Item 9 and 10 SPIN Report
SPIN MEETING REPORT
SPIN Item Number: SPIN20-02
City Case Numbers: NA
Project Name: Town Square Residences
SPIN Neighborhoods: SPIN #8
Meeting Date: January 28, 2020
Meeting Location: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX
City Council Chambers
Total Attendance: 221
Hosts: Sherry Berman, Community Engagement Committee
Vandana Tanneru, Community Engagement Committee
Vikram Jangam, Community Engagement Committee
Applicants Presenting: Frank Bliss, Cooper and Company
Phone: (817) 291-6148-0567
Email: frank.bliss@cooper.company
City Staff Present: Ken Baker, Senior Director of Planning and Development Services
Jerod Potts, Policy and Strategic Initiative Principal Planner
Madeline Oujesky, Assistant to the Director
Lauren LaNeave, Assistant to the City Manager
Patty Moos, Planner
Presentation begins: 6:00 pm Presentation ends: 7:45 pm
Town Hall Forums can be viewed in their entirety by visiting http://www.cityofsouthlake.com and clicking on “I
Want to” and “View” “Video on Demand” – forums are listed under SPIN by meeting date.
FORUM SUMMARY:
Property Situation: The property is located on the east side of N. Carroll Ave. between Division St.
and Federal Way (addressed as 401 N. Carroll Ave. per Tarrant Appraisal District) in Southlake Town
Square on 7.3 acres.
Details:
The applicant is proposing to develop 350 luxury downtown residences on approximately 7.3 acres to be
able to live in a walkable, livable environment to shop, eat, and enjoy. The applicant presented the
following information during the presentation slides:
• Town Square taxes go the Carroll ISD
• Looking for new opportunities to support Town Square
• The site’s current zoning is “C-3” General Commercial
• Rezoning will be consistent with the Downtown Plan
• Offering Downtown residences for CISD, Town Square and Southlake
• Development designed for Southlake by David Schwarz Architects, designers of Town Square
• Development will include 2 buildings, 2 underground resident parking garages, 2 acres of open
space, heavily landscaped, many luxury amenities, flexible multi-use spaced within each unit,
and walkable to Town Square amenities
• Product for older residents, single parents, singles within Southlake.
• Trend across the country for affluent residents to free up time for travel, maintenance free, and
reduced size of house.
• Town Square is in demand as a place to live
• Additional residents in Town Square will add vibrancy and sustainability
• Property will be valued at $100 million and will provide $1.4 million annually to CISD in property
taxes (TIRZ lasts until 12/31/2038 for Town Square including Dragon Stadium, Old Union and
Eubanks/Dawson; exempt from Robin Hood in state)
• Community 1st approach to allow the best possible social, economic, and environment for
residents
• Town Square works because of the zoning and zoning restrictions.
Presentation:
Questions and Concerns:
General comments and concerns from many residents in attendance:
• Concerns for increase in traffic on N. Carroll Avenue, Southlake Blvd, and in Town Square and
the traffic study for the project.
• Concerns for increase in attendance in the CISD schools and overcrowding. Schools and
education are most important.
• Concerns with the property values in Southlake with this development.
• Concern over the applicant’s comment on the demand for downsizing in Southlake.
• Concern of the renter vs. owner? Response: Changing market conditions for apartment sized
homes and affluent renters by choice. Right time for apartments in the downtown environment.
• How many McKenzie projects in the area? The 5-star McKenzie is the only one in the area and
this project will be a 4-star project.
• Concerned with apartments in Southlake as he moved to Southlake because there were no
apartments.
• Comment that apartments in Dallas (downtown) for younger individuals, has traffic and density
concerns, and concern for residences for transient population.
• Comment that the community is not supporting the project, not a right fit for Town Square and is
going to bring in people to check out apartments.
• Concern for the changes in the market conditions- what will happen to the apartments? What
will happen if this doesn’t work out for the City? Response: The real estate market indicates a
market for this type of housing in Southlake- our commitment to community first.
• Concern with the validity of the traffic study on N. Carroll Avenue.
• Comment regarding one resident living in Town Square that likes the concept and wants more
residents in Town Square to support the retail, restaurants and having options. Density in Town
Square is okay. What is the current residential capacity of Town Square and what is the
residential capacity of Town Square? Response: The original proposal for Town Square
residential use was 30-40% of the development. The City’s Land Use Plan was projecting
approximately 15% residential. The current residential development is approximately 7% and
with this development would bring it up to approximately 15%. Currently, the residential
estimation for Town Square is a couple hundred residents. The future residential projection,
with this development is the up to 1,500 - 3,000 residents.
• Will the development open space be dedicated to the City? Response: No.
• Comment: People are not leaving Southlake.
• Concern with apartments bringing in more kids. Will there be a limited number of kids allowed in
apartments? Response: No. The size of the apartments would limit the number of residents.
• Comment concerning the presentation slide with the Dallas apartment (McKenzie) and relating it
to Southlake- Downtown Dallas and Southlake are different.
• Comment: There are plenty of housing products of different sizes within Southlake to own and
rent.
• Comment that resident is not in favor of the apartments, but have ownership, not rental.
• Who will be the property management company? Response: Town Square will be the owner
and managed by a similar property management company used by the McKenzie in Dallas.
• Comment that renters do not pay property taxes- owner do, renters are transient, school will
need trailers, against high density. Concern with the exempt grandparent clause to allow
additional students in the schools. Response: The owner of the apartment complex pays the
property tax for the apartments and will confirm with the school district on the enrollment
concerns.
• Concern with student to teacher ratio with increase in student numbers and decrease in
property values.
• Comment that resident likes low density and school district and doesn’t plan on moving-
Southlake is my home.
• Comment that the resident is concerned that the City will being able to stop the apartment
development moving outside Town Square and being able to guarantee that keeping them in
Town Square.
SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes;
rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses
made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case
through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council.
Southlake Connect Results for the January 28, 2020 SPIN Town Hall Forum