P&Z recommends rezoning at Bowman Springs corner to C‑2 to enable retail, restaurants and potential drive‑throughs

At its Aug. 28 meeting the Kennedale Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of PZ Case 25-13 to rezone a narrow corner lot along West Kennedale Parkway/Bowman Springs from the Urban Village (UV) District to C‑2 General Commercial, City staff member Nathan said. The public hearing was opened and closed at 6:15 p.m.; no members of the public were signed up to speak.

Nathan described the site as a linear, corner parcel near the Bowman Springs intersection currently owned in part by the Kennedale Economic Development Corporation. He said the city and EDC are working with a developer on a concept to place three commercial buildings — roughly in the 5,000–6,000 square‑foot range each for tenant spaces such as retail or restaurant uses — on the site. Nathan said the corner previously had C‑2 zoning, was rezoned to Urban Village during an earlier planning initiative, and the current request would return it to C‑2 to allow typical commercial prototypes that national tenants use, including potential drive‑throughs.

Staff noted the plan will require variances for reduced building setbacks to fit the proposed buildings on the narrow lot and that building setbacks, parking and fire access remain constraints. Nathan said the rezoning aligns with the city's comprehensive plan designation for the area as an entertainment corridor along Bowman Springs and that rezoning the parcel to C‑2 reduces zoning-related barriers a developer would face. "We do recommend approval of that," Nathan said.

Commissioner Jones moved to recommend approval of PZ Case 25-13; Commissioner Martinez seconded. With three commissioners present, the commission voted unanimously. Staff and the developer will proceed with final platting, variance requests, and tenant recruitment as the matter advances through the city's permitting and review processes.