Council hears conditional-use request for package store and convenience center on Airport Road

Temple — City planning staff walked the council through a zoning and conditional-use application for a new retail building along Airport Road (State Highway 36) that would include a convenience store with fuel pumps and a package store for off-premise alcohol sales.

Staff said the site is currently in a general-retail zoning area and that the package store use requires a conditional-use permit. The presentation noted site features including 27% landscaping, additional parking (seven more spaces than required), fuel sales and cross-access to adjacent properties. Staff said there is no pickup window allowed under the UDC for the proposed use.

Staff reminded council members that Chapter 4 of the code requires a 300-foot separation between package stores and schools, hospitals and other protected uses and that conditional-use permits can be denied or revoked if a use is found to be incompatible or detrimental to surrounding properties. Staff also said the planning commission had approved the CUP and that the site will be required to comply with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code and TABC rules.

No final council action was taken at the workshop; staff said that minor site-plan adjustments could be handled administratively while significant changes would return to council for review.