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Manvel commission backs vacating part of Russell Street to allow joint parking for restaurant development
Summary
The Planning, Development and Zoning Commission voted to approve a recommendation to city council to abandon a 0.4073-acre portion of Russell Street adjacent to a Bighorn restaurant so the applicant can combine parking and access; approval is contingent on fee payment, appraisal and further utility review.
The Planning, Development and Zoning Commission of Manvel voted to approve and forward to the City Council a recommendation to vacate a portion of Russell Street between Highway 6 and Large Avenue so an adjoining property at 7303 Russell Street can be developed together with the neighboring Bighorn restaurant.
City planning staff told the commission the abandonment request covers a 0.4073-acre tract and that staff recommends approval “contingent upon payment of all fees and as determined by the appraisal commissioned in connection with this abandoned request,” and subject to any modifications required by City Council.
The recommendation matters because vacating the municipal right of way would allow the two properties to share parking and access, reducing the need for customers to cross Russell Street to reach parking. Planning staff said existing power lines are present in the area and that they have notified utility providers; AT&T and other private utilities responded with no objection, while CenterPoint had not responded at the time of the meeting. Staff said they found no city utility lines within the right of way but will continue to investigate utility locations before the City Council hearing.
Applicant representative Alan Mueller of Grama Development told the commission the applicant supports the right-of-way abandonment. He also said the applicant applied to MEDC and received partial funding that they expect will help advance the project.
Commissioners asked about access, congestion and TxDOT approval for access on Highway 6. Planning staff said the intention is to retain the Russell Street alignment as a driveway and to have the primary entrance from School Road, and that any final access language would be clarified in the traffic impact analysis and subject to TxDOT approval where required.
The commission opened and closed the public hearing and voted to recommend approval with the stated conditions. The item will now go to City Council, which has final authority to vacate municipal rights of way and to set any fee or make other modifications.
Votes at a glance: the commission approved a motion to forward Ordinance 2025-0-013 (vacating a portion of Russell Street) with conditions; the motion passed by voice vote (recorded as “motion passes” in the meeting transcript). No individual vote tallies or named movers/seconders were recorded in the transcript.
The commission noted the recommendation is preliminary; staff said the development and any public improvements (for example, sidewalks) will be finalized during subsequent plan review and that a final appraisal and fee calculation will be provided to City Council for its decision.
