The Kennedale Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval Thursday to change zoning for a corner linear parcel at 4600 West Kennedale Parkway from Urban Village (UV) to C-2 General Commercial, a move city staff and the Kennedale Economic Development Corporation have said would make the site more marketable to commercial tenants.

Nathan, a city staff member, described the parcel as a narrow, linear lot at the Bowman Springs intersection and said the city is working with a developer and the Kennedale Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on proposed plans that could place three commercial buildings on the site. “They...may have to obtain some variances for building setbacks to get the building, you know, tucked... against the property line,” Nathan said, and noted concept plans include two tenant buildings of roughly 5,000–6,000 square feet and a smaller corner building that could house a restaurant with a drive-through.

Staff said the property previously carried C-2 zoning but was rezoned to Urban Village in a prior effort to encourage mixed-use development; given the parcel’s narrow shape and its location at a hard commercial corner, staff recommended returning it to C-2 to better accommodate typical commercial prototypical footprints used by national tenants. Nathan told commissioners that rezoning is a preliminary step and that the developer would later request variances for setbacks and return with final site plans and permitting.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing, which opened and closed at 6:15 p.m. Commissioners moved and seconded a recommendation for approval, and the motion passed by voice vote.

If approved by the City Council (this recommendation stage only), subsequent requests for variances and building permits will require additional city review for setbacks, parking, circulation and fire access; staff emphasized that any drive-through or building plan must meet fire and traffic safety requirements.