Southlake residents halt discussion of new Kroger

Southlake City Council tabled the discussion of a proposed site plan and preliminary plat for the Southlake Town & Country development at its Feb. 3 meeting, after citizens challenged the city’s handling of the proposal at 500 W. Texas 114, near Dove Road.

The development would include a new Kroger grocery store.

Two residents, Doug Harsy and Sue Johnson, filed an appeal on Jan. 30, to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments contesting the development on three points.

They said the proposal is not consistent with the land’s current zoning, is not consistent with an earlier approved concept plan, and that city staff applied the wrong tree preservation ordinance.

“Our goal is to achieve the correct application of the zoning that was ruled back in 1997,” Harsy said.

Residents within 200 feet of the proposed development, and others, have opposed the shopping district that would include a 103,920-square-foot Kroger Town & Country store. The new concept is similar to the larger Kroger Marketplace stores, but would focus on organic foods rather than other non-grocery items such as jewelry.

The residents say the development does not meet the needs of the area and would increase traffic near Dove Road and Kirkwood Boulevard north of Texas 114.

“We’re concerned about the traffic that it brings, we’re concerned about the effect of the neighborhood community,” Harsy said. “It’s not a right fit.”

While it is not on any official agenda yet, City Attorney Allen Taylor told the Council the appeal may be reviewed at the Board’s March 26 meeting.

Taylor said the Board will address one technical issue before it can address the residents’ appeal.

According to city policy, appeals of zoning ordinance interpretation must be made within a 60-day window, and Tree Preservation Ordinance issues must be filed within 10 days. In a letter to the city’s director of planning, Allen wrote that an Oct. 3, 2014 staff report has been the basis for discussion of the Town & Country project, which would make the appeal late.

Harsy argues that they are in the appeal time frame because the proposed plan has constantly changed, including a new site plan on Jan. 27.

The Board of Adjustments will have to decide on the appeal’s timeliness before it can discuss any other issues.

The project’s developer, Cencor Realty Services, did not return calls for comment.

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Southlake residents halt discussion of new Kroger."