Again, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

My name is Dr.

Ignacio Nunez, and I serve as chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Arlington.

I hereby call to order this regularly noticed meeting of the City of Arlington's Planning and Zoning Commissioner regular session for September the 24th, 2025.

At this time, I'll ask our administrator to read the speaker guidelines and general decorum.

We ask that the citizens and other speakers in attendance assist in preserving the order and decorum of this meeting and to provide for attendance at and participation in the meeting without fear of intimidation, threats, or hostility.

Any person making personal, profane, hostile, slanderous, or threatening remarks who uses vulgar obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting, or who becomes disruptive while addressing the planning and zoning commissioners, or while attending the planning and zoning meeting, may be removed from this council chambers.

All speakers shall address the commissioners and not the audience or city staff and shall not call out individually named members of city staff or the public.

For speakers tonight, when your name is called, please come to the microphone at the podium and state your name and city of residence for the record.

The applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given 10 minutes to make a presentation.

Speakers in support or opposition of the item will be given five minutes each to make their statement.

If there are many speakers for an item, each speaker will be given three minutes to make their statements.

Thank you very much.

A copy of the corrected minutes of our August 20th, 2025 regular session meeting were sent to all the commissioners in advance.

Were there any changes or corrections needed to those minutes?

And do I have a motion to approve the August 20th minutes?

I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Sumter.

A second by Commissioner Blake.

Cast your vote.

Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve the minutes?

I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Winkles and a second by Commissioner Blake.

Cast your vote.

Motion passes.

So the vote's nine to nothing.

All the commissioners were in favor.

Next on the agenda, we have two zoning cases.

The first case is zoning case Z03-56 P03-56R1, located at approximately 915 East Randall Mill Road.

This is an application for approval of a revision to an approved development plan on approximately Kevin.

The floor is yours, Kevin.

Thank you, Chair.

Good evening, Commissioners for the record.

Kevin Charles, Principal Planner, Planning and Development Services.

This evening we'll be looking at ZO3-56, P03-56R1, also known as the Walmart Supercenter site.

The site is approximately 16 acres, of which approximately 3.75 of it are developed with the Walmart Super Center.

The address is 915 East Randall Mill Road.

And the request, of course, is for a revised development plan.

This is an aerial photograph of the site with the site highlighted in yellow.

The applicant is requesting a revision to the approved development plan for zoning for this zoning case for the installation of a solar solar panel array on the roof of the existing structure.

I apologize.

Of those community commercial, residential multifamily, and residential single family uh detached.

Again, the development plan proposed to install downward oriented accent lighting and a solar energy array array in the shape of Walmart Spark logo on the roof of the existing Walmart building.

The proposed way array will be installed to supplement the site with Clean Energy.

As Walmart is currently working to reach uh zero emissions by 2040.

The solar arrangement will not be visible from uh the ground level and will have no effect on the streets streetscape view of the site.

Uh no other requests or affiliated with this proposal, and then speaking with the applicant prior to this meeting.

Uh, this is the first uh project of this sort for Walmart in the DFW area.

The applicant is Boyd and Lowry, LLP, Next Era Energy Resources LLC, owner Walmart Real Estate Business Trust.

Staff did not receive any letters of opposition or uh any letters of support in reference to this particular project.

I'm available for any questions or comments.

Do any of the commissioners have any questions of staff at this time?

Saying none, thank you, Kevin.

Thank you.

Going to open up the public session at this time.

Um with the applicant, I have several cards here uh and two speakers.

Who's going to go first?

Please, sir, come forward to the microphone.

Remember to please state your name first and last in the city uh that you live in.

Thank you, sir.

Yes, uh, thank you, Chair Nunez, and members of the planning and zoning commission.

My name is Ivan Jaime.

I'm the director of government affairs for Walmart.

I live in San Antonio at 16503.

Um actually, that's my work address, 1650 Nakadoches Road in San Antonio.

I just have a very, very brief presentation for y'all today, and and I think I'll be the only presenter, but uh, I did also want to introduce uh very quickly our store manager who manages this store, Mr.

Adrian Frazier.

Um, and we're joined also by the uh next era who developed the project.

Uh Chris Jardis, and I'm sure I butchered his last name, even though he coached me on how to say it.

Uh, and Mr.

Matt Butler, uh, who's our uh land use counsel, and Ms.

Deborah Meek on our communications.

We just wanted to be here in case you have any questions.

We wanted to make sure we could address them.

