Planning commission narrowly approves 3-space parking variance for proposed North Goliad medical office

The Rockwall Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday voted 4–3 to grant a three-space parking variance that will let a converted house at 1203 North Goliad open as a medical office.

Staff told the commission the building is 2,140 square feet and currently has eight parking spaces; the city's medical-office standard requires 11 spaces (1 per 200 square feet). Planner Ryan said the applicant submitted plans showing a future arrangement that would add 16 to 18 shared spaces with an adjacent property, but staff cannot condition or legally guarantee those shared spaces on a variance.

Matthew Johnson, the property owner, told commissioners he intends to expand parking behind the building and that he would "limit the staff" and stagger patient appointments to reduce interim congestion. "The plan is to definitely not just meet those, but exceed it by a good fair amount," Johnson said.

Opponents on the commission urged caution. "I don't like handing out variances on parking, especially in Rockwall," Commissioner Hagerman said, warning that an owner could sell the property after the variance is granted. The commission also heard that a denial would likely require the applicant to complete an amended site plan and engineering reviews that could delay a certificate of occupancy by roughly six to eight months, a timeline Ryan summarized for the board.

Commissioners who backed the variance said the shortfall was unlikely to have noticeable impacts in the block and that the applicant appeared to be actively pursuing a permanent solution. The motion passed, 4–3.

Next steps: the applicant may begin the process to secure a certificate of occupancy while pursuing the planned parking expansion, subject to standard permitting and engineering reviews.