Planning commission approves 87 Plaza site plan, asks design tweak for Washington Street elevation

The Fredericksburg Planning & Zoning Commission approved the site plan and entry-corridor application for the 87 Plaza shopping center at 702 South Washington Street after the applicant revised building materials and massing to address earlier design concerns. The commission added a condition directing staff to administratively approve a modest redesign to strengthen the Washington Street elevation’s roofline and visual presence.

Applicant Scott Daniels (SC Daniels Construction) and the project design team returned after prior feedback about building placement and materials. Staff said the building location remained necessary to meet fire-access and code requirements raised during a meeting with the fire marshal. Following the commission’s prior direction, the team increased stone accents, changed materials and refined façade breaks and canopies to create a more human-scale storefront.

One commissioner praised the material changes but said the Washington Street elevation looked underemphasized compared with the Highway 87 frontage and asked the applicant to provide a centered or more intentional roof/parapet treatment to give the Washington approach more presence. The commission approved the site plan subject to civil construction-plan approval, TxDOT driveway-permit approval and a staff-administered refinement to the Washington Street roofline/elevation.

Why it matters: The project converts a prominent corner into a coordinated retail center; the commission’s condition seeks to improve the entry-corridor appearance along Washington Street and aligns design with the city’s entry-corridor guidelines. The action moves the project to permit-level review conditional on the required civil and driveway approvals.