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Williamson County planning staff seeks commission review for all new commercial uses regardless of building size
Summary
The planning staff proposed an amendment to Article 6 of the Williamson County zoning ordinance to require planning commission review of site plans for all new commercial uses listed in tables 11.01 and 11.02, removing the current 5,000-square-foot staff-review threshold; the commission voted to forward the recommendation for approval.
The Williamson County Planning Commission heard a staff proposal to amend Article 6 of the county zoning ordinance so that site plans for all new commercial uses listed in tables 11.01 and 11.02 would be treated as major site plans and considered by the planning commission, regardless of building square footage.
Staff presented the amendment during the public hearing, saying the change responds to concerns that future nonresidential uses remaining on residential concept-plan acreage could affect surrounding areas and infrastructure, particularly traffic. "Staff heard the concerns that site plans for these future nonresidential uses would not be reviewed by the planning commission," the Staff member said, explaining that the current Section 6.01 allows staff review of certain minor site plans where proposed additions are 5,000 square feet or less or where no building is proposed.
The nut graf: The amendment would remove the functional 5,000-square-foot threshold for many commercial uses and make them subject to planning commission review to allow more public and commission input on uses that can generate outsized impacts despite small building footprints.
Commission materials shown at the meeting noted that certain uses — for example fast-food restaurants — can generate high volumes of traffic while occupying buildings under 5,000 square feet. Under the proposed language, any new commercial use listed in tables 11.01 and 11.02 would be considered a major site plan even when the building footprint is below the current 5,000-square-foot staff-review cutoff. Staff recommended approval of the text amendment and the attached resolution for transmittal to the county commission with a recommendation for approval.
No members of the public signed up to speak during the public hearing. Following questions from commissioners, a motion to approve the staff recommendation passed; the record shows the motion was seconded and the planning commission voted in favor.
Outcome and next steps: The planning commission voted to forward the recommended text amendment and resolution to the Williamson County Commission for consideration.
The record of this item appears in the planning commission packet and will be part of the county commission agenda packet if transmitted as recommended.
