Planning commission recommends PD zoning for Collier site to allow Calmet metal-processing facility

The Rockwall City Planning and Zoning Commission on March 10 recommended approval of a planned development zoning for a parcel along Justin Road that the applicant says will accommodate a sheet-metal processing facility and potential corporate headquarters for a family‑owned business. The commission voted 4–1 to forward the plan to city council.

Planner Henry (staff) told commissioners the PD approach responds to a prior city council direction to avoid broad light‑industrial zoning by spelling out allowable uses and design controls in three subdistricts: A (light industrial for the sheet‑metal plant), B (office/headquarters and light industrial) and C (limited commercial to the south). Henry said staff mailed 31 notices and received two letters of opposition.

Applicant Clay Collier and Matt Wavering of the Rockwall Economic Development Corporation described the project as a long‑running effort to site a sheet‑metal processing building that internalizes raw‑material unloading (via a rail spur that enters the building) and limits outside activity to minimize visibility and noise. “It’s a highly automated process,” Wavering said, adding the design locates the rail spur and loading inside the structure to avoid truck stacking at the curb.

Neighbor Patty Griffin, who lives adjacent to the tract, urged commissioners to “consider whether this zoning change is appropriate and compatible for the land already in existence,” citing concerns about potential truck traffic, rail activity, light and noise and the long‑term possibility of industrial expansion. Griffin asked the commission to honor the comprehensive‑plan protections that guided earlier annexations.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on tree buffers, the location of processing relative to existing homes and timing for future subdistrict developments. Wavering said the developer will retain existing trees except for limited clearing required for the rail spur and that landscape screening will be required in the PD. Commissioner Roth noted the PD is more restrictive than the existing underlying zoning because it removes several uses from the light‑industrial baseline.

The commission’s recommendation requires a city‑council vote; staff noted the PD will return with site plans and, in places where the applicant did not show final designs (subdistricts B and C), those areas must come back through the public review process.

The case will next be scheduled before the Rockwall City Council for final action.