Pflugerville conditionally approves new industrial work spaces

The Pflugerville City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a special land permit that will allow for the construction of new warehouse and office spaces that could benefit small business owners in the city.

Workhub Developments, which develops large office spaces and warehouses primarily in the Houston area, wants to bring tenants work spaces that are “tailored” to their needs as their businesses grow, according to a presentation given at the meeting. The development will be at 19241 Wilke Lane and have two 30-foot-tall light-industrial buildings with 36 office and warehouse suites. The property’s current zoning requires a specific use permit to build this kind of development.

“Our existing plan base goes from someone who has a contract with NASA to someone with a bookstore,” said Joel Desmond, a Workhub representative who gave the presentation. “It could go to office/retail or office/sales. The space is designed to have these emerging businesses.”

City Planning Manager Yasmin Turk said city staff found that the development met all of the permit requirements, like being in line with the city’s vision for the property and that it was reasonable for that location, and recommended its approval. However, several City Council members were hesitant due to a lack of renderings of the future development.

“Some of the things that have been built along (Texas) 45 I have not agreed with at all,” Council Member Rudy Metayer said. “If you’re asking for an SUP, I would like more information about what the final product looks like.”

Desmond said they will collaborate with an architect and have renderings to present to the council soon, and chose to show images of its existing locations to give an idea of what the development will look like.

During citizen comment, some concerns about the development’s proximity to Victory City Church to its west, and the Highland Park North neighborhood, which it backs up to, came up. Neighborhood resident Jaime Gonzalez said he’s worried about potential noise, lighting and privacy issues for the homes next door. Turk said there will be a 30-foot vegetative buffer yard between the development and the neighborhood to mitigate those issues.

Desmond said Workhub is ready to work with neighborhood residents and the homeowner's association to provide specific privacy measures, like lining the buffer yard with trees so residents can maintain privacy in their backyards. He said the development also will use power-saving efficient lighting that directs and contains the light to the development and will not light up the entire area, including the neighborhood.

“We are ready to make sure our neighbors feel safe and don’t feel like their privacy is being (violated),” Desmond said.

Although the council approved the permit on first reading, several council members said they will need to see better renderings of the planned development to approve its second reading. The permit was conditionally approved in a unanimous vote, however Council Member Ceasar Ruiz was not present at the meeting.