North Richland Hills denies plans for new homes. ‘I don’t think this is the right time.’
After a public hearing that lasted almost three hours, the North Richland Hills city council on Monday denied a developer’s request for a zoning change to build 94 homes, saying the plans were incomplete.
The council voted 6-1 against the zoning change.
Mayor Oscar Trevino urged council members to vote to deny a request from Farrukh Azim of Texas New Real Estate and Derick Morway of Montage Development to build the homes on approximately 19 acres of wooded vacant land on the east side of Davis Boulevard from Hightower to Odell Street.
The land is zoned for commercial use, and the developer wanted a change it to residential use.
“We don’t need to shoehorn something; we have homes in the pipeline. I don’t think this is the right time,” Trevino said.
Trevino added that the property has good potential. He suggested giving the developer time to come up with a plan for homes and residential use.
“They came to us asking us to change something that is better for them. We don’t have to approve it,” Trevino said with a little more time.
There was also a motion to continue the hearing until the developer came back with more complete information, but it was voted down.
During the public hearing, residents questioned why there wasn’t more information about traffic impacts and plans to preserve the old growth trees.
The developer submitted a tree survey of six acres of the property that was formerly owned by Chesapeake Energy, which dated back to 2012.
Murway told the council Monday that the original plan called for building approximately 140 homes. He also said he held meetings with residents to discuss his plans.
Rita Wright Oujesky said the proposed development is in a major corridor for North Richland Hills.
“Delaying this kicks the can down the road. This development needs to be correct,” she said.
Murway previously said his company was working with a landscape architect and planned to replace the trees.
Some residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic and asked about plans for drainage because of the new homes coming to the development.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held two public hearings, and on Dec. 19, the board voted 6-0 to approve the zoning change from commercial to residential.
The site is near the TexRail Smithfield station. Murway previously said the location near the station didn’t “drive” his decision to build homes on the site, but people could decide to move to that area because of the train service.
Plans called for townhomes, family garden homes and green space between the new and existing homes.
Not all residents opposed the plans for the new development.
Kaylen Pizzini previously said she is concerned about losing trees and increasing traffic, but she would rather see new homes than more commercial development.
“I think that what is being proposed tonight is beautiful. I don’t want to see more warehouses,” she said.