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Planning commission backs rezoning request to allow First Baptist Church expansion
Summary
The Rockwall Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning roughly 11.155 acres to a planned development district that would consolidate multiple zoning classifications and allow expansion of First Baptist Church and limited retail uses.
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of Z2025-075, a rezoning request that would consolidate several zoning districts into a planned development district to support the future expansion of First Baptist Church and limited retail uses.
Staff planner Henry Ryan summarized the proposal as a consolidation "to rezone the subject property to consolidate the existing zoning into a planned development district," saying the change would provide a more uniform regulatory framework to accommodate a multistory adult-education building and a structured parking garage. Ryan told commissioners the applicant expects to demolish an existing nonconforming strip center and build a parking structure and a four-story adult-education expansion alongside the existing sanctuary.
Kyle Kevin, presenting for First Baptist Church, said the church bought the strip-center property in November and is still negotiating existing tenant leases, so the project has no firm construction start date yet. "We don't have an exact timeline on that," he said, and added that some leases run through 2028.
Vice Chair who led the meeting praised the project's appearance, saying, "Personally, I I think the building looks great," and Commissioner Shane said the renderings showed thoughtfulness about both design and the church's needs.
Staff noted the city mailed 222 notices to owners within 500 feet and received one written opposition and one written support; those pieces were provided in the commission packet. Ryan also explained staff applied downtown parking-garage requirements to the proposal and recommended design mitigations, including screening and building facades to reduce visual impact along South Goliad Street.
The commission moved, seconded and recorded a 5–0 vote to approve the zoning recommendation; the item will be forwarded to City Council for final action.
What happens next: The Planning & Zoning Commission's favorable recommendation goes to City Council, which has final discretion on the zoning change. Staff said additional approvals will be required after rezoning, including site plan and engineering review.
