The overview
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted for City Council to deny the request and the city council affirmed that vote unanimously.
The City Council asked about the sales tax generated from charging stations but applicant Jesse Kent didn’t have the information on hand.
“Community commercial property in Grapevine is precious nowadays ... because we’re almost completely out,” council member Sharron Rogers said. “The commercial businesses that we have pay sales tax ... [which] is something we rely on heavily in this town.”
The gist
The BP Pulse-owned charging stations would have been located at 1815 S. Main St., which is currently undeveloped.
The plan involved 24 stalls with level three electric chargers and three canopies over the lot that would have been available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trash receptacles, security cameras, lights and trees were also included with the site plan.
The details
Kent was at the council meeting to explain the purpose for the charging stations. He said that people usually have a level one charger at home and may use these charging stations for “doing a top off that would last three to eight minutes, just enough to get home and then charge overnight.”
Kent also reported that full charges take 35-45 minutes.
“You're looking to get about an 85% charge in order to prolong the history or the lifespan of the battery,” said Kent.
Background
City Council established regulations for charging stations during a Jan. 16 City Council meeting, Community Impact previously reported. The regulations established that permits are needed and zoning districts charging stations were allowed. There was also a requirement for a notice from the utility provider providing the equipment and electricity for the station.
By the numbers
According to data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, there are 917 registered electric vehicles in Grapevine, increasing from the 728 registered in November 2023. Electric vehicles have steadily increased over the past three years, with 384 registered in November 2021.
Data from the Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities shows there are 10 electric charging stations currently in Grapevine.
