Council approves rezoning near Lakeline Boulevard after debate over drive‑thru and competing businesses

The Cedar Park City Council voted 5–4 (one member absent) to approve a rezoning ordinance on second reading for about 2.94 acres at 1401 North Lakeline after council members debated permitted uses, potential competition with existing nearby businesses and conditions related to drive‑through restaurants.

Andrina Davila of Development Services summarized the second-reading case and said there were no changes since the prior meeting. Council discussion focused on whether the higher‑level zoning would permit uses that duplicate existing neighborhood businesses and on the feasibility of limiting some uses through a conditional overlay. One council member said restricting competing businesses at the zoning level could create a “protectionist” precedent, while another sought assurance that a previously signed private restrictive covenant would prevent certain uses near an existing daycare.

Staff said some prohibitions (for example, a drive‑through speaker box) would be evaluated at site‑plan review, and that a conditional overlay could be applied to list prohibited uses if the council wished. The council discussed that a 200‑foot speaker‑box setback from residential structures is an existing condition tied to drive‑through approvals and noted the parcel’s dimensions may make a drive‑through impractical.

Mayor Pro Tem moved to approve the ordinance; the motion passed 5–4 with one member absent. The council did not adopt additional overlay restrictions at the meeting; staff said private covenants between adjacent property owners could remain in place and might be enforced separately.

The ordinance will be reflected in the record with corrected staffing and packet details noted earlier in the meeting. The developer and applicant were present for questions but no public speakers registered on the item at the hearing.