Warehouse and office plan near Arlington airport worries some neighbors
After purchasing the land at 4801 S. Collins St. in 1996, Attorney Kris Landrith said he has waited for someone just as “kind-hearted” as him to develop the lot.
“I want to be a good neighbor,” he said.
He found that Miles Terry, a Dallas-based development associate with Jackson-Shaw, shared that vision to be a good neighbor. Through Douglas Cooper with the engineering firm Mycoskie and Associates in Arlington, Terry proposed rezoning the 12-acre property for office and warehouse use. The property is near Arlington Municipal Airport. Proponents of the project, titled Parc 20, said the property will help fix drainage woes the nearby neighbors face.
“Over the years, when we have a big rain, the natural water flow floods my poor neighbors horribly,” Landrith said. “This developer has promised that they’re going to fix that, and that’s my number one goal.”
But neighbors bordering the property worry the development — no matter how neighborly the developers are — will hurt their neighborhood.
Around 15 residents petitioned the Arlington City Council to deny the zoning application, fearing the development would sink property values, create litter and encourage crime. Residents also listed respiratory issues, invasion of privacy and shadows cast on home gardens among their concerns surrounding construction. Council members will take up the discussion surrounding the property during their virtual evening meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Pedro Santoyo said his family plans to sell its home on Abbott Avenue. Santoyo’s home is close to the proposed unloading dock for the warehouse units. He said despite the developer’s plans to plant trees and construct barrier walls around the property, there would still be a warehouse in his backyard.
“If it were across the street, I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” he said. “It’s going to be 50 yards from my fence.”
After buying the home in 2001 with plans to stay for only a couple years, Santoyo, his wife and two kids stayed because they enjoyed their neighbors and the area. After the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-1 to approve the project, the family hired a real estate agent and are looking for homes around Mansfield and Grand Prairie.
“We’ve been in tears over this,” Santoyo said.
Terry was not immediately available for comment Monday. However, in a written response to the petition, he and Cooper refuted many of the points in the letter, stating construction would follow city and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards.
Terry and Cooper said rezoning the lot would prohibit “undesirable” services including gas stations, firearm sales and vehicle rental shops from building.
Additionally, the City Council received 19 letters supporting the development for its potential to create new jobs and support Arlington Municipal Airport’s growth. Thirteen of the letters were from residents within 200 feet of the property.
“In these uncertain times, a project such as Parc 20 will promote economic development and be a huge asset to the city of Arlington,” wrote James Palmer.
People interested in commenting during the City Council meeting’s public hearing on the zoning case or on other issues can emaill ccpublicparticipation@arlingtontx.gov to register to speak and/or watch the meeting on the city website.
