Walcrest Rendering_zoning 11-2013

The city is requesting a zoning variance to build this 9,000-square-foot pump station and reservoir at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill and Hillcrest.

The existing pump station originally was built in the 1950s and is not visible from the roadway. A zoning change would be necessary for the one-story building and reservoir because it wouldn’t comply with single-family zoning, which requires that 25 percent or less of a lot be used for a commercial structure. The reservoir would take up about half the 6.68-acre lot. The 9,265-square-foot building would have a maximum height of 33.5 feet. The maximum allowed under the current zoning is 30 feet.

The city alerted neighbors to this zoning request, but it has not made it onto a City Plan Commission agenda yet.

Susan Cox from the Preston Hollow East Homeowner’s Association requested more information about the request and received the artist rendering above.

She says she was surprised to see the city is planning this “industrial-looking” building.

“The building itself looks rather large and it looks rather contemporary, and it’s not quite in fitting with the traditional look of the neighborhood,” she says.

Hillcrest Pump Station