unit type, those square footages vary,” Director of Development Services Samuel Chavez said at the meeting.
The context
Maryland-based developer Blue Ocean first received approval for the planned development of the Trellis apartment complex, located between North Collins Boulevard and US 75, in February 2023, about two months before it closed on the property and gained access. Once inside, the developer realized initial estimates of the hotel room sizes were off.
The agenda item approved by council will allow for studio units at the property to have a minimum size of 350 square feet and one-bedroom units to have a minimum of 400 square feet. According to city documents, studio apartments usually have a minimum area requirement of 450 square feet while a one-bedroom apartment has at least 500 square feet.
What else?
The new apartment complex will have units spread across four buildings with a main clubhouse area, based on plans included in city documents.
No timeline for the project’s completion was given.
