Public Hearing and Ordinance - Zoning Application No. Z0426-0449

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

A public hearing was held for Zoning Application No. Z0426-0449. Adam Bailey, Director of Planning and Development Services, stated that the applicant is requesting an amendment to Planned Development (PD) - Multifamily, Ordinance No. 5116, for approximately 25.3 acres at 21701 IH 635. The existing PD, approved in 2024, allows a 277-unit build-for-rent residential community. The proposed amendment would retain the approved 277 dwelling units while revising the Concept Plan and Development Standards, including changes to the site layout, unit mix, building design, and development standards. The development would continue to operate as a single-owner build-for-rent community, with the units remaining on one lot rather than being platted and sold individually. Mr. Bailey stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission added a stipulation requiring a six-foot-tall wrought iron fence only along the north property line. However, after discussion with staff, the applicant committed to a six-foot-tall ornamental metal fence along most of the perimeter, facing the neighborhoods with the addition of a buffer tree line on the southeast side of the property and a six-foot-tall pre-cast concrete wall along IH-635 for noise mitigation. He explained that these requirements are not included in the ordinance and requires Council action to make them enforceable. Mr. Bailey stated that the proposed amendment would replace the current mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with 139 three-bedroom and 138 four-bedroom units, increasing the total number of bedrooms from 512 to 969 while maintaining the same number of dwelling units. The applicant states the revised unit mix is intended to better accommodate family-oriented households and includes 26 ADA-accessible units. The proposal would also maintain the existing 554 off-street parking spaces (two spaces per dwelling unit) while reorganizing the site layout, open space, amenities, and pedestrian and vehicular connections, including architectural features intended to reflect Mesquite's rodeo heritage. Applicant Maxwell Fisher, representing ZoneDev, LLC, presented at overview of the proposed development. The amended concept plan includes 251 two-story townhome style units, and 26 multi-family flats. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, yoga center, business center, indoor play area, pool, two playground areas, two dog parks, ride share pavilion, outdoor cooking areas, picnic areas, and yard games. He stated that 100 percent of the units will be rent and income restricted. Rental rates for three-bedroom units will be $1,889.00 and $2,107.00 for four-bedroom units. No one appeared regarding the proposed application. Ms. Rodriguez-Ross moved to approve Zoning Application No. Z0426-0449, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, with certain stipulations, and adding stipulations regarding additional screening along the perimeter of the property as presented as tonight's Council meeting, and to approve Ordinance No. 5261, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MESQUITE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE MESQUITE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING CHANGE TO AMEND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT –MULTIFAMILY (“PD-MULTIFAMILY”) ORDINANCE NO. 5116 TO MODIFY THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR A 277-UNIT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 21701 IH-635; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.00; PROVIDING PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Motion was seconded by Mr. Casper. On call for a vote on the motion, the following votes were cast: Ayes: Rodriguez-Ross, Casper, Alemán, Smith, Murden Nayes: Hubacek Absent: Green Motion carried. (Ordinance No. 5261 recorded in Ordinance Book No. 137.)

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 7.5/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).