The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Aldermen rezone 16.537 acres at the northeast corner of Nation Road and West 19th Street from R-1 residential to C-1 neighborhood commercial and approved a preliminary plat for the same property, known in the record as Wilkerson Farm.

City staff told the commission the preliminary plat proposes five commercial lots and two open-space tracts intended for stormwater detention; the plan also reserves Lot 3 for a future fire station. Staff listed potential commercial uses on the preliminary plan — pharmacy, drive-through, fast-food and restaurant — but said those uses are illustrative and not guaranteed by the rezoning.

The rezoning and preliminary plat are intended to allow the property owner, CLMM Land Company LLC (represented at the meeting by Craig Porter), to develop the southwest portion of a larger parcel. Staff said the 16.537-acre area under consideration is part of a larger assemblage of more than 40 acres within the Gateway West Community Improvement District. Staff recommended approval of both the rezoning and the preliminary plat with conditions, including compliance with city codes and engineer review.

Among the technical conditions recommended by staff, the traffic study included with the plat recommended constructing a northbound right-turn lane on Nation Road at the north commercial entrance serving Lots 4 and 5. Staff also recommended construction of driveway connections consistent with the traffic report, city engineer approval of any required revisions to the preliminary plat, and full compliance with city code and payment of applicable fees and taxes. Staff noted sanitary sewer is available near the site along the east side of the creek, and that a water line extension along U.S. 92 and down Nation Road would be required to serve the project.

During discussion, Ron Cowger, identified himself as an engineer with AGC Engineers, asked whether the sanitary sewer that appears on plan maps is the West Creek Phase 2 interceptor and noted connectivity to properties west of Nation Road. A city staff member replied that there are two sewer connections to the west and pointed to their locations on the location map. A member of the commission asked about sidewalks; staff said sidewalks will be required at the site-plan stage when individual site plans are submitted.

Commissioners moved first on the rezoning recommendation and then on the preliminary plat. The commission’s rezoning recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Aldermen for final action; the commission is the decisionmaker on the preliminary plat and approved it at the meeting. The motions passed with all members voting in the affirmative; one member, Kathy Varder, was recorded as absent.

Next steps identified by staff include final engineering and site-plan review, detailed stormwater detention design for the two detention tracts (labeled Tract A and Tract B on the preliminary plat), any required off-site utility extensions (water and possibly sewer), and compliance with the traffic-report recommendations as development proceeds. The rezoning hearing will be scheduled before the Board of Aldermen, and final plats and site plans must return to staff and any required boards for approval before individual buildings may proceed.