Southlake P&Z Commission says no to new 49-acre subdivision

Toll Brothers’ plan for 54 homes on 49 acres met harsh criticism and ultimately unanimous denial by the Southlake Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Glenmore by Toll Brothers neighborhood was proposed at the northwest corner of Southlake Boulevard and Shady Oaks Drive. The plan was to combine four estate properties into a new subdivision.

The majority of the neighbors to the west and north opposed the project because of increased traffic and density in the area.

Commissioners asked Rob Paul, division president for Toll Brothers, to remove one or two lots so the entrance off Southlake Boulevard would have a more park-like appearance.

Paul wouldn’t budge, saying the economics don’t work, especially considering how much the land costs.

"Every lot counts," Paul said.

Following the vote, Paul said he would "regroup." Toll Brothers has already spent months tweaking the project, shifting the lots around. It was tabled multiple times at the P&Z.

One of the estate lots belongs to former Southlake Mayor Rick Stacy. The plan was to for Stacy to sell the majority of his land but keep his home, becoming part of the new Glenmore neighborhood.

If Toll Brothers’ proposal dies, the land could still be developed but it will happen piecemeal, one property owner at a time. That means three or four separate neighborhoods, each with one way in and one way out lining Southlake Boulevard and Shady Oaks Drive.

Commissioners didn’t like that idea, either, even if the density would be lower. One alternative plan proposed using septic systems rather connecting to the city sewer, which they liked even less.

Paul said this piecemeal plan, which is not planned by Toll Brothers, would be disjointed.

"Our plan is an all-encompassing solution to a very complex assembly of lots," Paul said. "There’s already a plan on the table to slice 15 or so lots straight down the middle of this project that’s going to proceed if we don’t do this project. That’s going to eliminate future potential of all of this being brought together in a single well-thought out plan."

Eric Stengle, who lives north of the site, said he prefers the larger lots to the Toll Brother plan.

"I think that’s the best solution for all of us," Stengle said. "We’re not going to take a hit on that. We won’t have people jammed up behind us with a great big house to justify the price of the lot."

Stengle criticized Stacy for supporting this project when he fought so hard for low density during his time as mayor in the 1980s and 1990s.

Stacy said he resents that accusation, saying Southlake is one of the largest cities in Tarrant County yet kept its population under 30,000 people.

"I fought for low density for this entire community," Stacy said. "We could have had over 200,000 people. We’ve done a great job managing the growth of this community. We didn’t really like it when the Southridge Lakes was built. It took our pastures away but we learned to live with it and we learned to invite people to town as long as they’re happy when they get here."

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Southlake P&Z Commission says no to new 49-acre subdivision."