Highland Village City Council tables change to drone zoning regulations

“My concern is, that is closer than 250 feet, there’s a retaining wall, and at 25 feet you’re probably right there at their house level,” council member Rhonda Hurst said.

What else

The language of the ordinance amendment allows drone delivery hubs for any business zoned for retail, including grocery and restaurants, to set up and run a drone delivery hub, council member Robert Fiester said.

“Walmart is the primary applicant asking for this, but we’re opening this to any property that’s zoned retail,” Fiester said. “Sam’s, Costco, Home Goods, Delhi 6, Goody Goody [Liquor]. Every restaurant in the shops, and all they’re going to have to comply with is be 250 feet away from residential zoning.”

The amendment also does not include a limit on the number of delivery hubs or have any spacing requirements between each hub, City Attorney Kevin Laughlin said.

Council directed city staff to redraft the ordinance to exclude restaurants and explore requiring a specific use or conditional use permit.

Looking ahead

Council will discuss the amendment at the next work session and plan to revisit the amendment at the February council meeting.