La Porte council approves SCUP amendment for Port Crossing allowing 65-foot cold-storage warehouse with enhanced landscaping

La Porte City Council on a voice vote approved Ordinance 2026-5033, amending a Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) for Port Crossing that permits a 142,565-square-foot cold-storage warehouse on a 6.94-acre portion of Reserve L. Planning director Ryan Beatlek told the council staff finds the proposed use compatible with the business‑industrial future land‑use designation and noted the amendment sets a 65‑foot maximum building height and updated façade standards along State Highway 146. "Staff does believe that this use is compatible with the surrounding properties," Beatlek said during the hearing.

Developer representatives said the building would be heavily buffered from 146, with truck docks oriented away from the highway and an enhanced entry at the southern frontage. Applicant John Gallagher told council that the facility will use appointment-based port traffic and that daily truck activity would be modest compared with large regional distribution centers: "There's probably gonna be between 14 and 20 reefer containers from the two ports... your average day is probably gonna be 40 trucks over 12 hours," Gallagher said, and added the company will install large screening trees and an approved landscape plan before receiving permits. The council added conditions requiring enhanced landscape screening developed with the Keep La Porte Beautiful committee, site plan and landscape approval prior to permits, and engineering of intersection radii at M Street and the SH‑146 feeder where appropriate. The motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. McLaren, and carried by voice vote; council instructed staff to work with TxDOT as needed on right‑of‑way issues.