Haslet planning commission delays zoning for Freeman Toyota but clears final plat

The Haslet Planning and Zoning Commission continued a public hearing on a planned development zoning request for a proposed Freeman Toyota dealership and unanimously recommended approval of the project's final plat, allowing preliminary earthwork and underground utility work to proceed.

Planning staff said the 38.566-acre site is shown as commercial on the city's master land use plan and that the dealership's requested use is consistent with that plan. Staff described the application as a planned development (PD) because the applicant requests exceptions to standard landscaping requirements.

Phil Baird, an engineer with Baird Hampton Brown representing Freeman Auto Group, said the site offers strong visibility and access and that the company plans a large new Toyota dealership. “This is going to be a very big Toyota dealership,” Baird said, adding the existing Hurst dealership will close when the new site opens. Baird said the project faces site constraints including a roughly 60-foot slope across the property, a 150-foot electric transmission easement running across…