A developer won’t get to build luxury apartments in this Fort Worth-area suburb
Luxury apartments geared toward retirees and empty nesters won’t be coming to Southlake’s Town Square known for its shopping and family-friendly atmosphere.
Frank Bliss, president of Cooper and Stebbins, wanted to build 270 high-end apartments designed for empty nesters and retirees who wanted to rent rather than own their homes.
The location was south of Division Street, north of Federal Way, west of State Street, and east of Carroll Avenue.
But the city council and residents who crowded into the Southlake town hall were adamant in their opposition to the apartments, saying that they did not conform to the city’s 2035 land use plan and Southlake’s density requirements.
The council voted 7-0 Tuesday to deny the developer’s request to change zoning from commercial to downtown district.
Councilman Shahid Shafi said he and his family moved to Southlake because of the school district and the Town Square with its shops and fountain; he added that he did not see a need to change the zoning to allow the apartments.
“I don’t see a compelling reason to break promises to the citizens,” he said.
Southlake resident Diane Dorman said she moved to Southlake because of the small-town atmosphere.
“Let’s stay true to our low density. Find a project that would try to be family or sports oriented,” she said.
During his presentation to the council, Bliss said the project would enhance the Town Square as the apartments were designed residents with high incomes who don’t want to be tied down to home ownership. The monthly rent was almost $3,750, according to a letter from the developer.
“We think we brought you a high-end, compelling luxury development that would be good for Southlake,” Bliss said.
People interested in renting the apartments want enough space for entertaining and bedrooms large enough for a king-sized bed, he said. The minimum size of an apartment was 1,000 square feet.
People who want to live in Southlake sometimes can’t because there aren’t enough rentals available, Bliss said.
“You can’t stop time. The world is changing. Will we move forward, or will we get to the point where we have to react,” Bliss said.
Bliss said they were disappointed but not surprised by the council’s vote to deny the Downtown Residences.
”When presenting the concept of Town Square almost 25 years ago, it also encountered resistance, as did our subsequent residential applications for the Brownstones, Garden District, and Parkview Residences”, Bliss said in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
”These projects have been a great asset to Southlake and the surrounding communities. We have a good track record of working together with the community and the council to achieve great outcomes”, he said.
Residents worried that the apartments would result in increased traffic and over-crowding at local schools. However, Bliss said building a commercial project such as a restaurant or retail would lead to more traffic than the apartments.
Mayor Laura Hill said she also opposed the project because it did not conform to the land use plan. But she said she also worries about shop owners who are forced out because of the high rent in the Town Square.
She told the developer, “You are no longer the person who operates the Town Square. You are a property owner with vacant land,” she said.
Bliss told Hill that her comments were fair and that he would accept the council’s decision.
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 11:04 AM.