Former Bennigan—ootprint eyed for restaurant-with-bar; parking variances remain contentious

Gina Costanza Grant, a planner with the City of Irving, presented a paired set of cases for 660 Walnut Ridge Drive on Oct. 6. The owner seeks to reallocate PUD-2 acreage to permit an SP-1 RAB (a detailed site plan for a restaurant with on-premises alcohol sales). Grant noted the parcel previously held RAB zoning for a Bennigan's restaurant; the site was later reverted to Community Commercial in 2019. The new proposal would reconstruct a larger building and return the zoning to an RAB use.

Staff recommended approval of the RAB site plan but recommended denial of associated parking variances. The applicant initially requested a seating-to-parking ratio of 1 space per 3 seats but later indicated they would consider the prior restaurant—ase ratio of 1 space per 2.85 seats as a compromise. Grant said the site would be capped at 50 parking spaces, which corresponds to a capacity tied to seating. Commissioners asked about a letter of opposition from an adjacent hotel that claimed shared parking; staff said no shared-parking agreement was found and that any shared parking would have to be formalized in writing.

Commissioners discussed existing 9-by-16 spaces on the site (some possibly approved historically as compact) and whether restriping to current 9-by-18 standards would encroach on a fire lane or utility easement. Staff explained the fire lane dimensions and where expansion could be difficult without additional paving or easement work. No formal decision was made; staff and the applicant will clarify compact-space status and any potential shared-parking agreements before a future hearing.