Council approves planned unit development for cruise-ship parking at 4702 Winnie with landscaping condition; 6-1 vote

The Galveston City Council approved a planned unit development (PUD) to permit a commercial parking facility at property commonly known as 4702 Winnie Avenue, approving conditions recommended by the Planning Commission that include right-of-way landscaping along Winnie Street. The vote was 6-1.

Project and zoning details: Staff described the request as a PUD to allow land uses not permitted in the site's current Urban Neighborhood (UN) zoning, including a commercial surface parking area, multimodal parking facility, and electric vehicle charging stations. The applicant sought elimination of certain interior landscaping and perimeter screening requirements; the Planning Commission recommended approval with a modification requiring right-of-way landscaping adjacent to Winnie.

Applicant case and benefits: Architect Michael Gertner testified the site has not attracted residential infill since the 2015 LDRs were adopted and that a high-quality, enclosed cruise-ship parking facility is more economically viable. Gertner estimated the project could generate more than $150,000 a year in city revenue under the city's parking fee ordinance at a 75% occupancy rate, and said the enclosed design and proposed screening would mitigate visual impacts.

Public input and conditions: Public input included a local resident who noted truck and cotton-trailer activity on nearby streets. The applicant agreed to provide streetscape improvements along Winnie and to provide perimeter landscaping as the Planning Commission requested.

Council action: A council motion approved the PUD with the Planning Commission's recommendation to include perimeter landscaping along Winnie; the motion passed 6-1.

Implementation: The ordinance allows the specified parking and multimodal uses and requires the applicant to provide agreed landscaping and streetscape improvements prior to occupancy or as specified in the PUD conditions.

Vote: Approved 6 in favor, 1 opposed.