The City of Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 13 approved a set of site plans, specific-use permits and zoning requests, including a proposed Encore electrical substation at the Poly America campus and a 112-room Live‑stay LiveSmart by Hilton hotel along I‑30.

The actions ratified routine and contested development items the commission said will clear the way for utilities and private development along major corridors and for small‑lot infill housing. Several requests included variances from the Unified Development Code (UDC) and Appendix F landscaping and screening standards; staff and the Development Review Committee recommended approval for the items brought forward.

At the top of the agenda, the commission unanimously approved the consent items. The commission then considered site plan STP‑24‑11‑0045, a proposed electrical substation to be leased and operated by Encore on a parcel within the Poly America campus, and recommended variances to landscaping and pavement standards. Staff described the project as: equipment pads and transformers with no occupiable structures, access through the Poly America property, and a requested variance to allow gravel base material rather than the UDC-required concrete pavement. Staff and the DRC recommended approval; Commissioner John Fedorco moved to approve the staff recommendations and Commissioner Frank Gonzales seconded; the motion passed unanimously among voting members present. The record shows Angela Lucky Vaughn recused herself from item 3 before discussion.

Travis Yanker of Half Associates, representing Encore, told the commission the design includes a large retaining approach to stabilize a steep grade and keep equipment out of the floodplain. "It will be about 20 to 25 feet," Yanker said of the proposed reverse gabion wall meant to stabilize the slope.

The commission next approved site plan STP‑24‑11‑0043, a five‑story, 112‑room LiveSmart by Hilton extended‑stay hotel proposed at Palace Parkway and I‑30. Staff said the proposal meets density and dimensional requirements but requests several variances: a reduced landscape buffer along a wide parkway maintained by the property owner (10–16 feet instead of the 30 feet required by Appendix F), retention of an existing retaining wall and wood fencing in place of a new 6‑foot masonry screening wall against adjacent apartments, and a waiver for a pool amenity that would otherwise count toward the tier‑1 amenity requirement. The applicant said the brand prototype emphasizes larger laundry and fitness amenities rather than a pool.

Project owner Amish Patel described the hotel model and guest profile the brand targets, and said the property will offer a larger laundry facility "that'll be a free facility" for guests. Commissioners discussed the proposed outdoor patio and landscaping, employee counts and local contracting; Patel said the project expects roughly 25 employees and that local contractors would be used for construction. The commission approved the site plan and variances by unanimous vote.

The commission also approved several other items: a specific‑use permit amendment to clean up SUP boundaries for an existing heavy‑truck parking site (SUP‑24‑09‑0040); a drive‑through retail/office development at 2625 England Parkway (SUP‑24‑04‑0018) where the developer said he intends to locate a Little Caesars; and a zoning map amendment to allow three single‑family lots at 2335 and 2339 SE 4th Street (rezoning from SF‑2 to SF‑6).

Two companion requests for 509 Austin Street — a comprehensive plan amendment (CPA‑24‑09‑0013) to change the future land‑use designation from high‑density residential to low‑density residential and a related rezoning to single‑family‑6 — were presented together. Staff noted the requested land‑use change is inconsistent with the adopted future land‑use map and therefore recommended denial, but the commission voted to approve the CPA and the rezoning with the condition that the applicant must finalize a plat before any building permits are issued. A neighbor, Victor Reyes, spoke in support, saying he owns nearby property and wants the block to see new development rather than remain vacant.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda (Items 1–2): Approved (motion by Commissioner Michelle Madden; second by Commissioner Ty Chapman). Vote recorded as unanimous among voting commissioners present.
- STP‑24‑11‑0045 (Encore substation at Poly America campus): Approved, including variances to landscaping and pavement standards. Motion by Commissioner John Fedorco; second by Commissioner Frank Gonzales. Angela Lucky Vaughn recused prior to discussion; motion passed unanimously among voting commissioners present.
- STP‑24‑11‑0043 (LiveSmart by Hilton, 112 rooms): Approved with variances to landscape buffer, screening wall, and pool‑amenity requirement. Motion by Commissioner John Fedorco; second by Commissioner Michelle Madden; passed unanimously among voting commissioners present.
- SUP‑24‑09‑0040 (SUP boundary adjustment for heavy‑truck parking): Approved per DRC recommendation. Motion by Commissioner Janie Mendez Adhikari; passed unanimously among voting commissioners present.
- SUP‑24‑04‑0018 (2625 England Parkway — multi‑tenant retail/office with drive‑through): Approved per DRC recommendation. Motion by Commissioner Angela Lucky Vaughn; passed unanimously among voting commissioners present. Applicant Norman Patton said he expects a Little Caesars as the retail tenant.
- ZON‑24‑11‑0029 (rezoning 2335 & 2339 SE 4th St from SF‑2 to SF‑6): Approved per staff/DRC recommendation. Motion by Commissioner Victor Medina; passed unanimously among voting commissioners present.
- CPA‑24‑09‑0013 and ZON‑24‑09‑0024 (509 Austin St — future land‑use amendment and rezoning to SF‑6): The commission approved both the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning change, with the condition that the applicant record a final plat before issuance of building permits. Staff had recommended denial because the requested change is inconsistent with the adopted future land‑use map.

What commissioners said and next steps
Commissioners who spoke during the hearing emphasized compliance with the UDC and Appendix F standards when considering variances, and asked applicants about community screening, emergency access and construction impacts. For the substation, the applicant said emergency access would rely on gates and knock‑box arrangements with the property owner and possibly first responders. For the hotel, the applicant described the brand prototype and said the model emphasizes larger laundry and fitness facilities rather than a pool.

Approved projects with site‑plan and SUP approvals can proceed to permitting and construction as long as required permits and any conditions of approval are met. The commission recorded unanimous approvals in each case among voting members present; one commissioner was absent from the meeting and one commissioner recused herself for the substation item.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month to consider development applications, rezonings and amendments to SUPs and the zoning map.