Planning commission recommends approval for CTDI site changes at 405 Westport Parkway

The Haslet Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended Dec. 16 that the City Council approve an amended site and landscape plan for 405 Westport Parkway, a site the applicant said will be occupied by CTDI as a testing, repair and logistics center.

CTDI representatives described three main amendments: installing a horizontal CO2 tank on the south side of the building (screened by a 3-foot retaining wall, landscaping berm and decorative iron fence), adding a generator pad on the east side, and converting north-side truck parking to employee automobile parking with required landscape islands and a photometric lighting plan.

Josh Hawkins, project manager with Gordon Highlander (contracted by CTDI), said the tank was placed horizontally to reduce visual impact and that landscaping is designed so the tank top is not visible from the road. Owner Keith Montone said the CO2 tank will be used to create dry ice for the company’s cleaning process: "What that CO2 tank is gonna do is, create dry ice," Montone said.

Commissioners and staff raised questions about tank pressure, code standoffs and security; applicants acknowledged the CO2 is stored as a liquid under pressure and described a monitored, locked gate for access and that filling the tank will be an event (anticipated about once a month) requiring additional safety precautions during fills. The applicants and staff discussed approximate tank dimensions (about 9 by 30 feet), a 3-foot retaining wall, and a berm bringing the screened top to roughly 14 feet above finished paving; the applicant provided these site details during the presentation.

Traffic impacts drew sustained attention: staff noted the project’s original traffic impact analysis (TIA) had estimated about 50 vehicle trips for the building’s prior use, while CTDI said it expects to operate 24/7 on three shifts and estimated roughly 600–700 employees at the Haslet location when fully occupied. Staff asked the applicant to review or update the TIA and to consider staggering shifts to reduce peak-hour impacts on Westport Parkway.

Chair closed the public hearing and a commissioner moved to recommend that council approve the amended site and landscape plan; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action; staff will follow up on traffic-analysis requirements and any needed conditions prior to council consideration.