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Stoneleigh 1P/PP-AG 970114AGENDA REQUEST FORM CITY COUNCIL ~EETIN~ ITEM C&PTION: January 14, 1997 Consider approval of Stoneleigh at RiverGhase. Preliminary Plat, to allow the development of a 360-unit apartment complex on 20.5 acres of property located along the south side of Riverchase Drive, approximately 645' east of MacArthur Boulev~ard-. ............................ TIThe: D~rector of P19~4ning and Community Services STAFF RECOI~MENDS. / ]%pprov&l X Denial STAFF COMMENTSI Date of p&Z Meetina: December 21, 1996 Decision of P&Z Commission: Approval (6-0) with Commissioners Mabry, Lowry, Wheeler, Cruse, DeFilippo and McCaffrey voting in favor. Commissioner Jones was absent. Approval subject to the followinq conditions: 1) A parking variance being granted by the Board of Adjustments. 2) No requirement of a Hike and Bike trail easement or construction of same, as was alluded to during the DRC discussions. 3) Submission of an irrigation plan. 4) Correct the spelling of "subdivision" under the caption notifying that property is in a flood hazard area. BUDGET AMT. .\_ FINANCIAL COMMENT8: AMT. EHT.$ FIN. REVIEN:~ APPROVED BY C U CIL CITY MANAGER REVIEW: Document Name ~onelpp Peter & Madeleine White 600 Wellington Road CoppeR, Texas 75019 Tel: (972) 393-0160 Fax: (972) 393-4609 January10,1997 Tom Morton Mayor City of Coppell P.O. Box 478 Coppell, TX 75019 Dear Mayor Morton: I am writing to you on behalf of my family and my neighbors in the Riverchase subdivision with regard to the 360-unit Stoneleigh apartment corn plex proposed for Riverchase Drive. Concerned citizens have come out in force at two planning and zoning meetings and at a meeting with the developer to O.Dpose this proposed development at this location at this time. As a neighborhood, we are gravely concerned that the appropriate infrastructure has not been built, and, indeed, may never be built, to accommodate this type of development at this location. Specifically, a proposed road, Fairway Drive, has been planned to connect Beltline directly to Riverchase for many years. There are curb cuts for this on both Beltline and. Riverchase. However, the current landowner has never been required to build this street, although development has progressed and the area is steadily reaching build-out. City staff acknowledges the severity of the traffic problem at Beltline and Riverchase/MacArthur, reflected in soaring traffic counts and countless accidents and "near miss" incidents. This proposed apartment complex represents potentially 700 more cars per day at peak hours. This proposed complex is also only one of two potential mega-apartment complexes legally allowed on Riverchase Orive. Recently, approvals have,.~een granted at this same intersection for fast food restaurants, a new fire station, additio~ingle-family, retail, a car wash, and a utility monitoring station. Yet, nothing has been tied to these projects to mitigate traffic impacts from these developments. During the expansion of Sandy Lake~ Riverchase is likely to become a popular route for traffic wanting to avoid the congestion on Sandy Lake at MacArthur. Yet, nothing is being done to manage this likelihood. A middle school will be built south of Beltline on MacArthur. Our children will not be provided bus service because of a 2-mile limit, so expect even more pedestrian (kids!!!) and vehicular traffic at peak periods once the new middle school is built. Still, nothing is being contemplated to alleviate current and pending problems at the treacherous Beltline and MacArthur intersection. City staff, as a result of our neighborhood outcry, appears to be investigating the ability of the City to obtain the necessary right-of-way across the railroad tracks from DART in order to complete Fairway Drive. This may not be the only solution to this burgeoning traffic problem, but it is the one that makes the most sense for near and long-term issues. We urge the City Council to defer approval of this development until we know: · this right-of-way has been obtained, · exactly where the road will cross the tracks, · timing of construction, and · how it will be funded. As a community, we would never let a home he built without a sewer; let us continue to encourage responsible development by making sure that adequate infrastructure exists to properly serve the residents and the developers. Thank you for your serious consideration of this life safety issue, and for your continuing service to all the neighborhoods of Coppell. Sincerely, Madeleine White