Anna Planning and Zoning Commission approves multiple plats, rezonings and permits

Anna — The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Anna on Feb. 3, 2025, voted unanimously to approve a slate of development items including a 1,127.6-acre annexation and plan-development zoning for the Shirley Farms/TELUS proposal, preliminary plats for multiple phases, a rezoning and preliminary site plan for a large self-storage project, and a specific-use permit and site plan for an auto-repair business and associated shopping-center addition.

The actions, taken at the city council chambers with a quorum present, reflect the commission’s clearance of land-use steps that developers must complete before building. The approvals included conditions in some cases (site-plan and facade requirements, dedication of right-of-way, and waivers tied to subdivision access standards).

Why it matters: The TELUS Shirley Farms annexation and zoning covers more than 1,100 acres and establishes a plan-development framework that could accommodate thousands of residential units and mixed uses; the city also cleared multiple smaller commercial and residential plats that shape near-term construction and road dedications.

Shirley Farms annexation and phase 1 plat

The commission approved an ordinance and companion preliminary plat to annex and zone about 1,127.6 acres east and west of East Rosemont Parkway to a plan development for TELUS Texas LLC. According to staff, the plan-development zoning creates five internal zones with different permitted uses. Zone 1 could contain up to 3,000 single-family dwelling units; Zone 2 allows a flexible mix (staff cited a maximum of 160 single-family units or 200 multifamily units and said the developer may convert between single-family and multifamily under the development agreement). Zones 4a–c allow a mix of multifamily, commercial, light industrial and agricultural uses; Zone 5 is planned as a working farm with related commercial uses. The commission then approved the Phase 1 preliminary plat for Shirley Farms, covering 423 lots of varying residential sizes.

Staff present described the annexation as consistent with the city’s future land-use plan and said the development agreement allows conversions between housing types. The annexation and plat approvals were moved, seconded and passed unanimously.

Wildflower Meadows preliminary plat (Greater Crystal Park)

The commission approved a preliminary plat for Wildflower Meadows, part of the Greater Crystal Park mixed-use development, contingent on granting two waivers. The applicant, Wildflower Anna LLC, requested a waiver related to “muse” lots (lots that face a common-area HOA lot rather than a public street) and a waiver reducing required subdivision access points. Staff noted the city’s rule requires one access point per 50 dwelling units; the project’s 252 dwelling units would normally require six access points. The developer’s plan showed five entrances (one a divided double entrance), and the commission approved the plat subject to the waivers and the plan as shown.

Stephanie Scott Sims, director of development services, told commissioners: "We require, 1 access point for every 50 lots." Staff also noted an earlier engineering letter (dated Jan. 16, 2025) had referenced a prior iteration of the project asking for only three entrances, but the plan under consideration that night reflected five.

Public Storage rezoning and preliminary site plan

Area Anna LLC’s request to rezone a roughly 4.9-acre remainder tract on the east side of Buddy Hayes Boulevard for a self-storage facility — described in staff materials as a 1,050-unit facility with a three-story main building and single-story drive-up roll-up units — was approved by ordinance. Staff said the property had a communications tower on a remainder parcel that was not part of the application. The developer will be required to construct two lanes of Buddy Hayes and dedicate right-of-way as part of site development. The commission also approved the companion preliminary site plan, conditioned on approval of the zoning case.

Greenlight Studio specific-use permit and Victoria Falls Center site plan

The commission approved a specific-use permit (zoning action) allowing a light auto-repair use on about 0.8 acre on West White Street (owner: Greenlight Studio LLC). Approval was conditioned on development according to the preliminary site plan, the facade plan, and the specific-use standards in section 9.04.031.d of the city zoning ordinance. Staff reported one written response in opposition; no public speakers appeared at the hearing. The commission also approved a preliminary site plan for an addition to Victoria Falls Center (Block A, Lot 2), a companion item contingent on the auto-repair permit.

Other actions and consent items

Commissioners approved consent items numbered 6 through 9 by unanimous vote. No substantive public-comment items were raised on the agenda. The director’s report earlier in the meeting included calendar items related to the comprehensive-plan update (an open house and a public survey window), and an introduction of a new development-services support specialist.

Votes and procedure

All formal actions taken that evening passed by unanimous votes from the commissioners present. Motions and seconds are recorded in the official minutes; commissioners who voted "yes" in the roll calls included Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Herman, Commissioner Longmire, Commissioner Volmer and the presiding commissioner on the dais.

What’s next

Several approvals — particularly the TELUS plan development and the Wildflower Meadows waivers — set the framework for future site plans, plats and infrastructure work that developers must bring back to the city for final approvals and construction permits. The commission noted some items (for example, the alignment of Taylor Boulevard) remain to be finalized as design and adjacent projects move forward.