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Villages of OC-CS090825k~~e~~~ ~„ TEXAS BELLE ~; ~:, ~ August 25, 2009 City of Coppell 255 Parkway Boulevard Post Office Box 9478 Coppell, Texas 75019-9478 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: ~"~~ v; l~a~ ° ~- ~ rl ~ +(,~ P~Q~1 py1~~~ '~ L~+3 Kolberg Development LLC (Donna, Jeff and Doug Kolberg) attended the Carter/Crowley and Old Coppell information meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. We understand the City process for this area and we have several concerns about the development of the Carter/Crowley section of the Historic District that we feel should be addressed before the City moves forward with this development. On May 11, 2006 we received the Letter of Intent from the City of Coppell to develop this 9.4 acre tract of land. We followed all City planning and zoning guidelines and worked with the planning department to meet these requirements. At that time, we designed our project to be compatible with the future plans of the Carter/Crowley property within this historic district. After hearing and reviewing the presentation by Mr. Yancey, we have the following concerns and recommendations for solutions: Concern #1: When Kolberg Development LLC designed the 9.4 acre property, we understood there would be a connection and synergy between our development and the future development of the Carter/Crowley tract of land. We designed our development in such a way that those shopping and/or dining would not only have a view of the town square/park, but also have the opportunity to walk across the street and be in the town center, farmer's market or park. As it is designed today, our patrons would have no view of the town square; they would look directly at a two story housing development; and/or would have to walk around said residential development along the entire frontage of our retail and hotel development to get to the farmers market and rest of the restaurants and retail area. There is no "feeling" of a unified area. What you have is the Carter Crowley Development and then you have the Village at Old Coppell with no unity whatsoever. Recommendation: I have attached Exhibit 1 to illustrate the modification to the Yancey development (Carter/Crowley). The recommendation is to move the residential to the south end of the development and move retail and restaurant sites directly across the street (like we originally understood this would be designed). Open the center (where our development drive enters in front of the Texas Belle) and allow that area to be open and have an entry point to the square. Concern #2: When we went through the approval process with the city, the historic design was a huge priority. There is a lack of compatibility with the Carter Crowley property as now proposed. Recommendation: The solution is that there should be a compatible design for the Carter Crowley development as well. Concern #3: Throughout the entire historic district, there has been a consistent development of commercial properties fronting the streets. The City planned the Coppell Townhomes where the frontage lots are commercial. On Bethel Road, most all former residential homes have been converted to commercial and those that are still residential will eventually be converted to commercial, we're sure. We're certain the City wouldn't plan for any new residential homes facing Bethel Road. There must be consistency on S. Coppell Road as well. When the Event Center is built and the development on both sides of S. Coppell Rd. is established, S. Coppell Rd will easily be as busy as Bethel. It seems that we are creating a problem now that will survive for a long time in the future if you allow residential development on this high traffic commercial road. Recommendation: No residential development fronting S. Coppell Rd. Concern #4: A review of Yancey's entry points and drives off Coppell Road and our already approved entry points and drives make for a big traffic problem. Instead of having 3 points of entry, you have multiple points on S. Coppell Road alone. We were told that the improvements on the street ~ ~~ would likely include turn lanes, etc. Are we really going to have that many turn lanes? Recommendation: We go back to the original plan of both developments having 3 joint entry/drives across from each other to the respective developments. This would display consistency and the appearance of thoughtful and long range planning. Points that Yancey brought up as examples that we have issues with: 1. Point: Southlake has residential in busy town square. Rebuttal: Actually, the brownstones are on the far outer peripheral area of the Southlake development. They certainly do not have a Town Square with all the commercial/retail stores in the center and then have two rows of residential houses that face Southlake Blvd and across the street have another commercial/retail area (City Market). Instead the residential element is where it should be...on the outer peripheral. 2. Point: "This" (Carter/Crowley Development) is like Granbury. Rebuttal: Coppell is no Granbury. The Granbury Square is their city center with the theatre, retail and restaurants that face the square. There is no residential element that faces the square. It is a busy, commercial area. Concern #5: If the City allows the residential development directly across the street from our event center and hotel/retail center, we foresee the following problems and offer solutions. If the city insists on residential development facing Coppell Road, the angled parking signs must indicate "No overnight parking" -tow at owner's expense, etc. etc. Recommendation: This solution would help alleviate the residents from parking in the business/retail angled parking. It is naive to think that they wouldn't park in front of their houses. Most people use their garage for additional storage and don't/can't fit their cars in the garage. It is inevitable that one or more cars would end up in the front angled parking. Regarding the residential development, the city should consider the noise and lighting factors due to the vehicles from events exiting our development at all hours and late night clean up and truck deliveries. Example: Reception event for 400 people. Event ends at 12:00 midnight. Everyone goes outside to send off the couple...people will be yelling, cowbells ringing and it will all be quite festive. Then people will get in their cars in the parking lot and on the angled spaces in front of these "empty nesters" (whom we believe want peace and quiet) with doors slamming, etc. etc. Then, the clean up and trucks come and break down the rentals/catering etc and these may not get through until 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. We cannot imagine that the residents wouldn't be furious because of interrupted sleep or noisy activity which could happen most nights and every weekend. Recommendation: The solution is to not have residences fronting Coppell Rd. Yard upkeep issues. We are concerned with the individual's maintenance and design of their ~ lawns. Recommendation: Asolution would be that the Homeowner's Association maintains the fronts of the yards while the owner maintains the rear/side yard. This would insure that the lawns are taken care of and consistent in upkeep and design. We feel that it is necessary to look to the historic district as one development with convenient access and good connectivity complete with meandering sidewalks, ease for patrons to get from point A to point B...not maneuvering around housing developments. In conclusion there may be just one chance to get this historic district right. Kolberg Development LLC is seeking financing for about $10,000,000.00 in Phase I with an additional $10,000,000 for the hotel and retail development of Phase II. Our development will most definitely benefit our city and the Carter/Crowley development. Our desire is that there is synergy and design compatibility between our projects. We would like the appearance that this is one big unified historic area. Those people who visit and shop our development should be able to access Yancey's property easily and also be able to enjoy those facilities and amenities and vice versa. We understand that Yancey's risk is likely minimized greatly due to the residential construction component on the Carter Crowley land. Due to the existing adjacent land uses to the Carter/Crowley tract, it is very difficult to place the residential site that Mr. Yancey seems to require. There are ways to rework the layout of Yancey's design to make this work for all involved. We know the Planning Department at the City of Coppell is doing their best to make the best decision. Thank you, /YI,~iII.~ OS 0~ V Kolberg Development LLC Donna Kolberg vl9l' b K'NE ltP4fL. 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