A nonprofit animal rescue, New Leash on Life, is calling for support from Crown Point residents following a setback from the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals. At the August 24 meeting, the Board unanimously voted against rezoning a property for a 20,000-square-foot facility at 12430 South Court Street. Despite this, New Leash on Life will present their project to the Crown Point City Council at 6 p.m. on September 8 at City Hall for a vote.
Opposition came from a building contractor and residents of a nearby luxury home community. They cited concerns about noise, property values, traffic, and allergens. A significant number of letters, around 60 to 70, expressing objection were received by the Board. The founder of New Leash on Life, Donna Burrell Pace, was surprised by the decision and urged supporters to contact council members before the upcoming meeting.
“They need to write letters, make phone calls and show up on September 8th to support us and show the council that this is needed in Crown Point,” Pace said.
The property, currently marked as Residential Zone 1, lies near Burrell Drive and Court Street, north of St. Jude House, and across from the Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA. The location was chosen because of its proximity to other nonprofit facilities and its natural buffer of woods and a pond.
BZA Vice-Chairman Jeremy Taylor noted the proposed facility’s operation would significantly differ from surrounding properties, with inadequate mitigation measures to protect adjoining areas.
Residents like Rick Mossell and Diana Murray voiced concerns about the potential noise level despite distance and natural buffers. They emphasized past experiences of hearing noises from nearby activities.
New Leash on Life’s engineering firm, DVG Team Inc., provided data on distances and natural buffers between the facility and surrounding residences. The project manager, Caleb Kreis, assured that designs focus on stress and noise reduction with input from renowned architects and contractors.
Support for New Leash on Life came from Anna Schoon of St. Jude House, highlighting the importance of such facilities for individuals facing domestic violence situations.
Another organization, Crown Point Community Foundation, is planning a facility adjacent to the proposed shelter. They have secured site development approvals and expressed readiness to welcome New Leash on Life as a neighbor. This proposal has been positively received, with the area’s development into a hub for purpose-driven organizations.
The City Council has already given approval for initial readings to change the zoning for Crown Point Community Foundation’s property from Residential Zone 1 to Open Space Type 1. Crown Point Community Foundation plans to move forward with their development soon.
Anna Ortiz is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.