On Monday, Flower Mound’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the Town Council approve a rezoning request by NE Development, LLC for its NEM Senior Living rental project at its Oct. 1 council meeting. The multi-family project is to be located on 9.2-acres south of Rippy Road and east of FM 2499.
The council already approved a Master Plan Amendment to create an Senior Housing Overlay District to address demand for affordable, high-quality, rental housing options for those 55-years-of-age or older back on March 6, 2017.
The senior overlay district includes sites located 2,500 feet on either side of FM 2499 from FM 407 down to, but not including, the northern boundary of the Lakeside Business District.
If approved, NEM Senior Living will be the town’s first apartment complex for seniors under the new overlay district and, as an incentive, the town would grant certain park and SMARTGrowth requirement waivers.
On June 7, 2018, the Parks Board recommended approval to Town Council that cash, in the amount of $770,515 be accepted in lieu of the otherwise required Park Land Dedication, and Park Development Fees in the amount of $252,616 for the project. The item will be forwarded to the Town Council for consideration at the same time as the project.
The project calls for 182-units in one four-story building and four two-story buildings with garages on the first floor.
If approved, approximately 65-percent of the units would be one-bedroom units, with the rest being two- and three-bedroom units.
The upscale amenities include a clubhouse with a dining hall, a bistro, workout facility, TV lounge and an enclosed courtyard with a bocce ball court, putting green, yoga lawn, a pool with a cabana and a dog park.
A trail is proposed along FM 2499, as well as a bridge and trail to link the project to both Gaston Park and Timber Trails Park and The River Walk development.
Commissioners said they realized that approving the zoning would eliminate retail on this property, but most of them said they’re okay with it, if the town scores its first senior rental project in the new senior overlay district.
“In this case, although I’d really like to see as much retail as possible on that stretch of land, I think this is a good reason to replace that retail,” said Vice Chairman Laile Neal. “It may have not been the best place for retail originally.”
Commissioner David Johnson voiced his– and other commissioner’s– concern with the four-story height of the building, as well as how it would fit in with the nearby residential area.
However, Commissioner Heth Kendrick reminded the commission that the property is also near the four-story hospital and is 400 feet away from the road.
Presenter Randi Rivera, director of planning and entitlement at G&A McAdams, addressed Johnson’s additional concern with residents entering and leaving the development– on the curved-portion of FM 2499– pointing out that there will be deceleration lanes constructed on both northbound and southbound FM 2499.
She said the average age of residents is expected to be 72-years-old. She added a shuttle service would possibly be available and, if approved, the project would be complete in about two years.
Commissioner Brad Ruthrauff was the sole vote against the motion. He said he didn’t like the height of the building and eliminating retail in a place it was supposed to be, even though the development is within the senior housing overlay.
Town Lake East Approved
The commissioners unanimously voted to recommend approval for the rezoning and accompanying Development Plan of the Toll Brothers Town Lake East cluster development. The high-end residential project is located south of FM 1171 and east of Flower Mound Road within the Cross Timbers Conservation Development District.
Included in the development, is a 13-acre parcel, adjacent to RockPointe Church to the east, the developer has targeted to be dedicated to the town.
As supported by many public speakers, those 13-acres– valued at $900,000– will possibly be used to build the town’s official tennis facility. That intent is a hopeful one, but it will be a future consideration separate from the Town Lake East development.