Uh but this project really for us is about showing our pride in Arlington.

Um we have we recognize the importance of this site.

It is very unique in our footprint anywhere else in Texas for sure, and even in the country, being next to uh this cowboy stadium, and also recognizing that Arlington really is a major attraction in the world.

We know that the World Cup is coming.

Uh there have been several car races as well that we've worked on, Super Bowls, and so that makes this site different.

And so when we were looking at where to bring um the solar uh project to in Texas, we decided to do it at the store, and we decided to do the pattern in a way that resembles our our pride, and that hopefully the community can be proud of as well.

Uh just to tell you a little bit about our store.

If you've been in it, you can see the the cowboys pride all over.

Um if you just even Google the store, you'll see a lot of fans that come into town that will say, make sure that you stop at the Walmart.

They have a lot of uh apparel and a lot of uh cowboys pride that you can visit.

Uh, we employ over 400 associates, which is on the high side of what we employ in most stores.

Most stores we have anywhere from the 320 to 370.

Uh so this will show you that it's a very busy area.

Uh we were actually this year awarded the uh North Texas Food Bank Retailer of the Year because of our donations to the food bank uh and our engagement with them and award we were very proud to receive.

Um proud sponsors of the Arlington Um uh Veterans uh parade at last year was our first year.

Uh we're doing it again uh this year.

And then also uh a corporate sponsors of the um uh the National Medal of Honor Museum, which just opened, I believe earlier this year.

So something that we take a lot of pride in.

Again, we recognize that uh Arlington and general and in particular, this store is different.

We got to treat it a little bit uh different to be commensurate with what uh the city has been uh able to attract to town.

Uh it'll be visible from the uh from up top, but not visible from um down on the street level, as was mentioned it.

Um and it's also in keeping with our uh smart energy goals.

Kevin, I think I already covered most of this, and that's that's really all that we have.

It's a fairly uh straightforward project.

Again, my colleagues and I are available if you have any questions.

Uh and we certainly appreciate the opportunity to bring this project before you today.

Um I I kind of got confused.

I didn't understand how pride was involved with it.

So will it be a it's not a monument or anything, it's not going to be visible, but how how come y'all are proud of it or have pride in it?

Yes, sir.

That's a good question.

I didn't make that clear.

Uh the shape of the spark.

I apologize for that.

It's this is our logo.

Um so the yeah, I I apologize for that.

I should have made that more clear.

Uh so the way that we're arranging the panels isn't exactly how we arrange them in other areas.

Uh it's on our rooftop.

We're not doing that anywhere else uh here in this uh area or really in the state.

Uh so yeah, that that that's where we're that's how we're showing our pride is by actually putting it in the logo, bringing this to this application uh of energy resilience to this uh location.

So it's mainly the uh the people that would see it as the airplanes, the helicopters, the hotel rooms nearby.

Our associates, our associates will know that it's that it's there.

Um so it's it's all part of that.

It'll make them feel good.

Is our hope?

Yes, sir.

What's the lifespan on these solar panels?

I plan on supporting it.

I'm just I just had some genuine questions about the what is the lifespan on these and what's the real advantage of them?

I know a lot of people regret residential panels in my experience, but what's the advantage for Walmart to have them on their building and what's the lifespan of them?

Sure.

Uh Chris, do you want to take the?

Yeah, sure.

And you might want to say your place set your name and the city that you live, where you live.

Uh hi, I'm Chris Georgiadis.

I'm the development lead on this project.

Um I work for Nextera Energy Resources, and I live in uh sunny Juneau Beach, Florida.

Um your question.

But what's the lifespan on these panels?

And uh and I and I do plan on supporting it, so I'm not dissenting.

I'm just saying what is I just have a legitimate question of what's the lifespan on them and how does Walmart uh how do they consider themselves going green with it?

What's and how long do they last and do they sure you know just general stuff like that?

Well, you the panels have a warranty between 20 25 to 30 years.

Sometimes it can extend to to 30, like I said, 35 years.

Um I mean, you know, we've successfully built projects all across the United States.

Um I think we're the largest developer uh solar projects in in the US.

Um, and I can tell you that that they that they do work.

Um there's a reason there's so many.

Uh the purpose of the project is to offset Walmart's load.

So during the day, you know, whenever the stores running bustling, um the in like a you know sunny day, for example, it's take a hot sunny summer day, right?

When you know you're using like a lot of air conditioning.

