The Garland Plan Commission on Oct. 27 postponed consideration of a Planned Development amendment and a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow a warehouse/office/showroom use at 2801 Beltline until its Nov. 10 meeting, after commissioners said they wanted the applicant present to answer operational and access questions.

Planning staff described the request as a multi‑part application: amend PD‑05‑36 so that the planned development’s base zoning aligns with current Community Retail standards, add warehouse‑office‑showroom as an SUP‑allowed use within the PD, and approve an SUP for a proposed warehouse/office/showroom use at the existing building. Staff said the building is an existing, 18,000‑square‑foot, one‑story structure on a 1.45‑acre parcel with 39 on‑site parking spaces; the applicant proposes to use the existing footprint with no new construction.

The staff presentation noted the applicant’s proposed definition would make the use more office/showroom‑oriented than a typical GDC warehouse definition (office and showroom primary, warehouse incidental) and would prohibit manufacturing. Staff recommended approval and suggested a 10‑year SUP term to allow future review if circumstances in the area change.

A nearby resident and representative of Brighter Horizons Academy, Esam Abdel Kareem, urged the commission to preserve an access easement between the school and the subject property that the speaker said is used for morning drop‑off and dismissal. “There is an easement between our property and the 2801. Previously, when we build our school and, whatever negotiations with next door, there is an easement… it’s for school access in the morning, dismissal,” Abdel Kareem said. He asked that any future tenant be made aware of and honor that easement.

Commissioners asked several operational questions — including whether large trucks would be expected to use the site, how the proposed definition would limit warehouse activity, and whether the existing parking and site configuration could accommodate deliveries. Staff said the proposed showroom‑office orientation would tend to limit intensive truck traffic compared with heavier industrial uses, and that the site’s existing parking and circulation would be enforced at the permit stage.

No applicant representative appeared at the public hearing. Several commissioners said they were uncomfortable moving forward without the applicant available to confirm intended operations and answer questions about loading, deliveries and easement access. Commissioner Abel moved, and Commissioner Dalton seconded, to postpone the item to the commission’s Nov. 10 meeting to give the applicant an opportunity to appear; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the applicant’s narrative indicates the prospective business involves architectural‑hardware showroom activity (examples in the filing include items such as architectural hardware), but commissioners asked for a representative to confirm whether the use would involve regular deliveries by large trucks or primarily small panel‑truck/pickup deliveries.

Staff mailed 41 notices and received three written opposition responses from within the notification area; the notices of opposition did not include detailed comments in the packet. No final decision was made; the item will return to the Plan Commission Nov. 10 with the applicant expected to attend.

Action at a glance: Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to postpone consideration of the PD amendment and SUP for 2801 Beltline to the Nov. 10 Plan Commission meeting (motion by Commissioner Abel, second by Commissioner Dalton).