Summary: Neighbors of the Willow Park Church of Christ spoke publicly five times to the City, of their concerns about rezoning a lot in their residential neighborhood to a commercial office building. However, during the 27 February, 2024 Council Meeting, the City approved the rezoning; the old Church building will now be a multi-use office building or a private school.
Latest Update: updated 01 March 2024, The Community News article; posted 29 February, 2024
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WP Church of Christ will now be a multi-use commercial office building or a private school.
[Sources listed below.]
The City Council voted unanimously (with a quorum of four) to approve the rezoning of the Willow Park Church of Christ's one acre lot from Residential to a Planned Development Commercial Office building.
[“Class II: Residential ‘R-1’ Single-Family District” to “Class I – Special purpose: ‘PD’ Planned Development District” PD/O [1]; Ordinance in .pdf, Excerpts [4]]
In general, the renovated Church building can be used for one of two commercial purposes [4]:
"1.Professional office building will consist of a single to multi-tenant office building, functioning as a local community office space for businesses to conduct professional business services during normal business hours. The maximum office spaces will be twenty-one (21)
"2.Private School"
Five times, the neighbors of the Willow Park of Christ of Christ and other Willow Park citizens met with the City, the Willow Park Church of Christ owner [*2], and the Aledo Legacy LLC buyer [*3] to voice their concerns over putting a multi-use, commercial, office building in their residential neighborhood.
• 16 January 2024 P&Z Commission, Agenda Items 2 and 3
• 23 January 2024 Council Meeting, Agenda Items 2 and 3
• 20 February 2024 P&Z Commission, Agenda Item #2 Public Hearing #2; Agenda Item #5 Discussion and Action on rezoning to PD
• 27 February 2024 Council Meeting Agenda Item #6 Public Hearing; Agenda Item 7 Discussion and Action on rezoning to PD
Many of the smaller requests from Citizens like outdoor lighting, signage, and commercial vehicle parking, were addressed and included in the final Planned Development.
However, several of the larger neighborhood-changing details were dismissed by both the City Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
• Many neighbors did not want ANY commercial venture in their residential neighbor and wanted the City to reject the rezoning in total.
• Neighbors were concerned a commercial building in their residential neighborhood would decrease the value of their residential houses.
• Neighbors were concerned about the additional traffic added to the neighboring streets, especially the traffic of a private school with more than twenty students.
• In a residential neighborhood -- a block from the City's Cross Timber Park for children, next door to a day care center, and in the immediate neighborhood of many houses with children who play in the front and back yards of the larger R1 lots -- the City rejected the Citizens' requests to prohibit "Any business providing service (e.g. legal, counseling, rehabilitation etc.) for the following classes of client: Drug abuse, Sex abuse, Crimes of theft or violence.
Research and Sources
• Council approves zoning change for church property, The Community News, 01 March 2024
City getting roller rink; Roller rink coming; New restaurant being courted; Election canceled; Board of Adjustment appointments; Parks Board appointments; P&Z appointments; Rumor control
[*1] City of Willow Park Municipal Code
• 14.06.006 Residential: ‘R-1’ Single-Family District” / in .pdf.
• 14.06.004 Class I - Special Purpose: "PD" Planed Development District / in .pdf.
• (a) Use regulations.
• (1) The “PD” Planned Development District is a specialized zoning concept which has two specific uses:
• (A) To set aside large parcels of land to be used for the development of mixed uses or special uses which will require approval of the planning and zoning commission and city council.
• (B) To produce an overlay district to be used in conjunction with an existing base zoning district regardless of size, for the purpose of land uses which may require special controls to avoid interference with existing or planned uses.
• 14.06.012 Class III - Business: “O” Office District. (a) Use regulations.The “O” Office District will be limited to the following uses, residential uses are not permitted in this district:
• (1) Banks, financial institutions.
• (2) Blueprinting or photostatting (not greater than 2,500 square feet).
• (3) Caterer or wedding service (no on-site food preparation).
• (4) Real estate offices.
• (5) Professional offices (architectural, drafting, engineering, accounting, legal, insurance, medical and dental clinics).
