Planning commission approves gas station at West Villa Maria Road and John Sharp Parkway

Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit on Jan. 16 to allow a motor fuel retail development at the southwest corner of West Villa Maria Road and John Sharp Parkway.

Staff recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit CU241083949, saying the proposal meets the Innovation Corridor overlay and zoning standards and would provide a retail option for residents, students and motorists. "Staff does recommend approval of the request," Senior Planner Katie Williams said during the hearing.

The approved site plan covers nearly 3.5 acres and shows a roughly 200-foot-by-50-foot building with a fuel canopy, the required number of parking spaces and two access points: a right-in/right-out on John Sharp Parkway and a second access to West Villa Maria Road that connects to the signalized intersection at John Sharp Parkway and West Villa Maria. Williams told commissioners the applicants are showing right-of-way improvements required by TxDOT, including a deceleration lane on John Sharp Parkway.

The proposal includes a landscape plan prepared by a certified landscape architect that places trees to shade a future shared-use path. The applicant’s engineer, Paul Jordan of Centerpole Engineering, said on-site grading and a low-lying area toward the rear of the property limit the ability to save trees along the frontage but that the team plans to "try to keep as many of the trees as possible to the rear of the building." Jordan spoke from 741.89–778.31 in the meeting record.

Commission discussion touched on site depth, conformance with the future land use plan and electric-vehicle charging. Commissioner Cooper said he was pleased to see activity in the corridor: "I couldn't be more excited about seeing something go in," he said during deliberations. Another commissioner raised the need to consider electric recharging in future projects, noting charging infrastructure is becoming more common.

The application was presented as conforming to the Innovation Corridor overlay standards adopted in October 2022. Williams noted exterior walls are required to be 100% masonry under the overlay; the applicant's elevations show brick and other masonry materials for the building and canopy columns.

After the public hearing — during which no members of the public spoke — a commissioner moved to approve the permit and to adopt the written staff report as the commission's findings. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission’s approval ties the site plan and landscape plan to the permit: if the commission accepts the staff report as findings, the approved plans become required components of what must be built, staff said. Building permits and any off-site improvements required by TxDOT remain permitting steps after the commission’s land-use decision.

Votes at a glance: Conditional Use Permit CU241083949 — approved (unanimous).