Planning commission backs rezoning of Pegasus Drive site for warehouse‑office planned development

The City of Temple Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend that City Council approve a rezoning from agricultural to planned development commercial for a 5.358‑acre property at 5642 Pegasus Drive (case FY25‑3‑ZC).

Senior planner Shelby Smith said the planned development would allow a flexible, binding site plan for a warehouse‑office complex of seven buildings totaling about 77,880 square feet, with 71 parking spaces, four dumpster enclosures and an onsite detention pond. Smith said the project will require a wastewater extension from sewer lines to the east and that exhibit A in the staff report contains the binding site plan to which the development must substantially conform.

The planned‑development overlay includes several conditions intended to reduce impacts on nearby residences, Smith said. Those measures include a minimum 20‑foot landscape buffer where the site abuts residential property, compliance with the Unified Development Code performance standards (UDC section 7.1) for noise, odor and glare, a prohibition on outdoor storage, a two‑material minimum for building exteriors, and a requirement (plan development condition No. 9) that the developer coordinate with the city engineer to provide concrete improvements to the segment of Pegasus Drive affected by heavy truck turning movements — or provide an engineering study and implement its recommendations.

Commissioner Brian (staff member) told the commission he expects the required concrete improvements to be constructed before the city issues a certificate of occupancy for the development, though he said there could be some scheduling flexibility. “It’d have to be constructed before certificate of occupancy is issued,” Brian said.

Public commenters raised operational and neighborhood concerns. Alan Lytle, of Temple, asked whether solid‑waste trucks can access two centrally located dumpster enclosures and questioned whether four enclosures will be sufficient for seven industrial buildings. “Is there enough room, or is the solid waste truck gonna have to back up to get out of those two holes?” Lytle asked. Smith replied that solid‑waste reviewed and approved the dumpster locations and that a 65‑foot approach is required for dumpster access.

Moores Mill resident Jaime Gonzalez told the commission that his backyard borders the site and described worries about late‑night traffic, noise, increased trash and the condition of nearby roads. “We’re parents to three young children…we’re just afraid that it could bring some noisy, late night businesses coming in and out,” Gonzalez said, adding concerns about a nearby school bus stop and limited law‑enforcement patrols in the area.

Smith said staff received three written responses to mailed notices (seven mailed within 200 feet): two in agreement (from the same property owner) and one in disagreement. The staff report notes the site is platted (Pegasus Estate), within the industrial future land‑use designation, and that utilities including a 12‑inch water line and a 15‑inch sewer line are available to the east and will require extension to serve the site.

Commissioner Prager moved to recommend approval to City Council per staff recommendations; Commissioner Juracek seconded. Tiffany, the commission clerk, recorded a unanimous vote — Morales, Walker, Droszek, Prager, Vice Chair Smith and Chair Krause — and the motion carried.

The commission record shows the rezoning will proceed to City Council for a first reading on April 3 and a second reading on April 17. Staff advised the commission that concrete improvements required under plan development condition No. 9 are intended to address substandard pavement width and grading on Pegasus Drive and to accommodate turning movements of large commercial vehicles.

If City Council approves the planned development, the binding site plan and the listed conditions (including required street improvements and utilities extensions) will govern subsequent subdivision, construction permitting and certificate‑of‑occupancy approvals.