Leander City Council on Thursday approved a special-use permit (Z-25-0161) to allow a small outdoor cricket practice area in Old Town, agreeing to conditions recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The approval vote was 5-1. Planning staff said the application covers about 0.603 acres in Old Town and that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions limiting the activity to cricket practice, defining hours of operation, and setting a five-year term to allow future review.

Applicant Sai Kuchakula told the council the facility would provide local practice opportunities for youth and adult players who otherwise travel outside the area for practice and said cricket participation — including women's cricket — has been growing locally. "Cricket has been growing a lot, in recent times," he said, explaining the applicant's intent to provide a modest outdoor net practice area rather than a full stadium.

Conditions approved by council include the cricket-only limitation, the hours of operation (Monday-Thursday evening hours, Friday into late evening, with daytime weekend windows as described in the Planning & Zoning recommendation), and a five-year permit term with the option to request an extension. Staff and the applicant said the proposed use is a practice facility rather than a full game venue; the applicant described the layout as a netted practice area that typically involves fewer than 15 participants at a time.

A neighboring property owner had raised concerns at Planning & Zoning about noise during business hours; the restriction to cricket activity only and the hours limitation were presented as measures to address those concerns. Council approved the permit with the stated conditions.