Planning commission recommends C-2 zoning for two Lohman Ford parcels with conditions

The Lago Vista Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that two parcels off Lohman Ford Road be rezoned from TR-1 (temporary restricted) to C-2 (general commercial), commissioners said at the May 8 meeting.

The recommendation covers two separate applications: project 232777, an approximately 4.035-acre tract (TCAD ID 984238), and project 232778, a roughly 3.776-acre tract (TCAD ID 99032). Both requests were presented to the commission as consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and were recommended to city council with identical conditions addressing site planning, access, and traffic analysis.

Staff told the commission the requested C-2 zoning aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan but that the applicant sought relief from the usual requirement to submit a concept/site plan with the zoning application. A staff speaker said the commission may waive that requirement but can attach conditions if it does. Applicant Leonard Strickler said the parcels are part of an original 10-acre tract; three acres of that tract already are platted and zoned C-2 and the current requests cover adjacent portions. He said a deed restriction on the earlier three-acre parcel bans convenience stores on the 10-acre tract and that a cross-access agreement will provide a single driveway onto Lohman Ford Road for the development. Strickler also told the commission a utilities extension is under review by the city’s engineering consultant and estimated the savings to the city of extending utilities for this development at about $400,000 because the developer will run lines roughly 1,400–1,500 feet at their expense.

Commissioner Frank Robbins, who spoke during public comment, asked the commission to adopt the same conditions that were applied to a prior, related approval (Ordinance 24-08-01-01 as cited in Robbins’ materials). Robbins also pressed for a preliminary plat covering the entire 10-acre tract so that adequate facilities, access and the traffic impact analysis (TIA) cover all affected lots. Robbins raised concerns about the draft comprehensive plan’s thoroughfare alignment for Bonanza and how an alternative alignment could make portions of the northern tract difficult to develop and risk removing stands of mature oak trees.

A commissioner moved that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of the C-2 rezoning for the first parcel (project 232777) subject to: (1) adopting the conditions from Ordinance 24-08-01-01; (2) requiring the property be part of a preliminary plat for the full property shown in the packet; (3) single access to Lohman Ford Road and a city-approved shared-access agreement with the adjoining south property; (4) showing any shared parking/access stub on future required site plans; and (5) that city council review a traffic impact analysis covering the three tracts shown in the staff report. The commission voted to recommend approval by voice vote. The second rezoning (232778) was handled in the same manner and the commission voted to recommend approval using the same conditions.

These commission recommendations are advisory; final zoning decisions rest with the Lago Vista City Council, which will consider the commission’s conditions and any additional requirements it deems necessary.

Ending: Staff noted the council could require a concept/site plan at its discretion when it reviews the zoning. The commission’s recommendations will be transmitted to the city council for final action.