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Church SUP withdrawn amid public comments raising political and safety concerns
Summary
The applicant withdrew Z2026-016, a special-use permit request for a house of worship; staff confirmed withdrawal and multiple residents used the open forum to raise concerns about applicants' stated political activity and to recount personal experiences.
The Planning and Zoning Commission moved item Z2026-016 to the top of the May 19 agenda and accepted a written withdrawal from the applicant, Planning staff said, meaning the commission no longer had an active application to consider.
Planning staff told the room: "The case has been withdrawn from consideration of the Planning and Zoning Commission, meaning they no longer have an active application for this case." After staff’s announcement several residents used the open-forum portion to comment on the now-withdrawn request and the broader subject.
Jimmy McClintock (2130 Ridge Road) thanked the commission for allowing public input and suggested future applications receive more thorough vetting; he said he was concerned by public materials he read and that "this has nothing to do with religion. This is pure politics." Another resident, who was called to the podium as "Mister Wacker," asked whether the property owner would be required to restore landscaping removed during prior work and whether tree mitigation had been performed.
Victoria Cuero Martin introduced herself as a disabled veteran and recounted being placed on a watch list after her employment at a Garland school; she said she "comes in peace" but urged enforcement of laws and expressed concern about public rhetoric she had observed elsewhere. Other speakers in the open forum made assertions about national security and the composition of federal watch lists; those remarks were presented as personal opinion and were not verified during the meeting.
The commission closed the public hearing on Z2026-016 after accepting the withdrawal. Staff offered to continue answering individual questions in the hallway. Because the application was withdrawn, no action or vote on the permit occurred.
What’s next: with the written withdrawal accepted, the Planning and Zoning Commission took no further action on Z2026-016; members of the public were encouraged to follow up with staff directly for clarifying questions or to speak when/if a new application is filed.
