A proposed housing development could prove to be the tipping point for the second and third phases of Bartonville Town Center to be built, says Bruce Monroe, president of Denmiss, LLC, which owns the center.
“There’s a lot of positive to this,” Monroe said of the proposed development on about 80 acres behind the town center which will cater to adults ages 55 and older. Monroe, who owns the property proposed for the housing development, said the development could add an estimated $160,000 in ad valorem taxes to the town’s coffers as well as supply daytime foot traffic for the businesses within the town center.
“On less than two percent of the land mass (in Bartonville), we can increase tax revenues by 50 percent,” he said, adding that older homeowners likely would stay within the community to eat and use services, which would bring additional sales tax revenues.
A public hearing on a request to allow development of the active adult community is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday before the Bartonville Planning and Zoning Commission at Bartonville Town Hall, 1941 E. Jeter Road. Commissioners will be asked to rezone the property from residential requiring two-acre lots to a planned development designation to allow for the condominium-style community.
The proposed development, known as Ladera, will include 220 individual homes ranging in size from 2,157 square feet to 3,755 square feet including two-car garages, patios and porches. Values are estimated at between $270,000 and $600,000 for the 180 courtyard villas and 40 larger hillside villas. The gated community would feature an activity center, fitness trails, two lakes, streams, wildflower meadows and groves of trees, said John Delin, partner of Integrity Group LLC, a family-owned business that recently opened a similar community in Keller.
About 75 homes in The Villas of Stone Glen, which opened in Keller in May 2013, have been purchased, Delin said, adding that the market is strong for active adult communities.
“We know what we’re doing,” he said.
Each semi-custom home will be individually owned with the property maintained by a homeowners association. In addition, the streets will be privately maintained.
Both Monroe and Delin said they began meeting with homeowners in neighboring developments before approaching town officials to get feedback on what concerns might arise and how they could tailor the development to fit in with existing neighborhoods.
“We’re a very proactive company that wants to work with the community,” Delin said.
During neighborhood meetings, talks centered on creating a tree grove at one corner and maintaining a tree grove at another — creating and preserving an estimated 15 acres of forest.
In other discussions, access into and out of the property was arranged so that neighborhoods along Kentucky Derby Drive would not see increased traffic.
A large portion of the property, once used for sand and gravel excavation, will be redeveloped into lakes with meadows sloping into them, Delin said, adding that currently, the property has a 70-foot drop into an existing pit.
With an estimated household population of 1.5 individuals, the community would add around 330 people to the community, Delin said, which would also have limited impact on the town’s existing sewer infrastructure.
A memo from Stacey Almond, town administrator, echoed the sentiment, indicating Bartonville is under contract with the Upper Trinity River Water District for 37,800 gallons per day and is well below the daily allowance.
The density with 220 homes on an estimated 80 acres would be 2.75 homes per acre, a consistent metric used by all municipalities in Texas, according to G&A Consultants, which is working with Integrity and Yeti on the proposed development.
The homes are also being planned with a 300-foot setback from the property lines, Delin said. Each homeowner would be required to pay into a reserved fund to help pay for the upkeep of the property and roads. In turn, they likely would see increased values of their homes with the maintenance and upkeep of the overall property.
The proposed development also is targeting a market not currently being sought by existing housing developments in Bartonville, Monroe said. “They will not compete in any way,” he added.
With an older demographic, the proposed development will fill a gap in business for existing retailers at the town center, he said. Many living in Bartonville and Lantana leave during the weekdays to jobs outside of the area, he said, while homeowners in Ladera would be more likely to stay close and spend money at local businesses.
That, he said, is why he believes the proposed housing development could well be the catalyst for developing the second and third phases of Bartonville Town Center, which opened in 2003 and now is more than 95 percent occupied.
Monroe said he has worked with other developers over the years and believes the current proposal is the perfect fit for Bartonville.
“This is the best answer to keep it rural,” he said.
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