During its July 1 meeting, the commission voted to recommend approval to a zoning request allowing the warehouse.
The details
The property owner intends to demolish the existing 90,481-square-foot, three-story office building on the south side of the property and construct a single-story, 343,624-square-foot warehouse building. The new building is to expand logistic operations on the campus, according to city documents.
The campus is currently zoned for industrial uses, and a warehouse is allowed within the zoning, however, modified development standards are required because the proposed building will have a height of 45 feet, Senior Planner Derica Peters said. The current zoning only allows one-story buildings to be 25 feet.
Peters said the warehouse will need the additional height to store merchandise and the building will be constructed to appear as a two-story office building.
What they’re saying
Michael Schack, principal for Drayton Street Partners based in Chicago, IL, said the project is a speculative construction, meaning a tenant hasn’t signed a lease for the building. He added discussion with one of the campus’ current tenants, Celestia, has begun.
“Because Richardson is known as a technology area, we’ve received interest from other parties,” Schack said.
Several residents expressed concern over noise and air pollution coming from the campus from semi-trucks during the public hearing portion of the portion.
“I don't think the plan to mitigate noise has been well thought-through,” resident Albert Smith said.
Additionally, resident Terri Masters said she was concerned about losing the green space, particularly a pond and several trees, and an increase in traffic patterns.
What else
The vote to recommend approval was unanimous and City Council will have final approval at a later meeting.
