Burleson council rezones 601 Southwest Alsbury to planned development, bars fuel sales

The Burleson City Council voted unanimously March 24 to rezone the property at 601 Southwest Alsbury from SF-7 (single-family) to a planned development (PD) with a base zoning of general retail, explicitly excluding automotive fuel sales and convenience stores with fuel.

The change came after a staff presentation from Tony McElwain, Burleson’s development services director, who told the council the request was consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan but that nearby residents had raised screening, trash, noise and potential drainage concerns. “Staff is in support of the general retail selling request,” McElwain said, and noted Planning & Zoning had recommended approval.

Council members debated the long-term uses that general retail zoning could allow and whether to preclude gas stations. Councilmember Adam moved to rezone the site as a PD with the stated exceptions; when asked about drafting, city attorney staff said they would redraft the ordinance as a PD that permits the GR uses "save and except auto fuel sales and convenience stores" while retaining GR performance standards. Adam said the PD approach would allow the council to keep the integrity of the area while still permitting appropriate retail uses.

Past public-notice work included notifying property owners within 300 feet and posting signs; staff reported four adjacent speakers at Planning & Zoning, three of whom opposed the original request. The council added that any applicant-caused PD fees would be waived if the city established the PD on its own motion.

The motion carried unanimously; staff will prepare the ordinance language reflecting the council’s PD direction and return it for enactment as directed.

The council handled the matter on first and final reading and recorded the vote as unanimous; the PD ordinance will reflect the performance standards of the existing general retail district except for the excluded uses.