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Commission grants meritorious exception for storefront roll-up doors at 4950 Benbrook Boulevard
Summary
Benbrook’s planning commission approved a meritorious exception allowing glass roll-up doors for an automotive gallery at 4950 Benbrook Boulevard, with a stipulation that the doors be used only for garage ingress/egress and not for loading or service uses unless future screening is provided.
On Feb. 13, 2025, the Benbrook Planning and Zoning Commission approved meritorious exception ME-25-01 to allow overhead glass roll-up doors at 4950 Benbrook Boulevard, intended for a proposed automotive gallery. Commissioner Ramsey moved to approve the meritorious exception with a staff-recommended stipulation; Commissioner Farrar seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Applicant Ryan Pafford said he and partner Justin Keller propose converting a long-vacant, circa-1967 commercial building into a curated automotive gallery that would occasionally use glass roll-up doors to bring in high-end vehicles. Pafford told the commission the doors would be used infrequently and, he argued, would be more consistent with a storefront appearance than an eight-foot masonry screening wall called for by the ordinance when overhead service doors face public streets.
City staff reviewed the application and told the commission staff does not object to a meritorious exception in this case but recommended a stipulation to prevent future changes of use from reverting the site to an unscreened service bay. Staff’s recommended condition, included in the motion the commission approved, states in part that “the overhead door will serve only as a garage egress of vehicles. Any other uses described in [section 17.84.100 of the zoning ordinance] must comply with all screening requirements listed in said section.” Staff said that if the property’s use changes in the future, a new certificate of occupancy and review would be required and the screening requirements in the cited section would apply.
No public comments were offered on the item. The commission approved ME-25-01 with the staff-recommended stipulation.
Actions taken: Approved ME-25-01 granting a meritorious exception to the overhead-door screening requirement at 4950 Benbrook Boulevard, subject to the stipulation that the overhead door serve only as garage ingress/egress; other service uses must meet section 17.84.100 screening requirements. Motion to approve: Commissioner Ramsey; second: Commissioner Farrar; outcome: approved (unanimous).
