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Commission approves SCUP amendment to allow 65‑foot cold‑storage warehouse in Port Crossing
Summary
Commissioners approved SCUP 20250031 to permit a maximum 65‑foot building height and enhanced architectural standards for a proposed 142,000‑sq‑ft cold‑storage facility in Port Crossing; the applicant emphasized food‑handling use, job creation, and environmental refrigerant choices.
La Porte’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved an amendment to the Port Crossing SCUP that allows a maximum building height of 65 feet for a portion of Reserve L and imposes enhanced architectural standards along State Highway 146.
Staff described the parcel’s long history in the Port Crossing business park and told commissioners that the proposal was consistent with the city’s business‑industrial future land‑use designation. The amendment would replace a storefront‑window requirement along SH‑146 with enhanced articulation and materials standards; staff recommended approval with conditions to ensure compatibility and screening.
Applicant John Gallagher described the project as a 142,000‑square‑foot cold‑storage warehouse oriented away from SH‑146 with controlled driveways on West M Street. "It's a cold storage warehouse. We store frozen food... There's no hazardous material. There's no chemicals. There's no noise," Gallagher said, adding the operation would offer "high paying jobs" he estimated in the "$24 to $32 an hour" range.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about building height, fire and emergency access, driveway locations and landscaping to screen truck activity. A member of the public, Kalpesh Patel, said he supported the project because of anticipated tax revenues and emergency storage usefulness. After discussion, the commission moved, seconded and approved the SCUP amendment by voice vote.