Well, that's a perfect example of when the solar project comes to best use because it helps offset the Walmart, you know, the their load there, and it also helps create left less of a strain on the surrounding grid.

Um being it's such a you know tight-knit area, like there's obviously hard to develop like a lot of um energy assets.

So having something like this helps, like I said, offset that load.

So they are uh acting as a generator, these panels are powering up the air conditioners inside the buildings.

That that's correct.

Yes, it attached the system attaches behind Walmart's meter at the facility and it helps power the facility.

Yes.

Okay, so it's not the type where it's selling it back to the grid and then it's a swap out.

No.

Yeah, yeah.

No, it's the goal of it is non-export.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah.

Are there any other questions?

Commissioner Blake.

Just wanted to say thank y'all for for kind of thinking ahead and being a model community partner.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Sure.

Just to build on uh Commissioner.

Uh so I know you said this the goal is for this to offset.

I'm just curious.

Uh you said you're not planning you're not planning on doing these anywhere else.

Is this is this the only one in Texas that you expect to see it like this?

Or are you planning?

Will we start seeing Walmarts with uh uh you know grids put on top of the the roofs?

That's that's uh another really good question.

At this point, there's no immediate plans, uh, but there wasn't a plan for this one as recently as a couple years ago.

So um it's it's a little bit of uh unclear.

Here's what I can tell you.

We are beginning to view our rooftops as an asset that is unused, and we're beginning to look to see how we can utilize those assets.

We're also beginning to bring in a lot of technology into our stores.

Um we're trying to see how do we power that technology without stressing city, municipal infrastructure, water services, electric services.

So as of right now, we have no immediate plans.

There's no other ones that I'm working on uh that we're working on that I have seen designs for.

Uh I just did want to say, you know, I can't say ever.

Um can't really predict more than a couple years in advance as as of this point.

So we are looking at a rooftops, uh, but this is the only one that we're doing as of right now that we have identified that we have started to design, that we have approved a municipal permit, and the reason why we chose it is because of its proximity to Cowboy Stadium, because of what we know is coming, the World Cup and everything else.

That's why that's why we selected Arlington.

And then uh kind of a follow-up question to, and perhaps the other gentleman should answer this, but uh I I know you mentioned it it was an offset.

Uh uh let's go back to that scenario where it's a bright sunny day and every everything's running great.

Uh what do you anticipate offset wise?

Is this something where the the grid pulls in 10% of the power you use or 90% of the power, or what what's what's the aspiration there?

Yeah, I don't know.

I don't know the exact percentages, but there probably will be some grid pull and then probably some solar support in some way, shape or form.

And and I think the reason why I'm asking this question is because I I think we're all just kind of wondering you know, is this uh you know is is this creating electrical power is gonna be electrical power and secondary is hey, it also looks like our logo, or is it a sign that has our logo that maybe generates some power and we're saying it's a grid.

So that's only the only reason why I'm asking this question.

Yeah, so um we we will go through uh like a full you know building permit review process, and you'll see how the project is tied electrically into the Walmart facility.

The panels will definitely be working, and we actually have an agreement with with Walmart to kind of all balance that.

And Chris, I I've got a so we were thinking of all the questions that could come up today because it is it is a fairly uh like I said, it's a fairly new project.

Um and so I did get here about 30 minutes um the answer, not in a percentage, but here's what I've got from our engineers.

The system generates 438,000 kilowatt hours annually, which is the equivalent of powering 35 homes annually uh as of today.

Um and it can remove up to 183 metric tons of CO2 per year.

Um and then to answer your question if it's uh um an energy system that happens to be in a logo or a logo that happens to produce a little bit of energy, it's it's a little bit of both.

Uh I think that whenever we look at the investment to justify the investment, if if this was strictly one or the other, like if it was just a logo, would it justify an investment?

I don't know.

I don't think so.

If it was just an energy system, would it have justified the investment?

I don't know, I don't think so.

But when you put the two together that you can offset some some grid power, make your building more resilient, and it can be in the shape of a logo in Arlington, Texas.

That became a winner for us to the point that we're we were we decided to bring this project to your for your review.

Thank you very much, and I appreciate the information.

I know sometimes there's we we hope to anticipate the question.

So when you get on to council, that those questions are already out there.

So thank you so much.

Yes, sir.

They're gonna answer that.

Anybody else have any comments or questions?

Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you all very much.

Uh I'm gonna read the names of the people who are here in support.

Ivan, you've spoken.

Uh and let's see.

