Commission recommends annexation and commercial designation for Nova Road site; residents urge caution on traffic

The Planning Commission recommended approval, 5-0, of three related items to annex a parcel and change its designation to Community Center Core: voluntary annexation ANX25-00018 (Ord. 2025-74), a comprehensive plan amendment CPA25-00008 (Ord. 2025-75), and a zoning map amendment ZMA25-00012 (Ord. 2025-76) for a property at the corner of Lake Lizzie Drive and Nova Road.

Ralph Keith, associate planner for Community Development, presented the staff recommendation and noted the project is contiguous to city limits and within the joint planning area. John Adams of RJWA Inc., representing the applicant, told commissioners the applicant seeks to align the property’s designation with the recently adopted future land-use map; he said a final user has not been identified and that any specific land use, site plan, traffic, drainage and building plans will come through later review and public hearings.

During public comment, residents raised access and traffic concerns. Two residents from Lake Lizzie Drive said the local street (Drewliner) is narrow and that left turns onto Nova Road are difficult; they asked whether a civic or community center could later be changed to another commercial use and noted construction traffic and driveway access were concerns. Staff and the applicant responded that tonight’s actions are policy alignment (annexation, future land-use and zoning) rather than approval of a specific project, that future development will require separate site and construction plan reviews, and that the adopted core-perimeter rules include minimums for mixed use (for example, staff referenced a minimum of about 4,000 square feet of commercial per acre in core areas and a minimum floor-area ratio of 0.5 where applicable). Staff said future construction will require right-of-way and cross-section improvements on Lake Lizzie Drive and that Nova Road is a county framework road under study with proposed future cross section improvements.

After public comment and staff explanations, the commission voted unanimously to recommend annexation, the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning map amendment to City Council. If council approves, any future project on the site must return for additional reviews and site-specific approvals.