Keller rezoning attempt should be stopped

by Doug Miller of Keller City Limits

You would think that the owners of Garabedian Properties would look out their window and see the winds of change blowing in Keller. That wind is bringing a grass roots uprising against high density developments in our town.

Tonight I attended a meeting put on by Michael Garabedian for a project that he is proposing on the corner of North Tarrant and Keller Smithfield. The plat stated the name as Courtyard Plaza, but the handout called it by Smithfield Village. Either way, it’s a high density development on between 7 to 8 acres that includes:

*13 Cottage style houses with near zero lot lines on 1.75 acres

*A daycare center/medical office building

*Three multi-story buildings consisting of first floor retail, second floor commercial office space and third and fourth floor apartments with underground parking

A mini Keller Station. The land is currently zoned Neighborhood Service, a retail zoning. They pulled out the same bogey men that the developers of Keller Station did, the dreaded shopping strip. I basically asked them if a shopping center is feasible to build on the site, why has the current landowner sat on this property for 16 years?

I asked Mr. Garabedian flat out if he had not been reading the paper? If he didn’t think that with three City Council Seats up for re-election that he had a chance in hell of getting this passed? I give him props, as he is confident that he will get this development pushed through.

This property will be visible from my front yard. I ask a favor…

I am the one who brought Keller Station to this blog and urged the citizens to contact the Mayor and Council. I urge you to take the time during this busy holiday season and do the same for Courtyard Plaza/Smithfield Village. Email link: mayorandcouncil@cityofkeller.com

The first call I made after leaving the meeting was to Councilman Jim Carson, the owner of this blog. Judging by his reaction, this item is still beneath the radar of the elected and appointed leaders of Keller. Again, it’s the “professional” people down at city hall that are even letting these types of projects out of the preliminary stages.

It’s time for change. It’s time for the citizens to let the people at City Hall know… It’s the density stupid!

If this keeps up, Jim may get his wish and I just may run for council.