Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Allen planning commission backs PD-5 amendment to allow religious use at former daycare site
Summary
The City of Allen Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to Planned Development No. 5 to permit a church, temple, rectory or similar religious facility at 103 North Fountain Gate Drive (La Petite Academy Allen). Staff said parking and agency reviews will be checked at certificate-of-occupancy time; the matter goes to city council on Jan. 13, 2026.
The City of Allen Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 16 recommended that City Council approve an amendment to Planned Development No. 5 to allow a religious use at 103 North Fountain Gate Drive, the site currently occupied by La Petite Academy Allen.
Staff presenter Mr. Beckliff told commissioners the request is a land-use change only: "There is not gonna be any change in structure. There is no site plan associated with this. It's merely land use based, and it is for a church, temple, rectory, or other religious, facility to be allowed at the property." He said a typo in the posted ordinance omitted the specific use and that language will be corrected before the item goes to council.
Mr. Beckliff provided a preliminary parking analysis and cited the Allen Land Development Code (ALDC). He summarized the applicant's materials: about 42 seats and roughly 300 square feet of education space. "So, the way it's shown now, they would need 15 spaces to satisfy that requirement which they do since the lot itself has 16 spaces," he said, adding that final verification will occur at the certificate-of-occupancy (CO) review when staff will also vet traffic, building, fire and health issues.
Staff recommended approval and noted one letter of opposition had been submitted; Mr. Beckliff said the letter was addressed to 102 North Fountain Gate (across the street) rather than the subject property at 103 North Fountain Gate, and that he had contacted the author who declined to withdraw the letter. Commissioners read the letter's concerns—loss of green space, effects on wildlife and pets—and Mr. Beckliff replied that the applicant is not proposing changes to the structure or site and that the letter referred to the other parcel.
Commissioner Katheria moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Galati seconded. The chair called the vote and declared the motion carried, noting that the record shows three commissioners (identified in the transcript as speakers 5, 4 and 1) voted against the recommendation. The item is scheduled for City Council consideration on Jan. 13, 2026.
Molly George filed a blue card indicating support but did not speak; a second blue card from Charlie Price was noted but the record does not indicate whether he spoke. No public testimony was offered at the hearing.
The Commission's recommendation is advisory; final approval, site-plan review and issuance of a certificate of occupancy will be completed as required by city departments prior to any change of use.
