Council approves two light‑industrial rezoning requests with conditions, requires extra landscaping to offset reduced buffer
Loading...
Summary
Grand Prairie approved rezoning and concept plans for two properties to light industrial use (one ~13.9 acres, one ~16 acres), granted requested variances including reduced landscape buffers but required a 20% increase in landscaping and added restrictions on convenience stores, outside storage and auto‑related uses.
Grand Prairie — The City Council on March 18 approved two related land‑use actions that change the future land‑use designation and zoning to accommodate light industrial development on two properties near Duncan Perry and Hard Rock Road, with council‑imposed conditions and variances.
Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for speculative industrial and flex buildings intended to serve smaller local and regional businesses, while council placed limits intended to reduce impacts on nearby residential areas.
What the council approved - Items 17 and 18: A comprehensive plan amendment and a zoning change for about 13.88 acres to a plan‑development district for light industrial use, with a concept plan for a roughly 100,000‑square‑foot speculative office/warehouse. The council approved conditions from staff and added restrictions: contractor shops may operate only with indoor storage (no outdoor storage), convenience stores were removed from the allowed list, and no automotive‑related permits will be allowed. - Items 19 and 20: A comprehensive plan amendment and zoning change for nearly 16 acres, with three alternative concept plans (options ranged from two mid‑sized buildings to multiple smaller flex buildings). The applicant requested variances that included reduced street landscape buffers (proposed 20 feet along some streets instead of the 30‑foot standard), an alternative parking calculation for flex space, and reduced wing wall heights from the 25‑foot UDC requirement to 14 feet.
Council conditions and variance outcome Council and staff negotiated additional screening and landscaping requirements. For the larger 16‑acre proposal, staff recommended that if truck docks face Hard Rock Road the applicant provide additional screening (masonry wall or living berm) and submit a line‑of‑sight study. Planning and Zoning recommended approval with conditions 7–0; council approved the rezoning and variances but required a covenant for an additional 20 percent more landscaping in the reduced buffer area to offset the smaller buffer.
Developer and public remarks Tyler Thomas, president of the commercial and industrial division at Tremont Group, described the proposed buildings as “catered towards smaller tenants” and said the plan favors shallow‑bay flex space rather than deep distribution uses. “This is gonna be catered towards smaller, tenants, smaller local businesses, and regional businesses in the area,” Thomas said on the record.
Resident Hamilton Peck, who spoke in opposition to large warehouses in other contexts, said neighborhood preferences were split: “People down south unanimously said, my goodness. Give me warehouses. People up north said, I'm tired of warehouses.” He also described topography challenges and argued that strict buffer requirements would make some warehouse configurations infeasible.
Votes and motions - For items 17 and 18 the motion to approve with the Planning & Zoning conditions plus the extra prohibitions on convenience stores, outdoor storage and auto‑related uses was moved by Councilmember Schabel and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Georgia Clemson; the motion carried unanimously. - For items 19 and 20 council closed the public hearing and approved the comprehensive plan amendment and zoning change with staff conditions 2–6, granting the requested buffer exception contingent on the applicant adding 20 percent more landscaping; the motion was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Georgia Clemson and seconded by Councilmember Adams and passed unanimously.
Details and next steps - Property sizes and concept plans: the first site is about 13.88 acres with a concept for a roughly 100,000‑square‑foot speculative office/warehouse; the second is nearly 16 acres with three concept alternatives ranging from multiple smaller flex buildings to larger buildings with truck docks. - Variances granted subject to screening, line‑of‑sight drawings and additional landscaping requirements; final building and site plans must meet the stated conditions before site‑plan approval.
Ending: The council’s approvals pave the way for industrial and flex development aimed at small and regional firms while imposing conditions intended to reduce visual and operational impacts on nearby residential areas.
