Christopher S. Nelson 
Redevelopment work on the southeast corner of Snider Plaza – where Peggy Sue BBQ once stood and Lane Florist, Logos Bookstore and Arman Jewelry were located before moving to new locations in the square – is on hold for now after. a decision of a judge. order.
The neighborhood group Snider Plaza Alliance sought a temporary injunction in a hearing Friday before Associate Judge Sheryl McFarlin ahead of a temporary restraining order preventing university park officials and developer Jim Strode from issuing permits or certificates to occupation for the redevelopment of the southeast corner of Snider Plaza expires.
A decision is expected early next week.
Justice McFarlin said she has yet to decide whether or not to grant Strode and city officials’ request to dismiss Snider Plaza Alliance’s claims for lack of standing. Jane Rejebian, who owns the property that houses For Heavens Sake at 6619 Snider Plaza as a trustee, was called to speak at Friday’s hearing. Lawyers for the municipal authorities and Strode have argued in court documents that since she owns the property as a trustee, and not as an individual, she “could not demonstrate any injuries of a personalized or specific nature, a need to establish an individual’s reputation.
Lawyers for the city authorities and Strode also argued that since Rejebian attended the planning and zoning and city council meetings regarding the site plan at the southeast corner of Snider Plaza prior to its approval, she had been properly informed of the plan.
Justice McFarlin said if she denies that request, she will grant the temporary injunction, but has yet to decide.
Dallas County District Judge Aiesha Redmond had granted the Snider Plaza Alliance’s request for a temporary restraining order, a community organization opposed to the site’s redevelopment plan, at least temporarily barring college park officials and Developer Jim Strode to issue permits or certificates of occupancy for any building at 6600 Snider Plaza that does not provide parking that meets the city’s zoning requirements for the site that were in place before City Council did approves Strode’s plan on September 21.
University Park communications and marketing director Steve Mace said no permits had been issued for the site as of October 20, including in the run-up to Redmond’s order.
(READ: UP City Council OK for the redevelopment of 6600 Snider Plaza)
Strode’s plan calls for the demolition of existing structures on the site to make way for a new three-story building to house retail stores, a restaurant and offices. The plan also provides for a two-level underground parking garage with 48 spaces accessible from Daniel Avenue.
“The Snider Plaza Alliance is asking the Court to intervene to prevent the development of an office tower at Snider Plaza which would break the character of the village in the area and impose a significant traffic and parking load, disrupting local businesses in the area. long standing, ”the group said in a court filing. . “The City of University Park adopted a zoning change under false pretenses and without notice, allowing the developer to avoid having to comply with zoning that would require dozens of additional parking spaces for a development of this size. . “
The plan was unanimously adopted by the University Park Planning and Zoning Commission on July 13. City council approved the plan by a 4-1 vote on September 21, with warnings that the building’s first floor would be reserved for retail and that the storefronts would be differentiated. from the rest of the space, perhaps with a different color scheme on the top floor. The question was tabled at the city council meeting on August 17 in order to give more time to the members of the city council to study the implications of parking.
(READ: UP Mulls City Council Snider Plaza Plan)
University Park Community Development Director Patrick Baugh noted at the August 17 city council meeting that the plan was about 13 fewer parking spaces than the number of off-street parking spaces required by the city zoning ordinance.
“I’m asking for approval of the site plan here,” Strode said at the Sept. 21 city council meeting. The way the city… counts parking needs versus the way our architects did – that’s the gap. I did not come here to underbuild.
“I think the building is acceptable; I think the parking is acceptable. Yes, we are in the short term – we are working long term to solve the parking problem, ”City Councilor Gage Prichard said at the September 21 meeting.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Part of this article first appeared in our sister publication, Park Cities People.
