Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Session - May 21, 2025
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Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Session - May 21, 2025
The Planning and Zoning Commission of Arlington, Texas, convened on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 5:45 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chairperson Dr. Ignacio Nunez presided, with Commissioners Blake, Sumpter, Ware, Winkles, Greer, Carter, and Maddox present. The meeting addressed five zoning cases: one development plan, one continuance, two planned development requests, and one specific use permit.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (May 7, 2025): Unanimously approved (8-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zoning Case DP25-1 (2601 W Randol Mill Rd): Over a dozen residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about traffic on Randol Mill Road (a hilly, winding road), increased crime, loss of privacy, light pollution, drainage issues, property value declines, school overcrowding, and the incompatibility of a 360-unit luxury apartment complex with the surrounding single-family neighborhoods. Several speakers urged alternatives such as senior living or land banking by the city. One resident, Randy Hendricks, spoke in support, testifying that the developer (OHT Partners) delivered on promises at a previous project on Cooper Street.
- Zoning Case SUP25-2 (319 Matlock Meadow Drive): The applicant, Fabiola Chavez, explained she sought the secondary living unit to care for her 94-year-old mother while allowing her independence. No members of the public spoke in opposition.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Case DP25-1 (2601 W Randol Mill Rd): Applicant Howell Beaver of OHT Partners presented a plan to demolish a vacant rehab center and build a 360-unit luxury apartment complex (16 units per acre, well below the 22-unit maximum allowed by the underlying RMF-22 zoning). The plan meets all UDC standards and exceeds tree preservation requirements (46% preservation, 10% required). No traffic impact analysis (TIA) was initially required by staff, but after public concern, the developer agreed to conduct one during platting. Commissioners debated the project’s merits, with some emphasizing the limited legal authority to deny a use already permitted by zoning, while others stressed the need for a TIA and better mitigation for neighbors.
- Zoning Case PD25-3 (4300 New York Ave): The applicant, Nikki Moore of MMA, represented Group One Automotive’s request to rezone 13.327 acres from PD-Light Industrial to PD for Community Commercial plus new motor vehicle sales to build a luxury BMW dealership. The site is adjacent to I-20 and existing dealerships. Staff noted one deviation from a required masonry wall along the western property line due to a utility easement; the applicant proposed 127 trees instead. Commissioner questions addressed drainage, architecture (the building’s sleek modern design meets BMW’s corporate identity), and the removal of pole signs. No opposition was voiced.
- Zoning Case PD25-5 (901 East Arkansas Lane – Take 5): This proposal redevelops a 0.514-acre former gas station into a Take 5 oil change center with three service bays. The only deviation is that service bays face South Collins Street; the design includes 100% brick facade, enhanced landscaping (including butterfly-attracting plants), and removal of existing pole signs. The applicant noted a shared parking agreement with adjacent Dino’s Subs. Staff and commissioners praised the project as a catalyst for the aging International Corridor. No opposition. The applicant agreed to continue discussions with the city’s International Corridor initiative to integrate signage or banners.
- Zoning Case SUP25-2 (319 Matlock Meadow Drive): The applicant requested a Specific Use Permit for a 948-square-foot secondary living unit (1,214 sq ft including porch) on a 0.316-acre lot zoned RS-7.2. Commissioners expressed concerns about future use as a short-term rental or rental unit, setting a precedent, and enforceability of occupancy restrictions. Staff noted that such SUPs are uncommon (only one approved since 2022) and that a similar case was previously approved. The applicant stated she would not sell the home and that her daughter might use the unit for college.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Case DP25-1 (2601 W Randol Mill Rd): Approved (5-3) with conditions: a traffic impact analysis (TIA) shall be submitted during platting; the two dumpsters shall be relocated away from residential property; an 8-foot-tall fence shall be installed along single-family residential boundaries; the applicant shall work with city staff on security requirements; and healthy live oaks within open space areas shall be preserved where possible. Voting aye: Chairperson Nunez, Commissioners Sumpter, Winkles, Greer, Maddox. Voting nay: Commissioners Blake, Ware, Carter.
- Zoning Case PD24-28 (5920 Matlock Road): Continued (8-0) to the July 16, 2025 regular session.
- Zoning Case PD25-3 (4300 New York Ave): Approved (7-0-1) with a recommendation to consider additional vertical articulation on the north elevation. Commissioner Sumpter abstained.
- Zoning Case PD25-5 (901 East Arkansas Lane – Take 5): Approved (7-0-1) with staff considerations and direction to continue discussions with the International Corridor group for potential integration of signage or banners. Commissioner Sumpter abstained.
- Zoning Case SUP25-2 (319 Matlock Meadow Drive): Approved (6-2) as presented. Voting aye: Chairperson Nunez, Commissioners Sumpter, Ware, Winkles, Greer, Maddox. Voting nay: Commissioners Blake, Carter.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM. The next regular session is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 5:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening again, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dr. Ignacio Nunez. I serve as chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Arlington, and I hereby call this regular notice meeting of the City of Arlington's Planning and Zoning Commission regular session to order for May the 21st, 2025. At this time, I'm going to ask our administrator to read the speaker guidelines and general decorum for tonight's meeting. We ask this 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 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 the 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 at 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 approval of minutes and a copy of these from our May 7 2025 regular session agenda were sent to the commissioners in advance. Were there any changes or corrections needed to the minutes? Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve? I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Blake, and I have a second by Commissioner Maddox. Please cast your vote. Motion passes 8 to nothing. Next on the agenda, we have five. We did have five. Let me make sure. We had five. We're down to four cases tonight. And if you're here to speak on zoning case PD 24-28, located at approximately 5920 Matlock Road. In fact, I'm going to cross this off so I don't read that again. Okay. Um, yes, that that case has been continued to affect I forgot. Uh 30 days, yeah. It's been delayed uh till next month. It's a 30-day delay. And but the July the 9th. Okay. So later than that. Okay. So let the let the minutes show that it's been continued to uh July the 16th. Thank you very much, staff. So the first case is zoning case DP 25-1, located at approximately 2601 West Randall Mill Road. An application for approval of a development plan on approximately 23 and a quarter acres zoned residential multifamily RMF 22 for multifamily uses with a maximum density of 22 units per acre. You want to do it after the report or okay after the report. Okay. So at this time I'm going to call on staff to present its report on zoning case DP 25-1. Go right ahead, Alex. Good evening, Commissioners for the Record. Cecilia Nelson, senior planner, planning and development services here to present development plan DP 25-1.
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