New apartments proposed for RM 2222 and City Park Road, Neighborhood groups concerned about traffic

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Landowners of a 42-acre tract at the southeast corner of RM 2222 and City Park Road are requesting a zoning change in order to develop a 325-unit apartment complex.

The land is owned by longtime landowners often known as the Champion sisters.

If approved, the apartment development would occupy 10 of the 42 acres.

In addition to the apartments, the zoning application states that the developers also plan to build a 50,000-square-foot general office building and a 42,000-square-foot medical clinic; however, there have been negotiations to possibly drop the office and retail portions of the development in an effort to gain the support of nearby neighborhood groups. If that happened, the remaining 35 acres would remain a conservation easement with no future development allowed.

An apartment complex is proposed at this intersection of RM 2222 and City Park Road.
Credit Google Maps

“The developer has said that they will drop their original concept of having retail and office space at this site and instead focus on just apartments if the developer gets assurances that the project will not be opposed by the homeowner groups in the area,” said Randy Lawson, vice president of the 2222 Coalition of Neighborhood Associations. “However, some nearby neighborhood HOAs are threatening to oppose any type of development.”

Lawson said that may be a losing strategy on the part of the neighborhoods.

“That tract will be developed at some point in time and apartments will have the least impact on traffic,” Lawson said.

The 2222 CONA board discussed the project at its March 24 board meeting but did not take an official position. Lawson said that traffic around the development is a big concern so a Traffic Impact Analysis will be required before anything will proceed.

“We want to see the new TIA being developed before we take a position,” Lawson said. “Also, we do not have a uniform opinion on this project at this time by all neighborhoods that CONA represents. This will also require more time to make a position possible.”

Scott Crosby, chairman of the River Place Homeowners Association, said that while his board likes the idea of preserving a large part of the tract for green space, it still has some concerns about the increased traffic.

“We’ve got some concerns about the traffic on City Park Road,” Crosby said.

Lawson said he does not think CONA will oppose the project but that he is not sure if it or River Place HOA will actively support the project in writing.

“That decision will require separate board votes by both River Place HOA as well as CONA,” Lawson said.

He said the traffic impact analysis is being prepared but is not sure when it will be released for public review.