Commission tables United Rentals rezoning after staff recommends denial; applicant to return with amended plan

The Temple Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to table a rezoning and binding site development plan request for a 1.544‑acre parcel at 5300 South General Bruce Drive after staff recommended denial over compatibility and design concerns.

Principal planner Cheryl Maxwell told commissioners the site contains split zoning (commercial and light industrial) and lies within the I‑35 retail subdistrict overlay. Staff raised multiple issues with the applicant’s site plan: large portions of the lot were shown as compacted gravel for equipment parking rather than concrete or asphalt surfacing required by code; landscape calculations were not provided and staff could not confirm the minimum 15% landscaping requirement; two large, healthy trees (a 36‑inch live oak and a 54‑inch cypress) were on site and staff recommended retention where feasible; a 30‑inch gravity sewer line crosses the property and must be shown on plans; and additional detention and fire hydrants could be required with added impervious cover. Maxwell said the proposed expansion of a nonconforming use into the adjacent parcel would conflict with the overlay’s purpose to enhance the Interstate 35 corridor’s appearance and meet higher development standards, and staff recommended disapproval for incompatibility with the overlay and noncompliance with the UDC.

Michael Rogers, an architect representing United Rentals, told commissioners the company is an existing tenant in the area seeking to expand into an adjacent parcel. Rogers said United Rentals was willing to fence the combined site with black ornamental fencing, pursue required landscaping and stormwater controls and work on height restrictions to push taller equipment to the back of the site, and added, “we want to be a good neighbor.” Rogers also said gravel is the preferred surfacing for how the company operates and that paving the entire storage area was not feasible for his client without further negotiation. Staff and commissioners discussed whether and how improvements to the existing United Rentals site could be required as part of a rezoning for the adjacent parcel; staff said improvements to the existing site are not enforceable unless included in the rezoning application.

Several commissioners indicated they could support approval if the applicant agreed to meet overlay standards similar to nearby properties (for example, Kubota’s site improvements), but staff said the applicant had not agreed to required paving and other overlay elements. Commissioner Smith moved to table the item to allow the applicant and property owner to submit a coordinated application for both parcels so improvements could be addressed together; Commissioner Rhodes seconded. The motion to table to an indeterminate future date passed unanimously. Staff said the earliest available meeting to return this item would likely be in May if the applicant files in time and proper notices are provided. Staff had earlier recommended disapproval.