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Planning commission recommends denial without prejudice of outside‑storage amendment, citing parking and screening shortfalls
Summary
After staff and commissioners found proposed screening and parking inadequate, the commission voted 7–0 to recommend denial without prejudice of a request to amend PD‑46 to permit outside storage at 2260 E. IH 30; staff warned that denial would require the applicant to end outside storage activity if council concurs.
The Rockwall Planning & Zoning Commission on April 28 voted 7–0 to recommend denial without prejudice of a plan to amend Plan Development District 46 to permit outside storage at 2260 E. IH 30.
Staff reported the applicant had operated outside storage without full site plan approval in the past and that the most recent submittal showed outside storage encroaching on fire lanes and a sanitary sewer easement and leaving only two on‑site parking spaces (both handicap). The Unified Development Code requires masonry screening or a defined alternative; staff said the applicant’s new landscape plan substituted screening shrubs and did not meet code standards.
Applicant Amy Wallace said the outside storage was intermittent for a construction warehouse and that only one or two employees work on site; she told the commission she was willing to explore alternative storage arrangements or adjust site layout. Henry (staff) noted that approval of zoning alone would not resolve remaining parking and easement conflicts and that the applicant would still require variances or a revised site plan.
Commissioner Brock moved to recommend denial without prejudice; Commissioner Bentley seconded. The motion carried 7–0. Staff advised the applicant the denial recommendation means outside storage activity would have to cease if city council adopts the same action.
What’s next: The applicant may withdraw, revise and resubmit with compensatory screening measures and a site plan that addresses parking and easement conflicts, or pursue a variance process if appropriate.