Matthew's their attorney.

Matthew Butter, you're you've you've been identified in your own support.

Deborah Make here here in support.

And Chris.

Uh I'm not gonna attract it.

But you're you're and you're here in support.

Very good.

That was a great reason to ask him a question.

That way you got his name pronounced correctly at the podium.

Um is there anyone here in support?

Is there anyone here that wants to speak in opposition no one?

I believe we can close the public session at this time.

Are there any comments or questions from the commissioners before we uh vote?

Seeing none, I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Sumter, and I have a second from Commissioner Ware.

Commissioner Sumter, would you please state your uh motion?

Yes, sir.

Uh move to approve the zoning case Z03-56 slash P03-56R1 having an address in 915 East Randall Mill as presented.

Commissioner Ware, is that your second yes it is.

Cast your vote, please.

We're a little slow.

Uh there we go.

Motion passes nine to nothing.

Gentlemen, thank you so much.

We appreciate your business here in Arlington, and yes, that logo is gonna look pretty awesome from the air for you guys.

You bet.

Don't be surprised if the city asks you to put something else there, maybe.

I'm just just throwing out an idea.

Yeah, yeah, a little, yeah, a little because you know we're we're having to temporarily rename our stadium, Dallas Stadium for a little bit.

And so, you know, the city council might uh look really kindly on you know, the Arlington store.

You know, so I'm just throwing it out there for your good.

Thank you so much.

That's actually not a bad idea at all.

All right, very good.

We're gonna move on now to zoning case PD 15-0 R1, uh located at approximately 5301 West Pioneer Parkway.

This is an application for approval of a of a revision to an approved development plan on approximately 7.1 acres.

This time I'll call on staff uh to present its report.

Uh Kevin, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Chair.

Um Kevin Charles, principal planner planning and development services.

Uh this evening, uh second zoning case is PD 15-05 R01 Circuit Systems Company Incorporated.

The site is approximately seven acres in size.

Uh address at 5301 with Pioneer Parkway.

The current zoning is a PD for LI with the development plan.

Uh and the request is a revision to the approved development plan.

This is the aerial photograph of the site highlighted in yellow.

As you can see from the aerial photograph, the property to the north is currently zone industrial manufacturing.

Uh the property uh to the south across West uh Pioneer Parkway is uh planned is a PD developed as Lake Arlington Golf Course.

The property to the east is community commercial and is currently undeveloped, and the property to the west is uh planned development as well and developed with a pipe yard.

These are photographs of the site.

Uh the upper right and left-hand corners are photos of the site as it is currently configured with the uh photograph in the upper right-hand corner being uh view of the site from the main entrance.

All of the other views are of the adjacent properties and the public right-of-way there, as well as the golf course across West Pioneer Parkway.

The circuit systems company has been in operation for over 30 years.

The company is one of a limited number of U.S.

based producers of aerospace bonding jumper cables, bus bars, and grounding straps.

Additionally, the company's products are used on commercial and military aircraft.

The continual growth of the company has led to the need for expansion.

The applicant is requesting an amendment to the approved development plan along with the existing 11,800 square foot structure that is currently constructed on the site as part as phase one of this development.

The original PD approved an additional uh 9,788 square feet of space uh for phase two of this development as part of the originally approved PD in 20 uh 2015 for a total of 21,000 plus square feet.

However, the applicant is now proposing an additional 2300 square foot square feet of space as a part of phase two to the existing 11,880 square foot structure for a total building area of 34,880 square feet.

So this is the reason why we are here today.

This shows these the area that is going to be added in color with the aerial photograph of the existing site as it is currently configured.

This shows the elevations.

The structure will incorporate similar architecture features and materials as currently found on the existing structure.

The exterior materials will consist of painted concrete tilt walls, panels, and stone veneer.

The structure will also include canopies and metal doors.

It will be 25 approximately 25 feet in height with varied roof line line heights, matching that of the existing structure.

The addition meets all of the minimum requirements of the unified development code.

The entire site meets or exceeds all of the minimum unified development code landscaping requirements within the landscape buffer setback and proposed internal parking areas.

The applicant is MMA represented by Miss Nikki Moore.

The owner is Grady King and co LLC.

Staff has not received any letters of opposition or support in reference to this particular project.

I am available if there are any questions or comments.

Thank you, Kevin.

Are there any questions of staff at this time?

Thank you, Mr.

Charles.

Thank you, sir.

