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Planning commission recommends rezoning to permit drone‑delivery structures at Walmart; Zipline presents technology
Summary
The commission voted 7–0 to forward a rezoning request allowing detached accessory structures and drone‑delivery operations at the Walmart on Redbud Boulevard; Zipline representatives described the system, payload limits and safety protocols during a public presentation.
On Feb. 11, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, 7–0, of a rezoning request (case 240103 Z) to permit detached accessory structures and drone‑delivery operations at the Walmart Supercenter property on Redbud Boulevard.
Planner Jake Bennett said the proposal ties a zoning exhibit to the property that would limit where docking and launching structures could be built and would generally require development to conform to the proposed layout; staff noted the site is in a commercial/light‑industrial area separated from residences by existing buffers and mature trees. Bennett reported the proposed dock structures would be about 22–28 feet tall and that the proposed zoning would limit structure height to 35 feet (the current site allowed up to 45 feet).
Stephanie Cook, head of U.S. operations for Zipline, presented details of the company’s platform‑2 drone‑delivery system and said Zipline has completed more than 1.2 million commercial deliveries globally. Cook described the system as a two‑part architecture — a larger aircraft (“Zip”) that remains around 300 feet above ground while a smaller suspended vehicle (“Joy” or “droid”) is lowered to the delivery point on a tether — and said initial operations would be limited to about a two‑mile radius from the Walmart location, with payloads up to 8 pounds.
Cook addressed common questions about noise, safety and privacy, stating that Zipline’s sound profile at operational altitude is roughly in the 53–64 decibel range (comparable to car traffic at 300 feet), that the company employs redundant safety systems and automated pre‑flight checks, and that imagery is blurred and not used to identify individuals.
No members of the public spoke on the rezoning during the public‑hearing period. A motion to close the hearing and approve the rezoning as recommended by staff passed; the commission forwarded the recommendation to City Council for final action on March 4, 2025.
