Planning Commission approves rezoning for Weber Road storage facility after neighbors raise safety, maintenance concerns

The Planning Commission voted to approve consent agenda items, including zoning case ZN9180 (Ziba LLC) for property off Weber Road, after hearing neighborhood concerns about past illegal activity, fuel storage and site history.

Neighbors said the property has a troubled past and questioned protections for adjacent homes. "I've had crackheads go to my door in the past... My windshield... was shot out because of illegal activity," said Lisa Oliver, a resident at 3937 Barn Street, who said she formally opposed ZN9180 and asked whether the developer would demolish the existing structure or provide renderings and protections for nearby homes. Garrison Botta of 3938 Pyle said he was not necessarily opposed to a storage use but asked whether a prior special permit could expire and what other uses the permit would authorize.

Staff described operational and safety safeguards and the limits of zoning authority. "Special permits are valid for essentially six months," said Andrew Deems of Development Services, explaining that if the authorized business does not start or discontinues use for six months, the special permit automatically expires and the property reverts to the underlying base zoning. Deems said the packet includes a small rendering and that the existing building would be retrofitted for indoor mini‑storage with outdoor pad spaces for boats and RVs, and that the site would be fenced with time‑controlled gates that lock after 8 p.m.

Commissioners pressed staff on site design and safety standards. Deems said fire‑protection requirements for a commercial storage site include appropriate hydrant spacing and pressures to meet a higher commercial flow — "you have to be able to run those hose lengths according to the IFC" — and that surface materials must create an all‑weather drivable surface (which could be compacted caliche rather than concrete) and meet hydrologic calculations if more than four parking spaces’ worth of material is added. He also said mini‑storage typically does not have an occupancy parking requirement but will include loading/unloading areas and a looped fire lane.

The hearing also addressed site history. A speaker noted the rear site had been used as a landfill in the late 1950s but "it has been remediated," and Deems said staff has a letter from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality removing the site from the TCEQ landfill inventory.

After discussion — including commissioners drawing comparisons to other neighborhood storage projects and stating redevelopment could reduce current problems at the vacant structure — a commissioner moved to approve items A and B as presented by staff; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records the vote as passed by voice but does not list roll‑call tallies or individual yes/no votes.

The director’s report followed, with staff inviting applications for the Development Services technical advisory group; the meeting then adjourned.