By Moses Leos III

A developer which has twice attempted to bring a truck stop to Kyle withdrew its application to the Kyle Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone 47.74 acres of land from Agricultural (AG) to Retail Services (RS).

But the application from PGI Invstements, LLC caused several residents to speak out against what they fear could be another attempt to bring a truck stop to Kyle.

PGI’s attempt to rezone came up during the P&Z’s Oct. 13 meeting.

Kyle Community Development Director Howard Koontz said PGI, along with its agent Hugo Elizondo, opted to withdraw the rezoning application. The application extended to a parcel of land along the west side of Interstate 35, north of the Yarrington Road.

That was done after Koontz said he met with Elizondo to determine what PGI’s request was related to. According to Koontz, it was determined that the group is “still asking the long term questions of their project.” 

Those questions related to acceptable uses allowable under Retail Services. Koontz said he informed the group of uses they “mentioned publicly that wouldn’t be allowable under RS.”

Another mitigating issue is the lack of infrastructure in the area. According to documents within the P&Z agenda packet, city staff doesn’t expect to extend water and wastewater service to the area within the next two years.

Elizondo informed Koontz the group needed to determine if they were “still interested in those uses” or were going to go in a different way. 

Koontz said Elizondo and his development team would discuss their future plans. He said they could possibly return on a future P&Z agenda.  

Koontz said if the group does decide to push ahead with a truck stop, they would ask for zoning that would allow it. He said R/S didn’t allow for the truck stop use.

But the application on Oct. 13 drew criticism from the public. Eight people spoke against the application during a public hearing on the application during the Oct. 13 P&Z meeting.

While each person cited different concerns, all speakers disapproved of a truck stop making its way to Kyle.

Their concerns stem from PGI’s previous two attempts to develop a truck stop in Kyle.

The most recent attempt was in 2013, when the Kyle City Council shot down PGI’s plan for a Planed Unit Development.

The PUD called for an 18,000 square foot truck service center with 221 big rig parking spaces, a 14,000 square foot convenience store/restaurant. The project showed 11 total lots, ten of which were commercial and one multifamily.

But one resident who spoke at the Oct. 13 meeting said having a “diesel type truck stop” with non-restrictive plans would “decimate an interchanging relationship between San Marcos and Kyle.”

That resident, who said he is a San Marcos police officer, said a truck stop in San Marcos was the “number one area for drugs and prostitution,” and that officers patrol the area daily.

“I want to let you know, as soon as (a truck stop is) in the area of consideration, there will be a call to arms,” the resident said. “Anyone with common sense and a logical investment will come forward.”

Harriet Bishop, who has owned the Plum Creek Campgrounds, held concerns that a truck stop could affect the grounds, which hold historical significance.

“Please do not allow diesel trucks to spoil our serenity and foul our clean air with their exhaust,” she said. “This is our home. Please don’t defile it with a truck stop or gas stations.”

A resident of the Blanco Vista subdivision said wants to see retail enter the area, but that a truck stop could add more traffic issues. The resident cited the increase in 18-wheeler traffic associated with the Yarrington Road bridge construction project.

“We’re competing with the big construction trucks and 18-wheelers,” she said. “We’ve learned quickly that we’re not going to win with little family cars against 18-wheelers.”