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Council denies childcare facility (updated)
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
The Flower Mound Town Council on Monday unanimously denied a request for a specific use permit (SUP) for Children's Learning Adventure Childcare Centers because of location concerns.
The project, which was set to include a 26,056-square-foot building, a 30,000-square-foot playground and a small retail area, was proposed to be located at the northeast intersection of FM 3040 and Morriss Road.
The planning and zoning commission denied the request a week earlier because of concerns about it being located at a busy intersection. Monday, council members agreed.
Hayden said it was an intense use for that area. The facility was expected to serve about 530 children.
Hayden said the council was also concerned about traffic flow. The two entrances were on FM 3040 and Morriss, which council members were concerned might get backed up at peak drop-off or pick-up times.
Nearby residents in the Tealwood Oaks subdivision, located behind the proposed project, were also concerned that parents would drive through their neighborhood to bypass congestion on Morriss.
Rick Sodja, CEO for Children’s Learning Adventure, responded Tuesday to the council’s decision.
“The company is one of the most sought after educational concepts in the country, with communities like the Woodlands, and Scottsdale, Ariz. welcoming us. It is hard to imagine that we would be denied in Flower Mound. We were stunned and sadden by the town council's decision last night," Sodja stated in a press release.
Sodja said the facility would have included a movie theater, indoor basketball courts and bowling alleys, an art studio with a kiln, a science lab, a technology center and an outdoor activity center.
"The families and children of Flower Mound lost last night," Sodja stated. "We had been warned by our consultants that Flower Mound was a difficult environment - very unfriendly to business - and many advised us to look elsewhere to invest. However, after our initial meeting with town officials, who assured us that the new council and mayor were business friendly and looking to attract investment, we decided to proceed with our application. The company spent almost a year and tens of thousands of dollars working to meet the neighbors and town requests [but] to no avail."
Residents in Tealwood Oaks said Children’s Learning Adventure representatives met neighbors only once.
The item was expected to be postponed because David Newton, project manager for Children's Learning Adventure, on Thursday requested an extension before taking the plan to the council, adding that company officials are confident they can come up with a plan to address P&Z's concerns.
Instead, the company's officials appeared at the council and wanted to go forward with the plan.
"The question was asked if there was any new information that could change anyone's mind, and we couldn't find any," Hayden said. "So we felt like going forward with this was the right thing to do."
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