(6)(a)
CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MTG
- Meeting Date:
- 04/15/2026
- Title:
- Alpha Omega Power, LLC is requesting confirmation of preliminary approval for a zoning change of ___ acres from District "F" (Light Industrial) to District "S-P" (Site Plan) for development of a BESS (battery energy storage system) project located at 701 Hwy 146 N.
- Submitted For:
- Kim Golden
- Submitted By:
- Curt Kelly, Transportation and Planning
- Department:
- Transportation and Planning
Information
ACTION REQUEST
This is the Public Hearing to receive public comments on the request from Alpha Omega Power LLC to confirm the rezoning of 6.29 acres from District “F” (Light Industrial) to District “SP” Site Plan for the development of a proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) project at 701 S.H. 146 which is on the west side of SH 146, north of Golden Logistics, LLC. As a BESS installation the application is being processed as a District SP (Site Plan) rezoning per Section 160.051 and Chapter 162.
A Notice of Public Hearing was advertised in the Galveston Daily News in accordance with city ordinance and state law.
A Notice of Public Hearing was advertised in the Galveston Daily News in accordance with city ordinance and state law.
BACKGROUND (Brief Summary)
The applicant is Alpha Omega Power (AOP). The proposed 205MW, 410MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project , referred to as the Southern Select BESS Project, will encompass approximately 5.71 acres on 6.29 acres of vacant land located at 701 SH 146 N. At its regular meeting on September 4, 2024, the City Commission held a public hearing upon advertised notice and voted to give preliminary zoning approval upon certain conditions to the request by AOP Holdings, LLC d/b/a Alpha Omega Power, to rezone the site from District "F" (Light Industrial) to District "S-P" (Site Plan). On August 4, 2025 the City Commission voted unanimously to extend the Preliminary Zoning approval an additional 12 months until September 4, 2026.
Since the preliminary zoning approval the project has progressed through detailed design engineering and several revisions have been made to the site plan to improve drainage performance, flood resilience, safety and equipment efficiency. The revisions reflect compliance requirements, insurance considerations and finalized equipment selection, but do not change the approved land use, project footprint or operational characteristics of the project.
Because the District SP zoning designation is tied to a specific site plan, any significant revisions must be reviewed and processed as zoning changes.
The Planning Board reviewed and considered the proposed changes to the site plan at its meetings on March 2, 2026 and on March 16, 2026. At the meeting on March 16, 2026 it voted 3-0 to approve the revised site plan.
The Zoning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing and consider this request at its regular meeting on April 7, 2026. The recommendation of the Zoning Commission will be presented during the public hearing for the City Commission.
The Applicant seeks affirmation of the zoning change from District F (Light Industrial) to District SP (Site Plan) based upon the site plan as revised to improve drainage performance, flood resilience, safety and equipment efficiency.
The applicant seeks approval of changes to the approved site plan to accommodate necessary design changes. Specifically, the following changes must be accommodated with changes to the approved site plan:
INCREASE IN SITE ELEVATION – Height requirements are reviewed and regulated through the SP designation. The previous site plan indicated battery containers would be positioned at or about existing ground level. It has been determined by the Applicant that insurers will require elevation of the battery containers by at least 14.0 ft. above existing ground level. Applicant’s current plans are to accommodate this elevation increase with additional fill. The import of so much fill will require some redesign of site drainage to avoid runoff on to adjacent sites. The aesthetics of an elevated site must also be accommodated. Whereas the original site plan provided for a 6ft masonry screening wall along SH 146 and chainlink fencing with slats along the side property lines, the increase in elevation will result in masonry retaining walls of 14ft (8ft screening walls/fences above the retaining walls).
The elevation of the site is most likely to physically impact, if any, the existing business, Hydrokinetics, located adjacent to the north property line. The building is set back approximately 50 feet from the property line. The existing apartments are approximately 400ft north of the property line and may have minimal aesthetic impact from the increased elevation. Detrimental aesthetic impact to the traveling public along SH 146 may be minimized by the use of decorative masonry retaining walls.
The Applicant has produced 3d renderings and a 3d video to simulate the aesthetic of the elevated site and the effectiveness of the mitigating measures. A copy of the 3d renderings are attached to this agenda item. The 3d video was shown to the Planning Board and will be made available at the Zoning Commission meeting and at the City Commission meeting subject to the availability of compatible AV resources.
