Title
Consider public testimony regarding, and an ordinance zoning 2.19 acres of land located northwest of the intersection of Gattis School Road and South Kenney Fort Boulevard to the C-2 (Local Commercial) zoning district. (First Reading)*
Body
Request:
The applicant, Ethan Harwell of Kimley-Horn on behalf of property owner Paul Cates Stable LLC and developer Gayathri Ananthakumar, requests the subject property to be zoned to the C-2 (Local Commercial) zoning district. The subject tract is currently in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. At the time of original zoning, this portion of the ETJ tract will be annexed into the city limits. There is a separate agenda item for the annexation of this 2.19 acre tract.
Comprehensive Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan 2030 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designates the subject tract as Open Space. It will be combined with a larger tract currently designated as Residential and Open Space which is proposed for rezoning as a separate agenda item. Taken together, the combined acreage supports local commercial uses per the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, since local commercial development is allowed in the Residential land use designation. The portion of the tract designated as Open Space is in the floodplain and will remain undeveloped.
C-2 (Local Commercial) District:
The purpose of this zoning district is to establish and preserve areas of low to medium intensity land use primarily devoted to local commercial and office uses serving adjacent and nearby neighborhoods. Permitted uses include places of worship, parks, public facilities, cosmetic services, indoor kennels, fuel sales (with conditions), offices, medical office, restaurants, retail sales and services, and veterinary clinics. Supplementary development standards apply to all land uses in the C-2 district to ensure appropriate scale is maintained with the residential area by limiting the size of any single business. The maximum height of buildings is two stories and lighting is restricted in order to prevent spillover to adjacent properties.
Traffic, Access, and Roads:
This property is impacted by the Gattis School Road Segments 4 & 5 CIP, which consists of widening the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane major divided arterial with raised medians, pedestrian improvements, and traffic signal improvements at Round Rock Ranch Blvd (west) and Round Rock Ranch Blvd (east)/Meister Lane. These improvements will enhance traffic efficiency and safety along this portion of Gattis School Road.
At its December 3, 2025, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the original zoning to the C-2 zoning district by a vote of 6-0. There were 10 speakers at the public hearing. Residents expressed concerns regarding vehicular and pedestrian safety, increased traffic, noise, access for emergency vehicles, lighting, unsightly views, potential decrease in neighborhood quality, increased crime, and compromised safety of children walking to school.