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Commission approves rezoning of 0.551‑acre East Ennis parcel despite traffic concerns
Summary
The Ennis City Commission approved a rezoning from R10 to Corridor Commercial for a 0.551‑acre tract at East Ennis Avenue and Sonoma Trail after an applicant described TxDOT driveway and widening plans; commissioners noted traffic and signal spacing concerns but took a voice vote to approve.
The Ennis City Commission voted July 1 to approve an ordinance rezoning roughly 0.551 acres at the southeast corner of East Ennis Avenue and Sonoma Trail from single‑family residential (R10) to Corridor Commercial (CC).
Planning staff briefed commissioners that 12 notification letters were mailed within a 200‑foot buffer, four returned approvals and no formal protests. The planning and zoning commission previously considered the application and had a 3‑2‑1 vote; staff advised the abstention was not for conflict of interest and the earlier vote did not produce a clear recommendation.
Staff noted traffic impacts were the primary question raised by commissioners. "You certainly can consider traffic implications of a zoning change," staff said during the hearing.
Applicant representative Matt Maley of Dave Dawson Engineers told the commission the development team submitted applications to TxDOT to serve two new driveways and that TxDOT is requiring a widening of East Ennis Avenue to three lanes with a center turn lane along the frontage. Maley said the widening would begin just south of the QuickTrip and extend east, that TxDOT generally wants about 1,200 feet between signals and that a signal at Sonoma Trail is unlikely given spacing warrants. "If that triggers a TIA, we'll do that to speak to any traffic concerns through preliminary platting," Maley said.
Commissioners questioned whether driveway placement, specific uses and trip generation (for example, an office versus a drive‑through restaurant) would change impacts; staff and the applicant said trip generation and any required Traffic Impact Analysis would be part of the subsequent site‑planning and permitting reviews and coordination with TxDOT would be required for state highway access.
The mayor opened the public hearing and called for speakers; no one came forward. Mayor Pro Tem Isbell moved to approve the item; Commissioner Haney seconded, and the mayor announced the motion carried by voice vote.
The rezoning approval allows the applicant to pursue preliminary platting and development review subject to any TxDOT driveway approvals, required traffic analysis and the city's unified development ordinance and permitting process.
