Planning commission approves PUD for tire shop at 5703 Stewart Road with operational safeguards

The Planning Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously approved a planned unit development (PUD) overlay to allow an auto service station — proposed as a tire shop — at 5703 Stewart Road, subject to site-specific conditions intended to reduce impacts on nearby residential areas.

Staff explained the request would allow an auto service station in an urban neighborhood zoning district despite the limited-use standard that generally requires such uses to be at least 200 feet from residential zoning or land uses. Staff found the site meets the approval criteria because the nearby R-1 zoning within 200 feet consists primarily of undevelopable right-of-way and two vacant lots owned by the City of Galveston, and staff noted the city owns those adjacent lots and no development is currently contemplated there.

Staff recommended approval with specific conditions that were described in the packet: the PUD would deviate from the limited-use standard requiring a 200-foot buffer, the eastern curb cut and driveway on the site shall be removed and replaced with adjacent curb and grassy area, hours of operation shall be no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 6 p.m., no outdoor audio or loudspeaker systems are permitted, and no outdoor storage of tires or auto parts is permitted outside business hours. Standard PUD conditions were also applied.

Michael Gertner, architect and representative for the business owner, described planned improvements to the existing building and confirmed the primary use is a tire shop that would relocate an existing business. The applicant confirmed the eastern driveway would be removed as part of the project. After opening and closing the public hearing with no objecting neighbors, the commission moved to approve the PUD with staff recommendations; the motion passed unanimously.