Leander commission approves five-year special-use permit for box cricket at Brushy Street

The City of Leander Planning and Zoning Commission on a meeting date not specified approved a five-year special-use permit to allow a box-cricket practice facility on two parcels commonly known as 302 and 304 Brushy Street in Old Town Leander.

The permit — special use case Z-25-0161 — allows outdoor sporting activities on roughly 0.603 acres (Williamson Central Appraisal District parcels R036045 and R036046) for a five-year period, limited by the commission to use for cricket only and with operating hours and lighting restrictions included in the permit.

Planning staff recommended approval. Planning staff said the Old Town master plan designates the area as the Old Town core character district and that the proposed use was "compatible" with the district’s focus on destination and activity types. The staff presentation said the permit would allow the proposed box-cricket field and practice lanes and recommended Option 1: approval for five years.

The applicant, identified in the record as the applicant (unnamed), told the commission the proposal focuses on short-format "box cricket" and practice nets for youth, women and recreational teams and said local clubs and associations already organize games in the Austin–Leander area. "We are expected to increase by 2028, we are expecting the teams will be doubled by 160 to 200 teams within our Leander area as well," the applicant said. The applicant also said the facility would primarily operate after local businesses close on weekdays and would be a modest installation of netted practice boxes rather than permanent buildings.

An adjacent property owner, Terry Davis, who identified himself as the owner of a law office next to the subject parcel, opposed the use. "I do not believe that having a place that will have cricket, football, and other sports is compatible with being next door to where my office is," Davis said, citing concerns about noise, parking and vehicle circulation at the dead-end parcel. "It's gonna be a detriment to my office," he said.

Commissioners debated the proposal’s fit with the Old Town master plan and whether a temporary permit is more appropriate than a zoning change. Commissioner Mahan noted the request keeps the site’s T5 transect zoning and that the special-use permit is time-limited, allowing future review as Old Town develops. Commissioner Morales observed that the Old Town North guidance includes outdoor activities and programming that can serve families and businesses, saying the proposal could fall within those guidelines.

The commission limited the permit to cricket and set operating hours in the permit as follows: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–11 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.–midnight; Saturday 8 a.m.–midnight; Sunday 8 a.m.–11 p.m. The commission also required compliance with the city’s adopted lighting standards (dark-sky compliance) so lighting would be shielded and focused on the practice boxes.

Vice Chair Colom moved to approve the special-use permit with the limitation to cricket and the operating hours described above; Commissioner Mahan seconded the motion. The chair called for the vote and the motion passed.

The applicant said the land has been cleared and that the plan is to install nets and steel supports rather than build permanent structures. Planning staff noted engineering limitations near a floodplain area on Broad Street and advised the applicant on placement to avoid flood-prone locations.

The commission’s action authorizes the five-year special-use permit for the box-cricket practice facility and establishes the permit conditions described above. The commission said it will review the use at the end of the five-year term in the context of Old Town development.

The commission addressed several practical conditions during discussion: shared parking arrangements with nearby businesses, modest, focused lighting for visibility inside the nets only, and the requirement that development comply with the city’s dark-sky lighting standards. The record does not show a numeric vote tally.