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Leander panel approves McCall Capital minor PUD rezoning to GC-3-C despite concerns about proximity to apartments
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to the PUD to establish GC-3-C (general commercial) zoning for a 4.06-acre parcel east of 183A Toll Road; commissioners discussed architectural component and buffering because the site abuts apartment complexes, but staff and the applicant said building placement and landscaping will mitigate impacts.
The Leander Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zoning change request to adopt the McCall Capital minor planned unit development and set the base zoning as GC-3-C for a 4.06-acre parcel (Z-24-0154) east of the 183A Toll Road, approximately 270 feet south of Bulbine Drive.
City staff presented the request as the first step in a zoning amendment process intended to allow office/warehouse uses along with commercial and personal services. Staff said the proposal conforms with the comprehensive plan’s priority neighborhood center designation and recommended approval. The parcel was identified in the staff report as Williamson Central Appraisal District parcel R032207.
Staff noted the applicant initially submitted a Type 4 site component and lowered it to a Type 3. Notification outreach included property owners within 200 feet and neighborhood outreach to addresses within 500 feet. Staff reported no formal written objections in the record (exhibit 8 of the packet).
Several commissioners expressed concern that the GC-3-C designation and the Type C architectural component allow more intensive uses (including outdoor storage) than might be appropriate adjacent to apartments. Commissioner Morales said the architectural and site-component choices matter because the site is “pretty visible” and framed on multiple sides by residential uses; he suggested that GC-2-B might be more appropriate. Commissioner Mahan and other commissioners echoed the need for buffering and screening between the proposed development and the surrounding housing.
The applicant’s representative (identified in the meeting as Spencer) and agent Anthony Good of Good Faith Engineering responded that the project design positions buildings and parking to act as a visual buffer between apartment parking and the new buildings, and that landscaping and building façades would reduce visibility of loading areas. Spencer described the site layout and said building walls and landscape treatment would serve as effective separation from adjacent residences.
Vice Chair Coloma moved to approve the zoning amendment; Commissioner James Oliver seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioners and the applicant noted that specific design details — including masonry or landscaped buffers, truck circulation, and building placement — would be addressed in the site-plan review and building-permit stages.
Key details
- Case: Z-24-0154 (McCall Capital minor PUD); parcel R032207; approximately 4.06 acres. - Proposed base zoning: GC-3-C (General Commercial, site component Type 3, architectural component C). - Outreach: notices to properties within 200 feet and neighborhood outreach to properties within 500 feet; staff reported no formal objections in the packet. - Vote: motion to approve passed unanimously.
Next steps: the applicant must submit site plans meeting the PUD’s conditions; staff will review setbacks, buffering, and site design at the site-plan and permit stages.