Since the preliminary zoning approval the project has progressed through detailed design engineering and several revisions have been made to the site plan to improve drainage performance, flood resilience, safety and equipment efficiency. The revisions reflect compliance requirements, insurance considerations and finalized equipment selection, but do not change the approved land use, project footprint or operational characteristics of the project.
Because the District SP zoning designation is tied to a specific site plan, any significant revisions must be reviewed and processed as zoning changes.
The Planning Board reviewed and considered the proposed changes to the site plan at its meetings on March 2, 2026 and on March 16, 2026. At the meeting on March 16, 2026 it voted 3-0 to approve the revised site plan.
The Zoning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing and consider this request at its regular meeting on April 7, 2026. The recommendation of the Zoning Commission will be presented during the public hearing for the City Commission.
The Applicant seeks affirmation of the zoning change from District F (Light Industrial) to District SP (Site Plan) based upon the site plan as revised to improve drainage performance, flood resilience, safety and equipment efficiency.
The applicant seeks approval of changes to the approved site plan to accommodate necessary design changes. Specifically, the following changes must be accommodated with changes to the approved site plan:
- Addition of a detention pond to the site plan to comply with TxDOT drainage requirements to obtain an access permit for the project. The site plan as approved for the rezoning did not contain a detention pond.
- Increase in Site Elevation to + 14.0 feet relative to existing site resulting in a top of container elevation of +23.0 feet.
INCREASE IN SITE ELEVATION – Height requirements are reviewed and regulated through the SP designation. The previous site plan indicated battery containers would be positioned at or about existing ground level. It has been determined by the Applicant that insurers will require elevation of the battery containers by at least 14.0 ft. above existing ground level. Applicant’s current plans are to accommodate this elevation increase with additional fill. The import of so much fill will require some redesign of site drainage to avoid runoff on to adjacent sites. The aesthetics of an elevated site must also be accommodated. Whereas the original site plan provided for a 6ft masonry screening wall along SH 146 and chainlink fencing with slats along the side property lines, the increase in elevation will result in masonry retaining walls of 14ft (8ft screening walls/fences above the retaining walls).
The elevation of the site is most likely to physically impact, if any, the existing business, Hydrokinetics, located adjacent to the north property line. The building is set back approximately 50 feet from the property line. The existing apartments are approximately 400ft north of the property line and may have minimal aesthetic impact from the increased elevation. Detrimental aesthetic impact to the traveling public along SH 146 may be minimized by the use of decorative masonry retaining walls.
The Applicant has produced 3d renderings and a 3d video to simulate the aesthetic of the elevated site and the effectiveness of the mitigating measures. A copy of the 3d renderings are attached to this agenda item. The 3d video was shown to the Planning Board and will be made available at the Zoning Commission meeting and at the City Commission meeting subject to the availability of compatible AV resources.
RECOMMENDATION
At its regular meeting on March 16, the Planning Board voted 3-0 to approve the proposed Detailed Site Plan and to recommend approval of the zoning change to the Zoning Commission and to the City Commission.
The Zoning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing and consider this request at its regular meeting on April 7, 2026. The recommendation of the Zoning Commission will be presented during the public hearing for the City Commission.
Measures are available to mitigate the impact of the site plan changes to adjacent properties, such as (1) enhanced landscaping to offset the reduction in the amount of landscaping area; (2) non-pumped detention design; and (3) the use of decorative retaining wall materials where visible to the public or adjacent properties. So long as the applicant agrees to include these mitigation measures in the revised site plan, staff have no objection to the changes to the site plan.
The Zoning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing and consider this request at its regular meeting on April 7, 2026. The recommendation of the Zoning Commission will be presented during the public hearing for the City Commission.
Measures are available to mitigate the impact of the site plan changes to adjacent properties, such as (1) enhanced landscaping to offset the reduction in the amount of landscaping area; (2) non-pumped detention design; and (3) the use of decorative retaining wall materials where visible to the public or adjacent properties. So long as the applicant agrees to include these mitigation measures in the revised site plan, staff have no objection to the changes to the site plan.
Fiscal Impact
- Funds Available Y/N:
- N/A
- Amount Requested:
- N/A
- Source of Funds:
- N/A
- Account #:
- N/A
Fiscal Impact:
NO fiscal impact
Attachments
- Site Plan
- Easement
- Legal Description
- 7/22/24 - Planning Board - Staff Report
- 7/22/24 - Planning Board - Minutes
- 8/6/24 - Zoning Staff Report
- 8/6/24 - Zoning Minutes
- 3/10/26 - Planning Board Staff Report
- 3D Renderings
- April 7, 2026 Zoning Commission Minutes