With two unanimous (7-0) votes, the City Council has given its final approval for the development of what is provisionally named “Gateway Village.” 

The first vote, approved a zoning change for the piece of real estate from a “commercial” classification for the property to medium density residential (MD-4) to allow for single-family townhomes.  The “MD-4” classification was “established,” as stated by the Bedford city ordinance, “to provide adequate space to accommodate innovative medium-density, single-family developments, such as townhome development approaches, which are designed to encourage individual home ownership.”

With the second vote, the Council also unanimously (7-0) gave its approval for then-Interim City Manager Andrea Roy to negotiate with John Dickerson of Dickerson Development, Inc. for the development of the property.  Commonly known until recently as part of “Campus West,” the 11-acre residential development, near the northwest corner of North Industrial and Airport Freeway, according to the meeting agenda, is planned to feature 106 townhomes, six open-space lots, pathways, picnic tables, park benches and a retention pond with a fountain.  The agenda states that 59 of the townhomes (in blue) will have front entry garages and 47 (in pink) will have garages with rear-entry.

Last week, in a special session, Bedford’s Zoning and Planning Commission also voted unanimously (6-0) to recommendation the zoning change and for the project to be awarded to Dickerson.

In his presentation and addressing questions from Council members, Dickerson stated their architects came to him “with a new concept.”  Included in the project, he said, is a common meeting place for the residents and public, along with hiking and biking trails that connect the homes.”  He emphasized these days “’Connectivity’ is the modern buzz word” and that the project will also connect the residential development with the project’s retail center and the neighboring Stonecourt addition.

For the construction of the individual townhomes, Dickerson said he is selling all of the residential lots to David Weekly homes, who he referred to as “a top-notch builder.”  The starting price for each townhome was projected by Dickerson to start at about $450,000 with construction anticipated to start by the end of the year.

On May 14th, the Council unanimously (7-0) approved StreetLevel Investments as the developer for the retail component, in the southern half of the overall property.  The retail project is planned to be subdivided into four lots.  The largest lot, according to the summary in the May 14th Council’s agenda, will include a 23,400-square-foot “anchor building” to accommodate a grocery.  Also in the approved retail plan are two 10,500-square-foot spaces for retail and/or restaurants.  The three smaller lots will be reserved for future development, which would each require approval from the City.

Considering it a “very prominent piece of property” and “a gateway to the City,” according to the agenda, the City purchased the combined retail-residential property for $9.5 million from the First Baptist Church Euless (now named Cross City Church) in 2021.  Upon its acquisition, the City demolished what it referred to as “an outdated building” on the site.  The agenda states the building was an “inefficiently designed site, excessively paved and rundown.”  But most all, the agenda said the property was “not generating tax revenue to the City,” because it was owned by the church.