Rowlett council approves zoning amendment for Caliber Collision site on Main Street over resident environmental concerns

The Rowlett City Council on April 7 approved an amendment to the planned development zoning for properties at 2801 Main Street and 2700 Lake View Parkway that allows construction of a 16,000-square-foot Caliber Collision repair facility with an outdoor storage area.

The decision, made by a 5–2 vote, came after weeks of neighborhood concern about potential fluid runoff to Lake Ray Hubbard, the loss of right-of-way trees and whether outdoor vehicle storage could be adequately contained. Senior planner Liliana Morihorn told the council the applicant revised the site plan to relocate the sidewalk into the public right-of-way and replace trees there to meet tree and buffer standards.

Developer representative David Norris said the proposal emphasizes interior repair work and screening. “Caliber is a national chain. It’s a very professional, clean operation,” he told the council, adding the company has spill-prevention and emergency-response plans and uses sand‑oil separators to route fluids into the municipal sanitary sewer rather than storm drains.

Several residents pressed the council on stormwater safeguards. Mark Gurallet said the Lakeview/Main Street corridor is the city’s primary thoroughfare and urged monthly inspections and strong enforcement of environmental protections. Dan Apt, who spoke during citizens input, cautioned that tow and wrecker traffic can increase leakage and runoff risk and opposed placing another body shop near sensitive waterways.

Council members asked detailed questions about containment. Caliber regional manager Weston McAllister said unexpectedly large leaks on outdoor storage are rare and described internal cleanup procedures and hazardous-waste pickup arrangements: “When we store vehicles outside, we generally store them so they can still be driven… In the event that they do [leak], we would clean that up responsibly with oil absorbent and dispose it properly.” Engineering witnesses noted that curb inlets and on‑site storm infrastructure would collect runoff and that plumbing engineers will size separators at permit review.

Council members also discussed a site-specific buffer reduction and a proposed extension of the time vehicles can remain in outdoor storage from seven to 30 days; the ordinance adopted reflects the 30-day limit and landscaping changes the applicant proposed.

After debate over the sufficiency of the applicant’s mitigations, the council approved the ordinance amendment 5–2, with Council members Reeves and Gibbs voting in opposition. The council record shows the approval includes the revised sidewalk and right-of-way tree plan and the 30-day outdoor storage provision.

The council’s action now allows the applicant to move forward with final plats and building-permit reviews, where engineering calculations for separators and other stormwater controls must be demonstrated.