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Residents oppose proposed Lipsey convenience store and gas station as council weighs special-use permit
Summary
Residents near 2806 S. FM 51 urged council to deny a proposed convenience store with gasoline sales, citing traffic, safety and light/noise concerns; staff said plans now meet parking requirements and the applicant said TxDOT approved access. The request received a first reading; a supermajority will be required on second reading because of nearby responses.
The City of Decatur held a first reading of a special‑use permit for a proposed convenience store with gasoline sales at 2806 South FM 51, hearing strong opposition from nearby residents and a presentation from the project engineer.
Lisa Hannon, Planning Director, told the council staff had found the site land‑use consistent with the 2050 comprehensive plan and that new plans removed one gas pump island so the proposal now meets parking requirements. She said buffer and screening — including a six‑foot cedar fence and dwarf holly shrubs — were proposed to reduce impacts on adjacent residences and that three of nine notified property owners within 200 feet responded, a level that will require a supermajority vote at second reading.
Two residents who live near the corner — Glenn Spain (2807 Lipsey) and Brian Stacy (2804 South Lipsey Street) — spoke in opposition during the public hearing. Spain said neighbors circulated a petition and expressed “traffic safety concerns” at the busy Highway 51 intersection, adding worries about noise and light pollution from a 24‑hour operation. “It’d certainly be detrimental to the quality of life that we’ve experienced in the neighborhood,” he said. Stacy said he feared cut‑through traffic into residential streets and trucks and trailers parking in easements near the site.
The applicant’s engineer, Praveen Casey, said the team worked with TxDOT on traffic counts, turn radii and access control and that TxDOT had approved access after the required studies. “TxDOT approved the access,” Casey said, and he offered to provide a photometric plan and to meet the city’s lighting and buffering requirements.
This was a first reading; staff and Planning & Zoning recommended approval 5–0 with Commissioner Baruvi absent. Because the number of nearby responses triggers the requirement, the council will need a supermajority to approve the SUP at the second reading. No final vote was taken at the meeting.
Council members asked staff and the applicant clarifying questions about zoning (the site is C‑1 restricted business), prior approvals in 2023 and parking/curb measures proposed to prevent overflow into neighboring lots. The council did not take final action; additional materials and the second reading will be scheduled later.
The public record for this item remains the staff report and the applicant’s submitted plans; neighbors asked the council to consider event traffic at the adjacent fairgrounds when evaluating safety and circulation.
