The Argyle Planning and Zoning Commission denied approval of the 430-acre Avalon at Argyle master-planned community to allow the presentation of the project at the Feb. 28 Town Council meeting for possible zoning approval.
Commissioners and public concerns were discussed and four-to-five stipulations were outlined. When consulted, Town Attorney Matt Butler recommended tabling a decision on the project, citing too many stipulations.
“I explained that we can’t be tabled, because timing with the property owners and all the other moving parts of this development need to be done in February,” said Bobby Dollak, senior engineer with G&A Consultants, representing the owners, Randol Mill Capital, LLP, Centurion American Development Group and Ronald McCutchin.
He added that the northwest corner of the development is a Town of Argyle ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) property owned by a group of physicians bought as an investment. The town cannot forcibly annex the land, but the owners are willing to allow annexation by Argyle if the land will be part of the Avalon development.
Following the decision not to table the project, the commissioners voted 5-to-2 not to approve the development as presented.
“So, now we can go to Town Council with the modifications requested by the P&Z and the public concerns,” said Dollak.
Of the large audience in attendance, the public concerns were regarding an emergency vehicle-only street connection with Forest Trail to the east. Residents were concerned that, even though only emergency vehicles could access the road, drivers would try to cut through the existing neighborhood as a short cut.
Also, of public concern were the lot sizes in the eastern-most residential section of Avalon. Existing property owners to the east are on two-acre lots with septic systems and requested the adjourning Avalon lots be larger.
Dollak said instead of the planned 15- to 20-homesites, there will be 10- to 12- homes and the emergency road will be deleted when the project is presented to the council.
“The commissioners were hung up on park maintenance by the developers or HOA for only eight years, but it will be a city park,” he said of the dedicated 82.5-acre park which will run from FM 407 in the north through the middle of the development down to meet Canyon Falls on the south.
Dollak added that the only other issues raised were small text clarifications.
“We’ll present [the development] with the requested changes to the council at its Feb. 28 meeting,” he said. “It will help Argyle with its tax base. Argyle needs this to keep up with its maintenance and services.”
The Town Council meeting on Feb. 28 will be held at 6 p.m. at the Argyle Town Hall, 308 Denton Street in Argyle.
About Avalon at Argyle
Avalon at Argyle is a 430-acre master-planned community integrating residential and commercial uses located along the east side of the I-35W corridor at the intersection with FM 407.
The mix of commercial uses will include restaurants, large and medium box-retailers, storefront shops, entertainment, institutional, neighborhood services, offices and a 150-room hotel.
The residential variety of housing include 700 single-family homes; smaller row houses closer to the western commercial areas along I-35W, with medium-sized lots in the southern section and larger lots to the east adjacent to the existing neighborhood.
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