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Taylor planning commission recommends drive‑through at former Applebee's site
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Summary
The Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6–0 to recommend approval of a special use permit to allow drive‑through services at the vacant Applebee's site at 103 NW Carlos G. Parker Boulevard, with staff noting six deviations from P‑5 standards and the applicant saying the parcel contains stormwater retention and limited access points.
The Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a special use permit to allow drive‑through services at the vacant Applebee's site at 103 Northwest Carlos G. Parker Boulevard.
Staff presented the application for PZ2026‑2681 and said the site (about 1.274 acres, Williamson Central Appraisal District parcel R454458) would be redeveloped and that the applicant requested six deviations from the P‑5 urban center development standards to accommodate a restaurant with a drive‑through. "The applicant is requesting a deviation ... to allow no maximum building setback," staff said, and also noted a requested reduction in required façade build‑out to roughly 20% (where 80% is normally required), an edge yard building disposition not permitted in P‑5, parking in the first and second layers in addition to the third layer, extended drive‑through circulation into the first and second layers, and a modest increase in parking to 45 spaces where a maximum of 41 is permitted.
Staff told the commission the request is consistent with the future land‑use map (market center regional) and that the property is located in an infill growth sector. Staff recommended approval, saying the proposed redevelopment could be tied into existing infrastructure and that the drive‑through configuration is intended to prevent overflow into neighboring retail uses.
Applicant representative Aparna Janaja, who identified herself for the record, said the parcel includes a stormwater retention area and that the site was the only available parcel the applicant could secure. "That portion is water retention and this was the only site that we could get at this point," Janaja said, describing attempts to fit the building and drive‑through into the existing Walmart retail center layout and explaining that the site would be accessed through the Walmart parking area rather than directly from Carlos G. Parker or North Main.
Commission discussion focused on circulation, stacking, and how the proposed deviations would affect operations within the retail center. Staff noted 10 notices were mailed to adjacent property owners within 200 feet and that no written responses in opposition or in support were received.
A motion to recommend approval was recorded by the chair as made by Commissioner Newman and seconded by Commissioner Avila Storrsberg. The commission recommended approval of PZ2026‑2681 by a 6–0 vote.
The recommendation now moves forward to the City Council for final action; the commission packet indicated subsequent site development and building permit phases would follow the approved special use permit.
