The Lake Dallas, Texas, City Council approved the rezoning of two lots at 222 Betchan Drive, clearing the way for a mixed-use development on nearly 11 acres that will include self-storage, a business park and an event center called The Mill. The council approved plans for the event-center project last month, but couldn’t agree previously on the other business uses, according to the source.

Council member April Estrada had criticized the storage aspect to the project saying the city already has too many facilities and needs more variety in its development. “We’ve got to turn the town around at some point, and if we continue to go and approve mini-warehouses and storage facilities, that’s what our town is always going to be,” she said. “And a lot of people complain that this town has looked the same for years. There’s a reason for that.”

Council member Julie Mathews met with developer and property owners John and Marykay Smith after the event center was approved to try to reach an agreement on the self-storage facility. The Smiths agreed to build an 8-foot perimeter wall around the storage property and include natural barriers, such as trees or bushes, along the fencing, according to the source.

The mixed-use property is behind City Hall, near Alamo Avenue. The event center will accommodate business meetings, fundraisers, graduation parties, receptions and weddings, the source reported.

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