Despite pushback from neighborhood residents, an Arlington apartment complex cleared a key hurdle in the development process.
On Wednesday, Austin developer OHT Partners brought plans for luxury apartments before Arlington’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The project’s location, a 23-acre parcel on Randol Mill Road, is already zoned to allow an apartment complex, but requires approval of a development plan from the city to move forward.
OHT’s plans at the complex include 360 residential units, a pool, dog park, pickleball courts, gym and amenity center. Plans also call for a publicly accessible jogging trail.
Howell Beaver, managing director of OHT, noted that the development would increase tax revenue from $30,000 to $600,000 during the commission meeting.
The development plan elicited a significant showing of residents who attended to speak against new apartments in the neighborhood.
“I know that there are many of you here that are in opposition, and I can guarantee you all the commissioners up here have read everything,” said chair Ignacio Nuñez. “But to some extent, our hands are tied. This piece of property is already zoned with ready-made approval for apartments.”
Despite this, community expressed concerns surrounding the new apartment complex, especially around topics including traffic, safety, drainage and property values.
One neighboring homeowner said if her home “had backed up to an apartment building, I would not have bought it.”
“Build places where you need multifamily, but not in a legacy neighborhood,” another resident said.
After hearing citizen comments, commissioners approved the project in a 5-3 vote, on the condition the developer made changes including conducting a traffic impact analysis, enhancing security around the complex and making efforts to preserve the live oaks on the property.
A defunct rehabilitation center on the property will also have to be demolished for OHT to complete its project.
“The phrase I recall that I’ve heard more frequently is ‘Arlington is under-demolished,’” Beaver said.
He said the rehabilitation site is vacant, has fallen into disrepair and cannot be brought up to code, so must be torn down.