Keller City Council denies 6.43-acre mixed-use development

Keller officials unanimously denied a zoning change for a proposed development that would have consisted of 22 residential and two commercial lots, as well as 1.44 acres of open space at a Dec. 3 meeting.

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.”