The Flower Mound Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a new parking ratio that would include 1 parking space per 150 square feet during its April 28 meeting. The ratio for parking within Furst Ranch is 1 space per 250 square feet, Flower Mound Planning Manager Poornima Kashyap said.
What you need to know
The new parking ratios could accommodate a potential H-E-B grocery store, which would total 110,000 square feet, according to town documents. Based on a concept plan within town documents, there would be 733 parking spaces and a fuel station.
Under the standard parking ratio within Furst Ranch, the recommended number of parking spaces would be 440, but could have been as high as 528 spaces under the town’s allowable 20% deviation, per town documents. Kashyap said the overage would require mitigation, which was proposed in the form of additional trees.
Becca Wang, H-E-B’s predevelopment services manager, said the company is very thoughtful when it comes to the design of its stores, which includes landscaping.
“We try our hardest to make our stores look great,” Wang said. “We’re very thoughtful when it comes to our landscaping plans. We try to make sure that we’re not bringing anything gross into the store, and we also don’t want anyone getting poked by a b
ush as they are getting out of their car.”
As part of the request, around 8.8 acres originally earmarked for the mixed-use neighborhood subzone in Furst Ranch will be reallocated for the mixed-use transition zone, according to town documents.
What they’re saying
Several commissioners said that they would like to see additional mitigation, such as bioswales on the property. Jonathan Kerby, a Kimley-Horn civil engineering consultant working on the project for H-E-B, said bioswales or other mitigation would have required more engineering, which will likely be reflected in a future site plan brought before the commission.
“We tried to provide as much detail as we can at this time to support this request,” Kerby said.
Additionally, some commissioners shared that residents on the west side are excited about the prospect of a grocery store in Furst Ranch.
“When Furst Ranch came forward, one of the things everyone was talking about was getting a grocery store,” Commissioner Todd Bayuk said. “Our neighborhood Facebook page was lighting up when they saw the agenda item and H-E-B was listed on there. We’re excited about getting a grocery store, especially the quality of H-E-B.”
Looking ahead
Wang said there is no timeline for the store’s development that is available right now, but that the parking was a necessary step in the feasibility process.
“We are moving forward with the Furst Ranch development currently,” Wang said. “With buying or leasing properties, one of the major things we look at is ‘can we have a fully functioning store here?’”
The parking ratio amendment is expected to be considered by Flower Mound Town Council at its May 5 meeting, according to the town’s online development map.
