Commission approves impervious‑cover waiver for Driftwood Diesel at 1185 FM 1626

The planning and zoning commission voted to approve a staff‑recommended waiver allowing up to 23% impervious cover at the Driftwood Diesel property, located at 1185 FM 1626 in Buda's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Senior Project Engineer Blair Mirsky told the commission the site was originally permitted in 2017 but staff did not process an impervious‑cover waiver at that time. Mirsky said the parcel currently measures about 22.7% impervious surface, would be reduced slightly under the proposal and that staff recommended matching existing conditions by raising the UDC limit from 15% to 23%, subject to final site‑plan approval and compliance with other code requirements. "Staff recommends approval of increasing the impervious cover to 15% and allowing the 23% impervious cover to match existing site conditions, subject to approval of the final site plan, just ensuring that they're meeting all other code aspects," Mirsky said.

Commissioners asked whether the business—an auto service shop—handles diesel or uses underground tanks; Mirsky said the site uses best‑management practices proposed in the site plan (including a grassy swale) and that TCEQ accepted a WPAP amendment for the site in April. Commissioner Ladner said he believed the location behaves like a contributing zone rather than a recharge zone based on local geology and voiced support for the waiver.

Commissioner Pruitt made the motion to approve the staff recommendation; Ladner seconded and the motion passed. The approval is conditioned on final site‑plan review by staff and continued adherence to the referenced water‑quality controls.