Plan Commission recommends Amazon Prime Air paddock at Research Drive with battery‑powered drone and daylight hours limitation

The Richardson City Plan Commission on March 18 voted 3‑2 to recommend a plan‑development amendment for Amazon to establish a commercial delivery hub (paddock) for Prime Air at 3051 Research Drive, subject to two modifications adopted by motion: (1) define a commercial delivery drone as a battery‑powered unmanned aircraft system, and (2) limit the hours of commercial delivery hub (CDH) operation to sunrise‑to‑sunset.

Staff described the site as an existing STX‑8 sub‑same‑day fulfillment center in the IM‑1 industrial district at the southeast corner of Shiloh Road and Breckenridge Boulevard. The requested PD amendment would allow an approximately 10,000‑square‑foot paddock area north of the building with up to four launch/landing pads, battery storage in a modular building, a support trailer and fencing and gates for secure access. Staff said the site currently provides far more parking than required and that Amazon is repurposing an area formerly planned for delivery vans.

Amazon representatives presented the Prime Air model and operations. Sam Bailey, senior manager of economic development at Amazon, said the MK‑30 drone has an advertised delivery radius of up to 7.5 miles, carries up to 5 pounds per flight, weighs about 83 pounds, and travels up to about 60 miles per hour. Staff presented manufacturer noise figures used in the applicant materials: during the final descent at about 25 feet the MK‑30 measured 91 decibels in a controlled test environment; at 200 feet its approach was reported around 63.9 decibels. Amazon said the MK‑30 is quieter than earlier models and that the drone uses onboard detect‑and‑avoid sensors and redundant flight‑control systems; the company said FAA approval is required for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight operations and that Prime Air has flown commercially in other U.S. communities.

Commissioners asked several operational questions: how many drones would be based at the site (Amazon declined to provide a firm number, saying flight volume will be driven by organic customer demand and that the company would overestimate future growth in its environmental review), where maintenance would occur (some light maintenance on site; heavier maintenance off‑site), how delivery eligibility to addresses is determined (Amazon said customer addresses are evaluated for obstructions like trees and power lines and customers can opt out), and whether the city’s noise and performance standards would apply (staff said zoning performance standards apply on the ground but in‑flight operations are under FAA jurisdiction). Amazon said it conducted two meetings with the Creek Hollow Estates HOA and had received and responded to two emails through its community‑feedback channel.

Several residents spoke in opposition, citing worries about increased overflights, concentrated flight corridors around medical heliports, ambient noise and the difficulty of predicting daily flight frequency and flight paths. Residents asked for limits on the number of overflights and for city‑level mitigation. Speakers also urged stronger coordination with the FAA and asked how the city would be notified of changes in operations.

After public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend approval with the two modifications described above; Commissioner Beach seconded. Commissioners Bonsack and Keller voted no; the motion passed 3‑2. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to city council for final action. Staff and the applicant said additional federal reviews — including an environmental assessment and FAA airspace authorizations — would follow any local zoning approval and would include federal public‑comment opportunities and technical safeguards required by the FAA.