Sunday, May 19, 2024
SPRINGTOWN — Springtown City Council will have the chance to decide whether to allow a zoning change that would make way for a martial arts studio on North Main Street.
Heather and Bryan Creech discussed the proposed studio on North Main Street at the April 11 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and requested that the zoning of the property, near the southwest corner of Church Street and Old Cottondale Road, be changed from single family residential to commercial. The commission ultimately recommended approval of the change to the city council.
Bryan Creech told P&Z members he wants to develop a shopping center (to be called Founder’s Plaza) in addition to the martial arts studio (Legends Martial Arts) on North Main Street using surrounding properties that were already zoned for commercial use. The school will be an additional branch from a location in Hurst, which is run by the son of one of the pioneers of American karate, J. Pat Burleson. Creech said Founder’s Plaza will have a fountain in memoriam of Burleson who died a few years ago and lived in Azle.
Heather Creech explained that multiple forms of martial arts will be taught at the school, and kids can begin lessons starting at about age 3. The studio’s proposed location is near Springtown Intermediate School, and Creech wants to offer an after-school program as well as promote anti-bullying among the youth.
Legends Martial Arts would also have adult programs, Heather Creech said, like a women’s self-defense class.
“I've been doing this a long time (since) I was 4 years old,” she said. “I've noticed that over these years when you have people who truly care about children and adults in the community, when you pour into them love and support and give these kids confidence and you put them around people who strive to have self-esteem, these kids have grown up to do esteem-able things.”
Bryan Creech said the studio would also bring people to Springtown for tournaments and events as well as work on charity efforts.
“We'll be bringing a lot of people together for a lot of great things other than just breaking boards and ‘hi-ya!’-ing around the place,” he said.
When some P&Z members brought up traffic concerns, City Secretary Christina Derr said it will be up to the Texas Department of Transportation to permit driveways on Main Street. City officials will also consider traffic concerns once a site plan for the business is submitted and may ask the Creeches to work with TXDOT to extend the left turn lane on Main Street.
“If you guys make a recommendation to council and council approves the zoning change, they're still going to have to come back with a site plan just like any other business. That's where we'll really take a look at traffic and make sure that it's not going to cause a burden either to the school or to the nearby intersection or to the intersection to the north of Cottondale and Church, and how that's configured in kind of a strange way,” Derr said.
Bryan Creech also said classes at the martial arts studio wouldn’t begin until 4:30 p.m. when traffic has diminished.
P&Z alternate member Kristi Bailey, who has children, said she is excited for the martial arts studio to provide activities for kids in town.
“I love when somebody comes and says they want to bring something to Springtown for little kids,” Bailey said to Bryan and Heather Creech.
For the Creeches to move forward with their plan, the city council will need to accept the rezoning, and then the Creeches will need to submit a plat and site plan. The next Springtown City Council meeting is scheduled for April 25.
