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Council advances SUP for proposed auto service on RM‑967 after heated public hearing; driveway access to FM‑967 to be restricted pending TxDOT turn‑lane work
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing with residents citing safety and noise concerns, the council advanced on first reading a specific‑use permit for an automobile service garage near Carpenter Hill. Staff recommended restricting direct access from FM‑967 until TxDOT completes a dedicated left‑turn lane; the applicant argued TxDOT conditionally approved the driveway and emphasized job creation.
The Buda City Council moved the SUP for a proposed automobile service garage on RM‑967 (near Carpenter Hill) to first reading on Dec. 4 after a contentious public hearing in which nearby residents urged the council to either reject the project or delay action until traffic and noise questions were resolved.
Staff described the requested use as an 8,710‑square‑foot building with 10 service bays and 50 parking spaces in the Arterial Business (B‑2) zoning district with the rural heritage overlay. Because of the overlay the use requires a Specific Use Permit (SUP). Planning staff noted that TxDOT provided conditional approval for a proposed driveway on FM‑967 and recommended multiple conditions if the SUP proceeds, including restricting access from FM‑967 until TxDOT completes a dedicated left‑turn conversion at the driveway location.
Dozens of neighbors testified during the public hearing, expressing concerns about existing crash history at the Dodgen Trail/967 area, morning congestion that forces school traffic through local side streets, the proximity of residential backyards and schools to the proposed bays, and the adequacy of neighborhood notice. Several residents asked council to deny the driveway onto 967 or at least defer action so county and TxDOT mitigation could be better specified.
The applicant and supporters said the facility would create 12–14 local jobs and argued that the anticipated traffic from the auto shop (the applicant estimated about 25 daily trips and 15 peak‑hour trips) is a small fraction of TxDOT’s daily counts on FM‑967; the applicant said TxDOT has a work order ready to stripe a dedicated left‑turn lane if the driveway is permitted. The applicant also said internal drive access through Carpenter Hill would remain available and that the proposed use meets the UDC design and landscaping standards for the overlay.
Councilors spent significant time debating driveway access, alternative circulation through the existing Carpenter Hill frontage, traffic striping/turn‑lane timing and potential conditional approvals to allow the business to operate without immediate FM‑967 access. After deliberation, council voted to advance the SUP on first reading with staff recommendations to continue working with TxDOT on a dedicated left‑turn lane and to restrict FM‑967 access until mitigation is in place.
Next steps: the SUP will return to council for second reading/final action at a later meeting. Any changes to driveway access or additional conditions will be reflected in the final ordinance and associated site plan; council indicated it expects staff, the applicant and TxDOT to continue coordinating on safe ingress/egress solutions.
