Liberty Hill council approves Panda Express site plan, OKs two plats and budget changes; disapproves two replats

The Liberty Hill City Council on Tuesday approved a site plan and utility service for a proposed Panda Express restaurant at 12991 State Highway 29 and a minor plat for Whittlesley Landscape Supplies, adopted two budget amendments and disapproved two replat requests amid packet inconsistencies and requests for additional public review.

Staff member Mackenzie Hicks presented the Panda Express proposal — a roughly 2,400-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through, new sidewalks and ties to an existing 8-inch water main in the Heritage Ridge subdivision. Michelle C., an architect with Heights Venture Architects representing the applicant, told the council Panda Express projects roughly $3,000,000 in gross annual sales for the location and estimated the store would create about 38 jobs with pay “between $15 to $20 per hour.”

Diane Williams, a councilmember, asked staff to correct the ordinance packet to include the applicant’s Exhibit A and to ensure the utility-evaluation form reflects the site’s status in the city’s preferred development area. After those corrections were added as conditions, Williams moved to approve ordinance 2025-O-047, the motion was seconded, and the council voted 5-0 to approve the site plan and authorize city water and wastewater service.

The council also approved a…