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Planning and Zoning Commission recommends H‑E‑B site plan with tree‑mitigation conditions
Summary
Commissioners recommended approval of an H‑E‑B site plan for the SW corner of E FM 544 and McCreary Road, but required a staff‑acceptable tree mitigation plan and explicitly asked that off‑site planting be considered to address a caliper‑inch deficit; the recommendation goes to city council with a revised tree study expected next week.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a site plan and supporting materials for an H‑E‑B store at the southwest corner of East FM 544 and McCreary Road, subject to submission of a tree mitigation plan that city staff finds acceptable and language that the applicant consider planting trees off‑site to meet mitigation needs.
City staff described the application from Westwood on behalf of H‑E‑B as generally conforming to a concept plan adopted in 2023 and reviewed building massing, a proposed traffic signal (which requires TxDOT approval), landscape plans and tree mitigation options. "The action tonight is approving the overall site plan and supporting, development plans with a with a variance to the tree preservation ordinance," staff said when asked to clarify the Commission's role in recommending both plan approval and a variance.
Commissioners spent much of the discussion pressing for clearer mitigation calculations and a revised tree study. Staff said a revised tree survey was pending and could be available "as soon as Monday," allowing staff to recalculate preserved caliper inches and determine how much mitigation would remain. Staff noted that tree‑preservation credits and the final count of preserved large trees will materially affect the mitigation requirement.
Tom Rose, an engineer representing H‑E‑B, told the commission the project is time‑sensitive for store staffing and openings and apologized for relying on an outdated tree survey: "I apologize that we don't have a tree survey that's accurate. We're fixing that." He said H‑E‑B planned to revise its survey promptly and work with staff on mitigation and design details. Rose also emphasized the company's concern about tree placement near front entrances and the store's parking needs.
A commissioner moved to approve the site plan "subject to review summary number 3 dated 09/19/2024 and subject to submittal of a tree mitigation plan acceptable to city staff" and to include off‑site planting to meet mitigation needs; the motion was seconded and the Commission answered "Aye" with no recorded opposition. The Commission's recommendation and the revised tree study will be forwarded to city council for final action.
The commission and staff noted unresolved procedural limits: the city currently has no formal fee‑in‑lieu mechanism for tree mitigation under the existing ordinances, so options such as off‑site planting or a negotiated agreement will require further legal and staff review before council considers a final variance or mitigation agreement.
