Arlington P&Z Commission Regular Session - March 5, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Session – March 5, 2025
The Planning and Zoning Commission of Arlington, Texas, met in regular session on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 5:36 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included a call to order, approval of minutes, five public hearings on zoning cases, and miscellaneous items. All votes and key discussions are summarized below.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes:
- Minutes of February 5, 2025 Regular Session – Approved 9–0 (motion by Commissioner Blake, second by Commissioner Ware).
- Minutes of February 19, 2025 Regular Session – Approved 9–0 (motion by Commissioner Sumpter, second by Commissioner Blake).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zoning Case PD24-40 (Anthem, formerly Lincoln Square):
- Applicant (in support): Terry Montes (Trademark Property Company, Fort Worth) presented the redevelopment plan, citing market conditions (interest rates, construction costs) that made the original dense vision infeasible. He and Monica Liletta (VP of Development) detailed commitments including a minimum 50,000 sq ft of new non-residential building, 3,000 sq ft open green space, phased improvements, and design standards. They asked for a permissible building area and an alternate sign plan.
- Opposition: B. Smith (Galveston, self-described “daughter of Arlington”) spoke emotionally against the project, alleging childhood abuse at Arlington Memorial Hospital and criticizing a commissioner on the dais (whom she asked to resign). Chairperson Nunez categorically denied the allegations, stating they were not true. No other opposition speakers.
- Zoning Case PD24-40-ASP (Alternate Sign Plan): No public comments beyond the applicant’s presentation.
- Zoning Case Z06-40R2/B06-40R2 (Glorypark/Medal of Honor Museum): Jack Hill (Dallas, representing the museum) spoke briefly in support; no opposition.
- Zoning Case SUP24-10 (Telecommunication Facility): Alan Savale (Broadus Towers, Fort Worth) spoke in support; no opposition.
- Zoning Case PD25-1 (7505 US 287 Business Highway): Luke Millane (Civil Point Engineers, McKinney) represented the absent applicant; no opposition.
Discussion Items
- PD24-40 (Anthem): Staff planner Lisa Sudbury presented the request to rezone 45.275 acres from PD-EDO-RMU to PD-EDO-CC plus multi-family (without a development plan). The permissible building area was shifted, and the applicant committed to phasing and streetscape improvements per EDO standards. Commissioners asked about timeline (demo in 2026, construction late 2026), the fate of the Lincoln Square horse statues (donated to city if not reused), and the long-term plan for the power center (leases extend to ~2050). Chairperson Nunez expressed support, noting market realities and the need to revitalize a declining property. The motion included conditions: add definition for “combination” on page 4, include staff considerations, and require underground utilities where possible. Vote: 6–2 (Ayes: Chairperson Nunez, Commissioners Blake, Ware, Payne, Greer, Maddox; Nays: Commissioners Finley, Carter).
- PD24-40-ASP (Alternate Sign Plan): Staff presented signage deviations including a 60‑ft monument sign along I‑30 (to offset the depressed freeway grade), building‑mounted digital panels on a garage, and temporary supergraphics. Commissioners debated the 60‑ft height; staff noted Parks Mall has a 50‑ft sign; some feared setting a precedent. The applicant argued the extra height was needed for visibility due to the grade. After further discussion, the motion (by Commissioner Blake, second by Commissioner Ware) included staff considerations: prohibit billboards and pole signs, limit building‑mounted multi‑tenant signs to the garage only, and restrict temporary supergraphics per the Highway Beautification Act. Vote: 5–3 (Ayes: Chairperson Nunez, Commissioners Blake, Ware, Greer, Maddox; Nays: Commissioners Finley, Payne, Carter).
- Z06-40R2/B06-40R2 (Glorypark Boundary Adjustment): Staff planner Kevin Charles explained the request to bring 1.508 acres (1111 ATT Way) into the Glorypark PD to unify zoning for the National Medal of Honor Museum site. No deviations were requested. Vote: 9–0 (motion by Commissioner Sumpter, second by Commissioner Payne).
- SUP24-10 (Telecommunication Tower): Staff presented a 125‑ft tower (130 ft including lightning rod) on 0.0574 acres at Rush Creek Baptist Church (2300 SW Green Oaks Blvd). The tower would improve Verizon coverage in an area of need. No objections from staff; the tower is set back over 300 ft from streets, mostly screened by trees and the church building. No FAA lighting required. Vote: 9–0 (motion by Commissioner Payne, second by Chairperson Nunez).