We'll open up the public session at this time and ask for the applicant to come forward and make their presentation.

Please remember to state your name and city of residence.

Hello, Nikki Moore, Arlington, Texas.

Thank you, Dr.

Nunez and the members of the commission.

I'm here to present this amendment for PD 15 5 on behalf of Circuit Systems.

Let them get this presentation up here.

So just allow me to kind of reintroduce you to the site and business that was along Pioneer Parkway, just west of Greenoaks Boulevard, but near Oak Ridge School.

Mr.

Greedy King has owned and operated circuit system since 1983.

He is one of the only handful of U.S.

based uh first-tier contract manufacturers producing some of these different types of cables and bonding straps.

Uh their products are used on commercial and military aircraft, including the F-22 and F-35 aircraft from Lockheed and the International Space Station.

In 2015, uh Mr.

King purchased and moved to this building.

Uh was an existing building, uh used to be a Big Daddy's liquor store way back in the day.

Um he plans to expand the buildings and bring as his future business grew.

And so with that original 2015 plan development, uh they had taken into consideration the existing building, some site constraints, um, and excluded some uses that would have typically been allowed by right in the light industrial zoning district.

Uh circuit systems is a very clean business.

Um, it does not produce a lot of chemicals, there's no contamination or noxious odors.

Uh truck traffic is limited to UPS, FedEx, and trucks of similar size, which deliver a couple of times a month.

The existing portion of the building is about 12,000 square feet.

Uh the original PD had approved an expansion of about 9700 square feet since then.

The business has flourished, um, and the applicant is requesting an additional 23,000 square feet and associated parking that would come along to that PD amendment.

Uh the product continues to utilize the existing drive approaches off of Pioneer 303.

Um, of that 23,000 square feet, they you know it will be used for office storage and the factory and manufacturing.

So in some components, that will be what the additional space is used for.

Um, of course, you know, the required landscaping and parking uh will be added for the expansion of the building as long as well as more of a fire lane and loading area so that there's complete building coverage all the way around for safety.

The next few slides of show renderings of the new addition and how it will blend seamlessly with the existing building and architecture and finishes which meet the city's design criteria standards.

We've um during our community outreach, we had conversations with the board at the Trinity Methodist Church, leaders of the Oak Ridge School and Arlington ISD.

Um were had no um issues with the expansion.

In fact, uh Oak Ridge School was really encouraged to hear that they have a couple of interns helping out at their manufacturing, and so maybe there will be some more opportunities being so close in proximity to one another.

Um overall, you know, in our comprehensive plan, uh one of the target industries was aerospace products.

Um I think this is just a really great example of how the city achieved this goal and creating a central hub for the region's growing aerospace industry.

Um the proposed expansion has also the potential to create more jobs in this area.

But in summary, circuit systems and Mr.

King are really excited to continue to do business in Arlington and to expand.

Um they've made good on the promise to come back and eventually adapt and reuse a vacant building, but also to continue to expand their operations in an ideal location for low intensive use of manufacturing.

So I thank you for your time and attention, and I'm here to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you very much, Nikki.

Um commissioners, do you have any questions, comments?

We'll see any at this time.

Thank you very much.

Umbody change their mind.

Very good.

That bodes well.

Just teasing me.

Uh then uh is there anyone else that would like to speak in support?

Or is there anyone in opposition?

Saying none, I'll understand a motion to approve.

I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Blake and a second by Commissioner Winkles.

Commissioner Blake, would you please state your motion?

Like to make a motion to approve PD 15-05 R15301 West Pioneer Parkway as presented.

Commissioner Winkles, is that your second?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Cast your vote.

And in advance, because I don't know how this is going to turn out.

Sir, thank you for being a wonderful uh business owner.

We are so happy you're here in Arlington and we'll continue to be here, I hope, for a long time.

Thank you.

Motion passes 8 to nothing.

Congratulations.

With that, let's see.

Uh are there any reports from boards, commissions, or liaisons?

I have none.

Any additional reports from staff or any other announcements other than my softball team began playing again this last Friday.

We uh will have some plats for you next week, but no zoning cases.

Oh, wow.

Not bad.

Not next week, but on the next meeting.

Sure, next meeting.

So I therefore I will remind everyone that our next regular session of the planning and zoning commission will be on Wednesday, October the 8th at uh 5.30 p.m.

Thank you.

And we are officially adjourned.

Thank you so much for all of your due diligence, ladies and gentlemen.

This is the first time it's mentioned it.