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Council approves rezoning and special-use permit for Freedom Flex development amid resident concerns
Summary
Council approved rezoning and a special-use permit for the Freedom Flex project — a front commercial flex building and two mini-warehouse buildings — after planning staff and the developer described design and operational limits and residents raised questions about lighting, noise and potential for larger warehouses.
Belton City Council approved a zoning change and a special-use permit to allow the proposed Freedom Flex development at the southwest corner of East 171st Street, 58 Highway and South Prospect Avenue.
Staff said the project covers 5.04 acres and includes a 13,750-square-foot commercial flex building with 10 storefront units and two 25,000-square-foot mini-warehouse buildings behind it. The application requested rezoning of approximately 0.85 acres from C-2 general commercial to M-1 light industrial to match the remainder of the site and a special-use permit to allow self-storage as the most intensive use. Planning commission recommended the rezoning and preliminary development plan 6–2 and recommended the special-use permit by the same margin; staff recommended approval.
Several council members and at least one nearby resident pressed staff and the applicant on potential impacts: whether the front commercial building’s storefronts and landscaping would provide adequate buffering for houses across Prospect Avenue, how lighting and overnight operations would be limited, and whether the site could later host larger logistics warehouses. Planning staff said the preliminary development plan and special-use permit limit the most intensive uses, and any major change would require the developer to return for rezoning and development-plan review.
Applicant Patrick Meismer, who identified himself as the property owner and developer, said the front building will house small businesses such as contractors, service businesses or a fitness studio and that the design will include awnings, wood elements and lowered garage doors to reduce visual impact. Meismer said the storage area would be gated after hours and that site circulation would use a shared access (Simcoe Drive) rather than direct access from Prospect.
Council approved the rezoning and the first reading of the special-use permit after discussion. The planning commission and staff materials in the packet recorded one resident speaking against the project at the planning hearing and a second resident submitting an opposition email; council discussion focused on ensuring landscaping, lighting controls and screening are included in the final development plan.
