P&Z approves site plans on east, west side

The Navasota Planning and Zoning Commission approved two preliminary site plans at the Oct. 12 Regular Meeting. The first was for an addition to the existing Baylor Lumber Backyard at 310 W. Washington Avenue and the second, for the construction of a retail strip center at 114 Austiana Hills Drive.

Baylor Lumber expansion

Described by Development Services Director Lupe Diosdado as a “straightforward expansion,” the preliminary site plan for Baylor’s 12,800 square foot addition met all of the required standards. The addition will connect on the west side absorbing a portion of the existing parking lot.

Responding to Commissioner Dia Copeland’s concerns about loss of parking, MBC Management’s Paul Malek, P.E., said, “With the help of the City we were able to convince TxDOT back when we did the original Baylor to allow parallel parking on the state right of way. With their influence, we were able to get that. There’s ample parking on both ends and in the front.”

Austiana Hills retail spot The preliminary site plan submitted by Bao Qouc Le for development of a retail strip center was approved with a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Todd Wisner voting nay.

Diosdado summarized the project saying, “This particular project has been a long time in the making. There’s an Exxon pipeline that runs through about 3040 percent of the property, so getting the approvals from Exxon to do anything, to move any dirt on top of their pipeline, has been an ordeal but coordinating with MBC they finally got a ‘yes’ from them. They can’t have any structures and there’s a certain amount of fill they had to put on top of the pipeline.”

The 0.452 acre lot on Austiana Hills Drive is zoned B-1, General Business and Le plans to open a smoothie and beverage shop in one section of the strip center and lease the remaining space. It was noted that he owns both the adjacent lot and the homesite across the street.

Wisner questioned Malek about hydrology and drainage.

Malek said, “I’m not increasing the profile of the water flow in Austiana Hills. I’m actually decreasing it slightly, a negligible amount.”

Responding to Wisner’s questions about standing water, Malek explained that while industry standard practice allows for 9-inches because “it’s for a short period of time,” the Le project is below the allowable at 6-inches.

Before adjourning, commissioners approved the minutes of the July 13 and Aug. 10 meetings.

The meeting may be viewed in its entirety at https:// www. navasotatx. gov/planning-zoning-commission.