The Forney Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for a 7,885-square-foot O'Reilly Auto Parts retail store on a 1.2544-acre site northwest of Monitor Boulevard and FM 741.

The recommendation moved forward after the applicant presented a site layout and mitigation measures and commissioners heard both written comments and in-person testimony. Staff had previously noted the application had been reviewed by the commission in August and resulted in a three-three tie; the applicant returned seeking a recommendation to forward to city council.

Jennifer Wright, who identified herself as the applicant's representative, told commissioners the store would be retail only, with no service bays, and said the developer will build a screening wall and comply with city design and stormwater requirements. “We also obviously are avoiding heavy traffic. ... We have landscaping plans that will provide local plantings and other things that will beautify the space,” Wright said.

Randall Carrington, representing the property owner, said the project will include a continuous screening wall along the rear of the retail property and that detention and fire-lane improvements will be provided. “We're gonna build a complete screening wall, ... the infrastructure for all of it will be dealt with with O'Reilly,” Carrington said.

Keith Stewart, who said he would be the project construction manager, described O'Reilly as a long-term operator and emphasized local hiring and community donations tied to store openings.

Commissioners noted written input the city circulated: an email from John Wardell, director of real estate and construction for Lake Pointe Church, stating the church was neutral; and an email from Robert Harold, a Fox Hollow PID board member, expressing his individual support. Staff also reported two phone calls from Fox Hollow residents who opposed locating an auto parts store adjacent to the neighborhood.

A commissioner said residents' concerns about proximity were understandable but that the site is zoned for neighborhood retail uses within the Fox Hollow planned-development district; another commissioner, identifying personal convenience, said he saw no objection to having a nearby parts store.

After public testimony and deliberation the commission approved the conditional use permit recommendation by voice vote. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.

The public record for the item includes the zoning map, the applicant's site plan, and the emails the city distributed from Wardell and Harold.

Looking ahead, staff indicated that a city-council hearing is the next step for the conditional use permit and any site-plan approvals.