Grand Prairie planning commission approves internet-only electric vehicle sales site, removes planned collector from thoroughfare map

The Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 9 approved a companion amendment to the 2018 comprehensive plan and a special-use site plan to allow an internet-only electric vehicle sales, service and delivery center on about 7.71 acres just south of the I-20 eastbound frontage road and west of FM 1382 (Belt Line Road).

The commission unanimously approved the comprehensive plan amendment to remove a two-lane collector shown on the master thoroughfare plan and granted the special use permit (SUP) and related variances for the proposed dealership after staff presented a traffic analysis and the applicant described the site and design.

The commission heard staff presentations explaining that the comprehensive-plan change would remove a collector road that bisected the developer's property and that a traffic impact analysis using the North Central Texas Council of Governments 2045 regional traffic demand model forecasted only modest (about 3'7%) increases on adjacent roadways in a no-build scenario. Brett, a planning staff member, said, "While staff believes that the area would be better with the road, the traffic impact analysis states that the removal of this proposed master thoroughfare plan road from the plan would not negatively impact the area." The staff presentation recommended that the two items be considered together.

The approved site plan covers about 7.71 acres and proposes a single-story, approximately 51,000-square-foot building with a roughly 6,400-square-foot showroom and an approximately 45,000-square-foot service center. The applicant described the use as an internet-only auto dealer with a showroom for viewing and test drives, customer education and online-order assistance, delivery services for vehicles purchased online, and a service center limited to minor repairs and maintenance (no collision repair). The applicant anticipates employing about 40 sales and delivery associates on site.

The commission approved multiple variances to Unified Development Code (UDC) and Appendix F design requirements. Varied items included a 2-foot height variance (to allow parapet walls for rooftop screening beyond the Article 6 25-foot maximum), increased vehicle storage and parking well above the stated 84 required parking spaces (the applicant proposed 415 vehicle storage spaces), reduced parking lot trees and shrubs counts, reduced street-facing window area and canopy coverage, allowance for metal panels on facades, and garage bay-door screening exceptions. Staff noted the applicant proposes to escrow funds to construct the continuation of a planned access drive to the future Westchester Parkway rather than build the full connection immediately.

Developer representatives who spoke in support included Ashley Johnson, civil engineer with Kimley-Horn, and Jonathan Power, a speaker for the applicant. Power said, "We are not trying to be difficult," and described design choices as brand standards for the proposed facility, adding the building would include high parapet walls to screen roof equipment. Johnson confirmed the project team has prior experience with similar electric-vehicle (EV) projects and civil work in the Dallas'Fort Worth area.

Commissioners asked about local hiring, timing and road construction. The applicant estimated construction could begin in March following land purchase and permitting, with about a year to build. On local hiring, the applicant said the operation would encourage hiring locally but could not guarantee hires would be limited to Grand Prairie residents. On the Westchester Parkway connection, the applicant warned that completing the future parkway would require coordination with many property owners, Dallas County and federal floodplain/FEMA approvals and said building the entire roadway now could result in a "road to nowhere." The applicant committed to escrowing funds for the road connection if needed later.

The commission approved the items with Development Review Committee (DRC) recommendations and staff conditions; the motion to approve the comprehensive-plan amendment and the SUP passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned immediately after the vote.

The file for the SUP identifies the proposed use as an internet-only auto dealer, minor specialty repair and accessory outdoor storage. The record shows the applicant requested variances tied to brand-design standards and operational needs and that staff analyzed traffic impacts using the NCTCOG 2045 model and recommended conditional approval.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of Aug. 25, 2025 P&Z meeting minutes (consent agenda): motion by Commissioner John Federco, second by Commissioner Frank Gonzales; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approval of CPA (comprehensive plan amendment) and SUP (SUP25070023) including variances and DRC conditions: motion by Commissioner Malcolm Chakari, second by Commissioner Angela Luckyvine; outcome: approved unanimously.

What happens next: The approvals allow the applicant to pursue permitting and final construction plans consistent with the SUP and the conditions approved by staff and the commission, including the agreed escrowing for future access-drive construction. The transcript records timelines and commitments from the applicant but does not record subsequent building permits or construction starts.