Plan Commission unanimously recommends PD rezoning for 200 South Cottonwood to allow bakeries, barbers and retail

The Richardson City Plan Commission on July 21 recommended approval of zoning file 26-14, a request to rezone 200 South Cottonwood Drive from OM Office District to PD (Plan Development) with a base OM zoning that would explicitly allow bakeries, barber/beauty salons and retail uses by right and provide modified parking standards.

Christine Ross, Planner II in the development services department, told the commission the property was developed in 1968 with a 5,353-square-foot office building, has 11 on-site parking spaces and five on-street spaces along the frontage, and is currently underparked. "The applicant is requesting a rezoning from OM office to PD plan development," Ross said, describing a concurrent replat that would dedicate 0.5 of a shared access easement to the property owner to the south to resolve a building that currently straddles a property line.

Applicant Grama Farooqi, who said she represents the owner/manager at 200 South Cottonwood, told the commission she hopes the zoning change will attract tenants. "We were we were wanting to get a tenant there for a bakery. That would be ideal," Farooqi said, adding there is also a prospective barbershop and interest from small retailers. Owner Janette Faruqi said the property has struggled to lease under the current restrictions and asked the commission to allow the requested flexibility so the buildings can be occupied.

Staff explained the regulatory choices and parking implications: a bakery is defined separately from general retail under the city's ordinance, while restaurants (including coffee shops) are evaluated at a higher intensity and require more parking. Staff said the office-based base zoning was retained and the PD would allow the additional uses the applicant requested while providing relief from the standard parking ratio to accommodate likely tenants.

Commissioners framed the request as a targeted measure to revive a corridor that has seen vacancy after a long period of office and medical uses. Vice Chairman Thomason said he is "a lifelong Richardson person" and supports the request "and hopefully, you can get some tenants in there." Commissioners also flagged precedent concerns: expanding uses and granting parking relief for one property could invite similar requests from neighboring owners, and the commission discussed how shared parking agreements or longer-term redevelopment strategies might be needed for a larger group of properties.

Commissioner Roberts moved to recommend approval of the PD as presented; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission's recommendation includes the condition that the site be developed in accordance with the PD standards and in substantial conformance with the concept plan presented to the commission.

Next steps: the recommendation is forwarded to the City Council for final action; if approved, the applicant will be required to replat the property to dedicate the shared access easement and to develop the site in conformance with the PD standards and concept plan presented to the commission.