Planners Review Lakes Proposal

Planning commissioners are told that developer Samuel Ware's plans for the Lakes of Arlington site are similar to ones the city approved in the mid-1990s.

By NATHANIEL JONES
Star-Telegram Writer

ARLINGTON - A Dallas businessman's plans to develop the Lakes of Arlington site is expected to add about $800 million to the city's property tax base, an attorney for the company told planning commissioners Friday.

Planning and Zoning Commission members got their first look at Lazarus Property Corp.'s sketchy plans to build an empty nesters community that would include $250.000 homes and luxury apartments. It would also include shops and warehouses on the 1,950-acre tract bordered by the Trinity River, Farm Road 157, Green Oaks Boulevard and Texas 360.

Developer Samuel Ware, whose company specializes in rescuing distressed properties, has said he needs the commission and the Arlington City Council to approve the zoning by July 1 to close the deal.

Commissioners Pamela Roach and Stephen Lawson were concerned that the zoning request was being rushed.

"We don't rush for other applicants, and I don't want to send a message that we're doing that," Roach said. "We've had cases not even a fraction of this one and have had more time."

The commission is scheduled to vote on Ware's request Wednesday. The council will vote on June 24.

Commissioners Roach, Lawson, Anne Weydeck, Mary Lee Hodge and Robert Shepard reviewed renderings and maps of the site. Friday's meeting was intended to prepare commissioners for Wednesday's public hearing.

Dallas lawyer Barry Knight, who represents Ware, reminded the five commissioners that the zoning request is similar to one the city granted in the mid-1990s when previous owner Tim Salim, a stock trad-er, tried to develop the tract.

Ware is working with several area developers and is being financially backed by CalPERS, the California state pension fund.

"My client's feet are being held to the fire to acquire the property," Knight said. "You all know better than me that this property has gone down in more than one occasion."

Ware wants to build single-family homes and multifamily development on about 1,392 acres. The apartments will feature 9-foot ceilings, crown molding and some garages.

He is also seeking city and state permission to drill a dozen gas wells on the site because he believes natural gas may be underground.

Although the city has little control over the gas wells, Commissioner Shepard said he plans to question staff members on when and how the wells would be built.

"Last thing we need is for single-family homes to go up and then the wells pop in after," Shepard said. "Once this happens, those residents will be down at City Hall."