City Council Approval Enables Tom Thumb-Anchored Retail Center to Move Forward

City Council approved at its meeting on October 24 a zoning request by the developer that will allow the retail center at FM-740 and FM-549 anchored by a Tom Thumb grocery store to move forward. The zoning change increased the acreage of the Planned Development from 13.65 acres to just over 17.76 acres, with 10.86 acres of the property remaining in an Agricultural Zoning District.

The approval followed extensive discussions with the developer including a City Council work session that preceded the regular City Council meeting on October 24. Changes achieved through discussions were “softening” the perimeter edges with green space through features that would include a 30-foot landscape buffer containing a minimum of one large canopy tree every 100 linear feet, berming, hedges and plantings throughout the frontage.

A trail is proposed at the north boundary of the property that will connect to Chris Cuny Boulevard as future development of the property occurs. The retail center will also feature a meandering sidewalk leading from the parking lot up to the retail buildings, extensive tree canopies within the parking lot, and high quality materials and design that upholds the Council’s vision for Heath.

The developer’s proposal included relocating the fueling station to the northern area of the property at the approved TxDOT drive entrance, which will provide for a more efficient and aesthetically appealing site. The impervious coverage (concrete parking areas) for the future pad sites was also reduced in an effort to further soften the retail center and provide additional landscaping and trees.