Council approves PD-317R at 192 Southwestern Blvd. with conditions; site plan for 1,800 sq ft office to remain compatible with neighborhood

The council approved a zoning change and site plan (PD-317R C) allowing a new 1,800‑square‑foot office building and retention of an existing garage structure at 192 Southwestern Boulevard, subject to conditions recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Planning staff explained the lot is one of several original commercially zoned parcels in the North Lake Estates subdivision and that neighboring homes were rezoned to SF‑7 decades ago; several adjacent properties retained commercial zoning and were previously granted special‑use permits for low‑intensity commercial uses. The applicant proposed an office building with seven parking spaces, a relocated garage door, an eight‑foot board‑on‑board fence on the north and west sides, and a 15‑foot landscape strip along Howell Drive. Staff said the site would provide about 36 percent landscaped area (not including Southwestern Boulevard right‑of‑way landscaping to be maintained by the applicant).

At the Planning & Zoning hearing the applicant agreed to three additional conditions: (1) move the existing garage door interior to the site along the southern elevation; (2) remove the existing Howell driveway that serves the garage and use the proposed new driveway into the parking lot; and (3) convert the removed driveway into a head‑on parking space with access from the new lot driveway. The applicant confirmed agreement with the conditions during the council hearing.

Council moved to close the public hearing and approve the item with conditions; the motion passed unanimously. Voting in favor were: Mayor Walker; Mayor Pro Tem Nevills; Council Members Hinojosa Smith, Carroll, Prem Kumar, Matthew and Hill.

The council’s approval allows the applicant to proceed with required engineering reviews, to provide required landscaping and screening, and to apply for building permits consistent with the approved PD conditions.