In a joint meeting with the planning and zoning commission and the Grapevine City Council on Oct. 16, Paycom applicants received unanimous approval for a plat and conditional-use permit for the new Texas Operations Center in Grapevine.

Currently the zoning district restricts buildings taller than 50 feet, and the council approved a permit for Paycom to exceed this limit.

Paycom develops payroll and HR software for companies. The property for the new operations center is located at 3489 SH 121, Grapevine. Paycom plans to create 1,000 high-paying jobs at the Grapevine facility that will begin construction in 2019 and should be occupied by 2020.

The operations center will be built in two phases, with the first phase comprised of a five-story, or 60-foot, building and a 14,200-square-foot employee gymnasium in a separate building. The second phase will include a second building that will also be five stories tall and will have a separate, seven-level parking garage. A 6-foot wrought-iron fence will secure the site, along with two guard sites. A water feature will be placed in the front of the facility, mirroring the company's headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Architects with Paycom explained the second phase is part of the overall master plan but would be developed only once the first phase is expected to exceed capacity.

In other business, the council tabled the naming of the train district along Dallas Road, which will launch with TEXRail in January. A presentation shown to the council had name suggestions drawing on the history of the Cotton Belt Railyard and words that highlight togetherness and gathering, such as "crossroads" and "tracks." At the mayor's suggestion, council and staff will take a few weeks to weigh the suggestions provided in the presentation before deciding on a name for the new train district.