Temple planning staff brief commissioners on Palladio plant expansion, Cheddar's alcohol request and annexation activity

Temple planning staff outlined two zoning cases, a plat delay request and several annexations at the Planning and Zoning Commission work session on Aug. 4.

Planning Director Bridal Chandler told commissioners the meeting included ‘‘two zoning cases, and we’ve got one plat’’ and summarized staff recommendations and recent progress on the items. The most detailed discussion concerned a proposed expansion of the Palladio chemical plant at 2114 Trino Road and a conditional use permit for alcohol sales at a proposed Cheddar’s restaurant along I‑35 with a Bray Street address.

Chandler said staff is recommending approval of the Palladio expansion, noting the site’s original conditional use permit was approved by the planning commission and city council in 2017. ‘‘They’re expanding, which is, you know, good for our industrial park, good for Palladio, good for the community. And, so, of course, we’re recommending approval,’’ Chandler said. Chandler also said staff has been ‘‘working very closely with Giuseppe and his team from Palladio’’ and identified Jason as the case manager who would present the full application to the commission.

On the Cheddar’s application, Chandler said the developer is requesting alcohol sales as part of the restaurant’s operating model. ‘‘They were requesting alcohol sales,’’ she said, adding the site plan is included in the application packet. Chandler did not report any formal objections or a final decision at the work session; discussion about either case will proceed at a later hearing where zoning actions are scheduled.

The meeting also included a procedural request from the applicant for the Bel Air North Section 8 plat. Chandler said the applicant ‘‘would like to be able to table it just one more time’’ and was requesting an additional two weeks to resolve outstanding items. The transcript does not record a formal motion or vote on that request.

Chandler provided a brief update on a separate property near Avenue Inn and Honor Lane, saying the city has reached a verbal agreement with the owner for the city to purchase the lot and ‘‘work with a nonprofit to continue its use as a veterans community center.’’ She cautioned that the agreement is verbal and ‘‘hasn’t gone to council yet.’’

Commissioners also discussed annexation activity and commercial permitting. Chandler said there are multiple annexations in progress, and she flagged a large petition filed for roughly 702 acres at Bob White Road that would for practical purposes expand Senergy Park. ‘‘You’ll have the zoning case before you,’’ she said, and staff said they will provide a brief annexation update at the next meeting. Chandler noted the petitioned annexations have moved beyond preliminary inquiry and that applicants have filed petitions.

Staff discussed making permit information more visible on the city website, including distinctions between commercial and residential permits and icons to help the public track projects. Chandler said staff will consider ways to present recent commercial projects and annexation progress in future packets.

Chandler also informed commissioners that finance staff and city management had worked on the Honor Lane purchase and mentioned staff plans to attend the American Planning Association conference in College Station Oct. 22–24. John Atkinson, reading an administrative item, confirmed for the record that ‘‘no affidavits to abstain have been received for this meeting.’’

The work session closed after the updates; no final zoning decisions or recorded votes on the items above appear in the meeting transcript provided. Future hearings and staff reports were scheduled to provide additional details and formal actions.