Josephine planning commission approves waiver to allow single access for two‑lot retail site on FM 1777

The Josephine Planning and Zoning Commission voted June 1 to recommend approval of a subdivision waiver allowing a single shared access point for a proposed two‑lot commercial subdivision on FM 1777 north of Lonesome Dove Ranch.

Planning staff explained the waiver request for case SW-26-00001 seeks relief from Article 3 (subsections 3.1B.4 and 3.1.00) of the subdivision ordinance because the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will permit only one access point on that state roadway. Miguel, planning staff, told commissioners that engineering and fire reviewed the application and that staff supports the waiver given the site’s constraints — the parcel is effectively landlocked on three sides and staff judged hardship thresholds to be met. “This project has been under review by engineering, fire, and planning for some time now,” Miguel said, adding that TxDOT’s access rules limit additional driveways.

A nearby resident, Lori Brown of 830 East Street, spoke during the public-comments period and said she lives close to the site and supports the proposal: “I have no problem with this,” she told the commission.

Engineer Henry Wyn, the applicant’s engineer of record, said the design includes a 12‑foot deceleration/right‑turn lane and a shared driveway between the two proposed lots, and that the developer is seeking the waiver to satisfy both city requirements and TxDOT’s access permit. Staff and the applicant said the site plan is roughly 80% complete and that TxDOT has approved the deceleration lane; a signal at Lonesome Dove and FM 1777 is planned by TxDOT.

A motion to approve the applicant was made, seconded and approved by the commission. Commissioner Michael Chapel participated in the discussion but did not cast a vote on the item. The commission instructed staff that the matter will move forward to the city council for final action.

What happens next: the commission’s approval is a recommendation to the city council; the council will consider the waiver and the applicant’s site plan as the project moves toward permit and construction.