A mixed-use plan for nearly 70 acres on the northwest corner of U.S. 75 and FM 121 is back before the Van Alstyne City Council on Tuesday, after members put off a decision at their August and September meetings.
The project, called The Landing at Van Alstyne in the council packet, would rezone about 69.2 acres from general commercial to a planned development district. The land sits where Henry Hynds Expressway meets Van Alstyne Parkway. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at City Hall, 152 N. Main Drive.
According to the staff summary, the Planning and Zoning Commission held its public hearing on the request June 24, and the council held its own hearing July 14. At that July meeting, the council told staff to draft an ordinance approving the change, on the condition that a development agreement covering exterior building materials be prepared.
The council then tabled the item Aug. 11 and again Sept. 8. Both the rezoning ordinance and the agreement are on Tuesday's agenda for a vote.
Three sections, three kinds of building
The draft zoning rules split the property into three sub-areas.
- Sub-Area A is set aside for larger commercial buildings that benefit from highway visibility. It allows a big-box store, which the rules define as a retail building of at least 50,000 square feet, along with indoor and outdoor building materials sales, outdoor equipment rental and, behind a big-box store, drone facilities. Buildings there can rise to 55 feet.
- Sub-Area B is meant for smaller pad sites, shops, offices and restaurants. It must include at least two sit-down restaurants without drive-thrus. It allows up to five drive-thru restaurants by right, two facing FM 121 and three facing U.S. 75, plus drive-thru beverage shops and one car wash. A hotel, extended-stay hotel, child care center or food truck park would need a special use permit.
- Sub-Area C allows apartments or townhomes. Apartments are capped at 280 units, which the document puts at about 25.8 units per acre, with buildings no taller than 45 feet. At least half the units must be one-bedroom or studio apartments of 650 square feet or more, and no more than 10% can have three bedrooms.
The rules also call for an 8-foot masonry wall along the west edge of the residential section, a tree preservation buffer within 50 feet of the creek that separates it from the commercial land, and a 24-hour access drive to the city water tower on the site. Concept drawings in the packet include a fuel station and convenience store building.
The packet does not name any retail tenant.
