McKinney City Council members approved a zoning request for the fuel station during an April 15 meeting following a round of public comments that saw three residents speak in opposition to the project. One resident spoke in support of the project.
Council members voted 5-1 to approve the zoning request. Council Member Geré Feltus voted against approval.
The overview
The new zoning enables alternative development standards for the fuel station including:
- Reduction of the residential setback requirement from 20 feet to 16 feet
- Reduction of the street buffer width requirement from 20 feet to 5.85 feet
- Reduction of the distance requirement for passenger vehicle fuel sales from 250 feet to 103 feet from residential properties
City staff recommended denial of the zoning request since its requested reductions did not meet the approval criteria for a zoning change, special-use permit or design exception, according to city documents.
“Staff is still not supportive due to the changes in the development standards of the residential adjacency,” Planning Manager Caitlyn Strickland.
Looking back
This is the second time council members heard a presentation on the Murphy fuel station zoning request. City staff first presented the item for council consideration during a March 31 meeting.
After a round of public comments from nearby residents who voiced concerns about safety, council members voted to continue the public hearing and table the item until the April 15 meeting.
Mayor George Fuller said the item had been tabled and council members asked the project developers to engage with the nearby residents before it was considered again.
“I imagine you did satisfy at least some people and that certainly speaks to your efforts,” he said. “We’ll see where this goes tonight but thank you for making the effort that you did.”
What they’re saying
Feltus said she appreciated the adjustments made by the project developers but she was hesitant about the distance of the gas station from the house across College Street.
“I think you guys have been smart in the approach,” she said. “I appreciate the adjustment in the screening wall that you have. I think you’re going to be right about all of the positive things that it brings forward.”
Council member Justin Beller said he was in support of the project, which is located within his council district.
“In terms of the investment we need in the community, this is what we need,” he said. “We need to replace the old uses in this corridor and along [SH 5].”