- PD25-1 (Light Industrial at 7505 US 287 Business Highway): Staff planner Cecilia Nelson presented a rezoning from PD (nursery) to PD (light industrial) for a 4,788 sq ft warehouse/office. A roof pitch deviation (2:12 vs. required 4:12) was requested and supported by staff. Commissioner Blake moved to approve with a list of excluded uses (car wash, gasoline sales, gun range, pawn shop, salvage yard, etc.). Commissioner Ware noted the surrounding area is planned for future residential (Village on the Green at Tierra Verde) and asked the applicant to be a good neighbor. Vote: 8–1 (Ayes: Chairperson Nunez, Commissioners Blake, Sumpter, Finley, Payne, Greer, Carter, Maddox; Nay: Commissioner Ware).
Key Outcomes
- PD24-40 (Anthem): Approved 6–2 with conditions (underground utilities, staff considerations, and specified phasing commitments).
- PD24-40-ASP (Alternate Sign Plan): Approved 5–3 with staff recommendations, limiting building‑mounted signs to the garage and restricting supergraphics.
- Glorypark Boundary Adjustment (Z06-40R2/B06-40R2): Approved 9–0, allowing the Medal of Honor Museum to be fully within the Glorypark PD.
- SUP24‑10 (Telecom Tower): Approved 9–0, permitting a 125‑ft tower at Rush Creek Baptist Church.
- PD25‑1 (Light Industrial): Approved 8–1 with a list of prohibited uses.
No miscellaneous reports or announcements were made. The next regular session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5:30 PM, including a work session on the comprehensive plan.
Meeting Transcript
I believe we're now all signed in. So good evening again, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dr. Ignacio Nunez. I serve as chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Arlington. I hereby call this regularly noticed meeting of the City of Arlington's Planning and Zoning Commission regular session to order for March the 5th, 2025. At this time, I will again ask our administrator to read the speaker guidelines in general decorum. We ask that the citizens and other visitors in attendance assist in preserving the order and decorum of this meeting and to provide for attendance at and participation in the meeting without fear of intimidation, threats, or hostility. Any person making personal, profane, hostile, slanderous, or threatening remarks who uses vulgar or obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting, or who becomes disruptive while addressing the planning and zoning commissioners or while attending the planning and zoning meeting may be removed from the council chambers. All speakers shall address the commissioners and not the audience or city staff and shall not call out individually named members of city staff or the public. For speakers tonight, when your name is called, please come to the microphone at the podium and state your name and city of residence for the record. The applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given 10 minutes to make a presentation. Speakers in support or opposition of the item will be given five minutes each to make their statements. If there are many speakers for an item, each speaker will be given three minutes to make their statements. The applicant will then be given five minutes for any rebuttal. If multiple speakers plan to provide the same or similar comments, those speakers may, if they so desire, designate one or more individuals to provide public comment on behalf of the group. A bell will signal the end of each speaker's time. In consideration of other speakers, please conclude your comments promptly when you hear the bell. We ask that you address your comments to the planning and zoning commissioners. Thank you very much. First item of business is to uh approve our minutes from February the 5th. A copy of these minutes have been sent to all the commissioners in advance. Were there any changes or corrections that were needed to the minutes? I'd like to note that uh in advance there was a correction that was made. Uh a minor correction about a motion in a second on one of the motions from the last minutes. And so those have been corrected. So do I have a motion to approve the minutes as they stand corrected? Commissioner Blake, you have a motion to approve, and I have a second from Commissioner Ware. Please cast your vote. Commissioner Ware. Could you please register your vote? Thank you. Motion passes nine to nothing. A copy of the minutes of our February the 19th 2025 regular session agenda were also sent out to all the commissioners in advance. Were there any changes or corrections needed to the minutes? Do I have a motion to approve these minutes? And is there a second? I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Sumter and a motion to second by Commissioner Blake. Please cast your vote. Motion passes nine to nothing. Now tonight we have five zoning cases on the agenda. The first zoning case is zoning case PD 24-40. Titled Anthem, formerly known as Lincoln Square. At this time, I'll call on staff to present its report on zoning case PD 24-40. Good evening, Commissioners and audience. Links to Sudbury Development Planning Manager. Tonight we'll be reviewing PD 24-40. This is approximately 45.275 acres located at 1322 and 1400 North Collins Street and 770, 781 and 800 East Road to Six Flags. Current zoning is PD for limited entertainment district overlay, regional mixed use, EDORMU with a development plan. The request is to revert back to a plan development for limited entertainment district community commercial EDO CC uses approved with zoning case PD 08-19 with revision to the concept brief that was approved in 08.
openpublica.com