A tract of land originally intended to house a mosque in south Arlington could become a retail shopping center after receiving unanimous approval from planning and zoning commissioners Sept. 4. 

The property is at 305 Mansfield Webb Road, located south of Spring Miller Court and west of Mansfield Webb Road. An apartment complex and retail center featuring a Life Time fitness club, Luna Grill and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop sit across the street from the site. 

Owner Khalil Capital asked the city to change the zoning on about 3.864 acres currently zoned for residential estate to neighborhood commercial.

Khalil Capital principal Karam Khalil told the commission that the site has become an ongoing worry for residents because it remains vacant. People frequently dump trash on the property, and motorcycle riders “engage in reckless behavior by jumping curbs and drifting,” Khalil said. 

In 2011, a religious organization acquired the land intending to build a mosque, according to city documents. The previous developer successfully connected all utilities to the site, poured a 14,000-square-foot foundation and striped 228 parking spaces, Khalil said. 

But, over time, the religious organization struggled to raise the funds needed to complete the project, causing it to come to a complete halt in 2018, he said. 

Khalil said the site has two significant issues affecting development.

First, there is a 50-foot gas line easement running the length of the property from the west. In addition, about 40% of the land in the northeast portion of the site is in a flood zone.

Aside from land acquisition costs, removing 3 to 4 acres of poured concrete, which Khalil estimated to cost between $200,000 and $250,000, has further complicated development. 

However, the developer said, the footprint of the failed mosque project aligns perfectly with the requirements for a retail building and Khalil Capital’s vision to establish the center as a central hub. He said that advancing connectivity between nearby neighborhoods and walking trails in the neighborhood would enhance community interaction and accessibility, making the retail center a focal point for local activity.

The existing infrastructure will save his company a lot of money and will allow it to charge a reasonable lease rate, Khalil said. 

He said he plans to connect the nearby walking trails with the retail site, incorporating benches, walkway light poles, a dog park and a playground. 

“I wanted to create connectivity, because I know there is a massive walking trail that borders this property and continues across Mansfield Webb,” Khalil told the commission. “I wanted to create something that gives the neighborhood a place they can come out at.” 

Khalil said that for the past couple years, he has walked the area and talked with local residents, most of whom backed the project.

“Families can connect and also enjoy,” he said. “If they don’t use the retail services, they can still hang out. We have rectangle benches to sit on. We have light poles throughout.”

The zoning change request is slated to go before City Council members during their Oct. 8 meeting, according to city documents. 

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