By Laura Swift


The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application of Winkelmann and Associates, representing D.R. Horton, for two construction plats at The Gables at North Hill. The Parks Lots plat is located at the intersection of North Hill Lane and Gene Autrey Lane and the Phase 2B plat is southwest of McCreary Road and McWhirter Road.

Both plats are on property zoned Planned Development (PD) district for single family uses. The homebuilder has a strong presence in the DFW metroplex. In fact, according to the Dallas Business Journal, Fort Worth-based D.R. Horton Inc. has been the number one homebuilder in North Texas for the past three years.

City staff said the developer met the minimum requirements for the PD but special provisions will need to be taken regarding the site’s easements and right-of-ways as agreed upon between the city and the developer and engineers.

Easements and right-of-ways allow developers to access owned land for different purposes—in this case they allow the builder to construct homes.

The other item on the agenda was to consider the application of Forestar Real Estate Group requesting approval of a Specific Use Permit for a hospital facility, professional offices and a concept plan on the property zoned Neighborhood Service District located at the northeast corner of FM 544 and Heritage Parkway.

Forestar requested that the Commission postpone consideration of the application until next month’s Planning & Zoning meeting scheduled for Jan. 23, 2012.