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A proposed 242-unit apartment development on Midway Road cleared its first zoning hurdle in a 3-2 vote Aug. 18 amid concerns about parking and drainage.
The Farmers Branch City Council approved creating Planned Development District 110 for approximately 3.3 acres at 14330 Midway Road, near Proton Road. The property is currently zoned light industrial and contains two one-story office buildings constructed in 1978.
The concept calls for a four-story multifamily development with 242 units and a ground-floor parking garage. The council’s action does not approve a final site plan. A detailed plan still must return to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a recommendation and then to the City Council for consideration.
City staff said the proposed residential use is consistent with the Farmers Branch 2045 comprehensive plan, which identifies the area for future mixed-use development. The city received no opposition letters and one letter of support from a property owner within 200 feet. Planning and Zoning unanimously recommended approval July 13.
Much of the council discussion centered on parking.
The preliminary plan proposes 291 parking spaces, or about 1.2 spaces per unit. Standard multifamily zoning calls for 2.25 spaces per unit, but a planned development district can establish different requirements.
Council member David Reid called the proposed ratio “far from sufficient.”
“Parking needs to be paramount in there,” Reid said.
Developer Clint Nolan said about 90% of the apartments would be one-bedroom units and told the council his company evaluates parking demand by bedrooms rather than units. He said the project would provide about 1.1 parking spaces per bedroom and could designate spaces for residents, guests and prospective tenants.
Traffic and drainage also drew questions.
Staff said the city engineer determined a full traffic impact analysis was not required based on the proposed number of units. Nolan said his team hired an engineering firm to prepare a traffic letter, which was submitted to the city.
Council member Roger Neal questioned how the development could affect flooding and stormwater in the area. Staff said the city engineer is aware of flooding concerns near the drainage channel and expects to address them more fully during detailed site plan review.
Nolan said his team conducted a drainage study and anticipates underground retention may be needed on the property.
The zoning amendment passed 3-2, with council members Tina Bennett-Burton and Neal opposed.
The Aug. 18 vote addressed only the property’s zoning. A detailed site plan, including parking, drainage, landscaping and building elevations, must return to Planning and Zoning and the City Council for consideration.
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