Public Hearing and Ordinance - Zoning Application No. Z0126-0436

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

A public hearing was held for Item No. 15 - Zoning Application No. Z0126-0435, and Item No. 16 - Zoning Application No. Z0126-0436. Adam Bailey, Director of Planning and Development Services, stated that the applicant, representing BJ’s Wholesale Club, is requesting to rezone the property at 4355 Childress Avenue to establish a new Planned Development (PD) district based on General Retail zoning. The grocery store currently under construction is already permitted under the existing zoning and has received all necessary approvals. However, the applicant seeks to modify development standards to allow larger signage than what is permitted by the City of Mesquite Sign Ordinance. Specifically, the proposed wall sign facing IH-30 would increase in height from the allowed 10 feet to 17.5 feet, while remaining under the maximum allowable area (377 square feet proposed vs. 940 square feet allowed). Additionally, the applicant proposes a pole sign along the IH-30 service road at 50 feet in height, exceeding the 35-foot maximum, while maintaining the allowed sign area of 200 square feet. The applicant is also requesting approval to display fuel prices for the BJ’s fueling center located at 4420 North Galloway Avenue on the pole sign at 4355 Childress Avenue without it being classified as off-premise signage. Mr. Bailey stated that the applicant is requesting to amend PD-C Ordinance No. 5175 to modify development standards for a proposed fueling station at 4420 North Galloway Avenue, located on the southwest portion of the Lowe’s Home Improvement property at 4444 North Galloway Avenue. The fueling station zoning was approved in 2025 and has received all necessary permits to begin construction. The requested amendment is limited to allowing larger canopy signage, with no other changes proposed. Under the City of Mesquite Sign Ordinance, canopy signs are restricted to a maximum height of 3.5 feet, and the total area of signage on a canopy face may not exceed 50 square feet or 50 percent of the canopy face, whichever is less. The applicant proposes canopy signage measuring 4 feet 8 inches in height, with two signs totaling 135 square feet. Mr. Bailey presented a second option for a proposed monument sign with a height of 12 feet and a total area of 75 square feet. Applicant Jonathan Vinson, representing BJ's Wholesale Club, presented a brief overview of the proposed applications. He stated that BJ's Wholesale has a standard policy to turn off internally lit signs at the close of business. BJ's is agreeable to the second option to install a 12 foot monument sign rather than a 20 foot pole sign at the fuel station. Adam Bailey, sign contractor, stated that the monument sign will be visible along Galloway Avenue. Cade Park, representing Kimley Horn, stated that they conducted a traffic impact analysis for the proposed BJ's Wholesale. The analysis determined that there will be no access from the 635 service road. BJ's is working to reach an agreement with QT regarding traffic impact but has not been successful. Vivian Johnson, 4538 Live Oak Drive, and Tammy Jo, Strong, 1713 Cool Springs Drive, expressed support for the proposed applications. Mr. Casper moved to postpone Item No. 15 - Zoning Application No. Z0126-0435, and Item No. 16 - Zoning Application No. Z0126-0436 to a date uncertain. Motion was seconded by Mr. Murden and was approved unanimously.

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 7.2/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).