Planning commission recommends rezoning of 101 Oakwood Trail to General Business

The Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 June 17 to recommend that about 10 acres at 101 Oakwood Trail be rezoned from development reserve to General Business, forwarding the application to the City Council for final action.

The request, case C120254Z, covers an approximately 10-acre parcel that staff described as containing a vacant single-family house and a workshop. Cindy Schlamer, Development Services staff, told commissioners the proposed General Business zoning is consistent with the property's future land use designation of regional office/retail commercial and that staff recommended approval. "Staff recommends approval of the request to rezone to General Business," Schlamer said.

The property is inside the Cedar Park city limits; land immediately east lies in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Surrounding uses shown in staff materials include automobile sales to the west, single-family residential to the east, undeveloped land and retail offices to the north, and warehouse and distribution uses to the south. Schlamer said the parcel is currently recorded as development reserve, a placeholder zoning applied when land is annexed to the city.

Applicant Santosh Dankar, who identified himself as one of the owners of 101 Oakwood Trail, told commissioners he and his partner recently purchased the parcel and envision phased retail and commercial development. "We recently purchased that about a year ago," Dankar said, adding short-term uses could include a home office or workshop until redevelopment occurs.

Commission discussion focused on access, drainage and emergency connectivity. Staff told the commission Scottsdale Drive will require an easement dedication and that the property owner will pay for standard construction as development proceeds. Schlamer said part of the site lies in a flood plain and that the owner is coordinating with the city on a drainage easement. Commissioners noted an approximate 640-foot frontage on Scottsdale Drive and debated whether access from Oakwood Trail should be limited to emergency vehicles; commissioners said such a restriction could be imposed via a conditional overlay but no overlay was added by the commission.

The commission voted to recommend approval on a motion by Commissioner Antel and a second by Commissioner Ingram. The roll call vote was six in favor, zero opposed. The recommendation goes to the City Council for review; staff told the commission the council is expected to consider this item at a future meeting (staff indicated a July 10 meeting as the next council public hearing for items on this agenda).

Votes at a glance: The commission approved the consent agenda item listed as B-1 by a 6-0 vote (details of B-1 were not specified in the meeting record) and recommended approval of rezoning case C120254Z (101 Oakwood Trail) 6-0; the rezoning recommendation is advisory and the City Council will make the final decision.

A short administrative update later in the meeting noted recent City Council actions and upcoming council dates related to other planning matters, including a council acceptance of a future land use petition for "Corporate Park phases 2 and 3" and a first-reading public hearing scheduled for 2600 South Lakeline. Those items were presented by Dustin Hender of Development Services as informational items for the commission.