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Planning commission recommends ordinance to allow drone delivery hubs, with staff to refine definitions and hours
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend text amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to authorize drone delivery hubs and staging areas (proposed for the Walmart at 3060 Justin Road) subject to staff and city‑attorney refinements to definitions and operating‑hour language.
The Planning & Zoning Commission opened a public hearing and voted to recommend text amendments to the City of Highland Village Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance that would authorize drone delivery hubs and drone staging areas as accessory uses to food, grocery, retail and warehouse facilities. Chair opened the hearing and staff described an application from Kimley‑Horn on behalf of Wing proposing operations at the Walmart located at 3060 Justin Road.
Autumn Ammon, Community Development Coordinator, told the commission the ordinance would add definitions and supplemental development standards and permit administrative approvals for applications that meet those standards, with deviations requiring a conditional use permit. "So basically, in general, the proposed ordinance is designed to allow for the administrative approval of applications pending the application complies with the development standards set forth in the ordinance," Ammon said.
Under the draft, staging areas would generally be accessory to a primary use and be limited in size (5,000 sq ft unless within/above a primary building). The ordinance proposes a 250‑foot setback from residential areas and specifies allowable fencing, permanent electrical power (no generators), limits on signage and operating hours (proposed 7:00 AM–7:30 PM Central) while noting that once airborne the FAA regulates the aircraft.
Commissioners raised concerns about several definitions and operating‑hour language; a motion to recommend approval carried with the condition that city attorney and staff combine and clarify overlapping definitions, define "operating hours," and align those standards with FAA guidance. Commissioner (speaker2) moved the conditional recommendation and the motion was seconded by the Chair; the Chair later declared the motion passed with the stated conditions.
Next steps: staff and the city attorney will revise the ordinance language per the conditions, and the item will return to Planning & Zoning (and, as required, to City Council) for further action or final adoption.