• (6) Artist’s studios.
• (7) Museums, libraries, fine art centers, and similar cultural facilities.
• (8) Special exception uses after recommendation by the planning and zoning commission and approval by the city council.
• (9) Installations owned and operated by the City of Willow Park, Parker County, the State of Texas or public utility companies, which installations are necessary for the public safety, governmental services or the furnishing of utility services including, without limitation, communications towers and water towers, are permitted in all zoning districts.
• 14.06.013 Class III - Business: “O” Office District / in .pdf.
• "Banks, financial institutions;
• Blueprinting or photostatting (not greater than 2,500 square feet);
• Caterer or wedding service (no on-site food preparation);
• Real estate offices;
• Professional offices (architectural, drafting, engineering, accounting, legal, insurance, medical and dental clinics);
• Artist’s studios; Museums, libraries, fine art centers, and similar cultural facilities;
• Special exception uses after recommendation by the planning and zoning commission and approval by the city council;
• Installations owned and operated by the City of Willow Park, Parker County, the State of Texas or public utility companies, which installations are necessary for the public safety, governmental services or the furnishing of utility services including, without limitation, communications towers and water towers, are permitted in all zoning districts."
[*2] Willow Park Church of Christ
• 721 Ranch House Road, Willow Park
• Corner of Ranch House Road and Sam Bass Drive
• Willow Park Church of Christ, 721 Ranch House Rd, Willow Park, TX 76087, US Facebook
[*3] The Aledo Legacy LLC, who wants to purchase the property from the Church, is planning to turn the Church building into a mixed-use office building with about fifteen (15) offices to lease.
• Aledo Legacy, LLC Bizapedia
ALEDO LEGACY, LLC is a Texas Domestic Limited-Liability Company (Llc) filed on January 13, 2017. The company's filing status is listed as In Existence and its File Number is 0802625180.
The Registered Agent on file for this company is Allen L Stidger and is located at 6750 Locke Avenue Suite 201, Forth Worth, TX 76116. The company's principal address is 5177 East Ih 20 Service Rd North, Willow Park, TX 76087. [Lynch Legacy Realty Group, 5177 E Interstate 20 Service Rd S, Willow Park, TX 76087]
The company has three (3) contacts on record. The contacts are Aaronmiller LLC from Aledo TX [Bizapedia], Lynch-Evans Family Trust [Lunch Legacy] from Weatherford TX, and Stockon 5 Construction from Weatherford TX. CorporationWiki
[*4] Planned Development Ordinance & Exhibits (Revised & presented to City Council on 2/27/24) [in .pdf]
• Excerpt:
1.01 General Description: Professional office building will consist of a single to multi-tenant office building, functioning as a local community office space for businesses to conduct professional business services during normal business hours. The maximum office spaces will be twenty-one (21) with an average space of approximately 10'x12'. Landlord will offer to lease the spaces to businesses who want to expand or open their new business in the City of Willow Park. Access shall be allowed from access drives or parking areas connecting to public roadways. Requirements for development shall be governed by standards as described below and applicable City of Willow Park city ordinances, including Zoning Ordinance Article 14.06.004 - Class I - Special Purpose: "PD" Planned Development District. [#1] If there are conflicts between the requirements of Article 14.06.004 and these Planned Development requirements, the Planned Development requirements shall govern.
1.02 Permitted Uses: Permitted uses, as referenced below, shall be allowed within the Planned Development District:
A. Permitted Uses:
1.Professional Office Building with permitted uses as per City of Willow Park city ordinance 14.06.012 “Class III - Business: ‘O’ Office District” [#1], with the exceptions as listed below in "Non-Permitted Uses"
2.Private School – must include 8’ privacy fencing between subject property and western and southern bordering residential properties.
3. Private kitchen only for the use of tenants in the building.
4. Outside play and/or lounging area permitted only on south side of building.
B. Non-Permitted Uses:
1.Wedding or Event Venue
2.Daycare
3.Commercial kitchen
4.Sound amplification equipment, including “loud speakers”
C. Accessory Uses Allowed: None.
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