Arlington P&Z Commission Meeting Summary – February 18, 2026
Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Session – February 18, 2026
The Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission met on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 5:34 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting covered three zoning cases: one continued, one approved with conditions, and one approved unanimously. Key discussion topics included a proposed liquor store, a car wash continuance, and a townhome development for affordable homeownership.
Consent Calendar
- II.A – Minutes of February 4, 2026: Approved 9-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- PD25-8 (2100 SE Green Oaks Blvd): No public testimony taken; item continued to March 25, 2026 at applicant's request.
- PD25-23 (2301 N. Collins Street): The applicant, Asad Kothari (Arlington resident and business owner), spoke in support. He noted that the liquor store would occupy an existing vacant suite (approximately 3,000 sq. ft.) with no structural changes. He emphasized owner investment, security measures, and no on-site consumption. Commissioner Blake expressed concern about cumulative public safety impact due to proximity to a billiard parlor that closes at 2 a.m. Commissioner Ware opposed based on liquor store saturation. Commissioner Greer was initially opposed but became persuaded by the applicant's local commitment and low call volume to the shopping center. No speakers in opposition.
- ZA26-01 (300 W. Park Row Drive): Applicants Yvonne Gonzalez (Place Strategies Inc.) and Donna (Housing Channel President) spoke in support. They described plans for 8 townhomes for working families, with owner-occupancy requirements enforced via a soft second lien (20 years) and HOA covenants forever prohibiting rental. Housing Channel is a nonprofit partner with the city since 1991, offering homebuyer assistance up to $20,000. Grace Lutheran Church is selling the property. No speakers in opposition.
Discussion Items
- PD25-8 (2100 SE Green Oaks Blvd) – Car Wash: Staff reported the case was withdrawn by the applicant for a continuance. The commission voted to continue the item to the March 25, 2026 meeting (8-1, with Commissioner Blake voting no).
- PD25-23 (2301 N. Collins Street) – Liquor Store and Billiard Parlor: Planner Alex Van Amberg presented the request to rezone the entire 5.9-acre parcel to Planned Development, adding a package liquor store and billiard parlor to the existing CC uses. The site falls within the Regional Activity Center of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. Staff noted nine letters of support and none opposed.
- ZA26-01 (300 W. Park Row Drive) – Townhomes: Planner Van Amberg presented the straight zoning change from Office Commercial to Residential Medium Density (RM-12) to allow 8 townhomes. The site is less than one acre, located in the Heart of Arlington Neighborhood Association and within the South Cooper Corridor Strategy (Zone 1). The comprehensive plan designates the area as Established Residential. Staff received two letters of support.
Key Outcomes
- PD25-8 (Car Wash): Continued to March 25, 2026 (8-1).
- PD25-23 (Liquor Store): Approved 7-2 (Commissioners Blake and Ware voting no) with conditions:
- Remove pawn shop use from allowable uses.
- Improve landscaping along North Collins Street to meet current UDC streetscape standards (trees, shrubs, irrigation).
- Restrict the liquor store to no more than 3,000 square feet.
- Administrative approval for future restaurant with drive-thru (one time only).
- ZA26-01 (Townhomes): Approved 9-0.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Again, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dr. Ignacio Nunez. I serve as chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Arlington. I hereby call this regularly noticed meeting of the City of Arlington's Planning and Zoning Commission regular session to order for February the 18th, 2026. At this time, I'll ask our administration to read the speaker guidelines and general decorum for tonight's meeting. We ask that the citizens and other visitors 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 or obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting or who become disruptive while addressing the planning and zoning commissioners or while attending the planning and zoning meeting may be removed from the 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 statements. If there are many speakers for an item, each speaker will be given three minutes to make their statements. The applicant will then be given five minutes for any rebuttal. If multiple speakers plan to provide the same or similar comments, those speakers may, if they so desire, designate one or more individuals to provide public comment on behalf of the group. A bell will signal the end of each speaker's time. In consideration of other speakers, please conclude your comments promptly when you hear the bell. We ask that you address your comments to the planning and zoning commissioners. Thank you very much. A copy of the minutes of our February the 4th, 2026 regular agenda were sent to all commissioners in advance. Were there any changes or corrections that were needed to the minutes? Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve? I do from Commissioner Finley. And I have a second from Commissioner Blake. Please cast your vote. Motion passes nine to nothing. Next on our agenda, we have three zoning cases. The first one is PD 25-8. It's an application for change in zoning from community commercial to plan development for community commercial uses, plus a car wash with a development plan on approximately 1.294 acres. So my understanding is that this case has been withdrawn, and they are asking excuse me. They're asking for a continuance, excuse me. And the date for the next meeting that this will come before us is March the 25th for the record. And I need a motion to approve the continuance. I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Sumter. And I have a second from Commissioner Greer to approve the continuance to a date certain. Cast your vote. Motion is approved. 8 to nothing. 8 to 1, excuse me. For the record. Next on our agenda is PD 25-23 addressed at 2301 North Collins Street. This is an application for a change in zoning from community commercial and plan development for billiard parler billiard parlor to a plan development for community commercial uses plus a billiard parlor and a package liquor store on approximately 5.9 acres. At this time, I'll ask our staff to present its report on PD 25-23. Good evening, Commissioners. Alex Van Amberg Planner, Planning and Development Services, presenting PD 25-23. Addressed at 2301 North Collins Street, and the site is approximately six acres in size. The request is a plan development for community commercial uses, plus a billiard parlor and a package liquor store. Here's the location map showing the surrounding uses, commercial to the north and south, a large park to the east, and some more commercial and multifamily to the west. And here are some images of the shopping center and North Collins Street across the street and to the south.
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