Southlake to consider new Kroger in 2015

Southlake leaders will wait until 2015 to decide if Kroger can develop just north of Texas 114 along Dove Road.

The Southlake City Council tabled a site plan that would bring a development along Texas 114, and will take it up again at the Council’s Jan. 20 meeting.

The development includes a proposed 103,634 square-foot new concept Kroger.

The developer submitted several site plans to the city that include revisions to elevations and entrances. Mayor John Terrell said the city even received a site plan hours before the council meeting.

“We really haven’t had an opportunity to review those in depth to see what those entail. They also have not been able to be presented to the public,” he said.

The proposed retail center development called Southlake Town and Country has been contested by residents who say it does not fit the need of the area near Dove Road and Kirkwood Boulevard just north of the highway.

Residents who have spoken at other public meetings have also cited traffic concerns.

The 26.13-acre development would feature six commercial retail buildings including a 103,634-square-foot new Kroger concept called Kroger Town and Country.

The store would not sell furniture or jewelry like the Kroger Marketplace stores, but instead focus more on organic foods and other items.

The City Council chamber was filled at Tuesday night’s meeting with residents ready to voice their opinions on the property, but early in the meeting Council members voted to table it and most residents left.

Katie Simpson lives within 200 feet of the proposed development and opposes it.

She said she was under the impression that the land would be used for small office, not a big box retailer. She said many of the neighbors met with the developer asking for smaller stores, but decided to stop meeting once it was clear that a big box was vital to the project.

She came to Tuesday night’s meeting hoping the Council would deny the proposal.

“I wish they could deny,” she said. “The second best option would be to table it, and see if Kroger might come to their senses.”

Simpson and other opponents said the tabling gives them more time to learn about the proposed development.

Kroger said it does plan to keep its other Southlake location at 2110 E. Southlake Boulevard and this new store open.

The new Kroger store would serve a customer base north of Texas 114.

This story was originally published December 9, 2014 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Southlake to consider new Kroger in 2015."