Georgetown City Council approved a commercial rezoning for an 11.6-acre site near the Parmer Ranch and Highland Village neighborhoods in Georgetown at a July 28 meeting.
Currently used for agriculture, property owner Mike Nations seeks a general commercial base zoning to develop new retail and employment opportunities along the RM 2338 corridor, according to city documents.
Digging deeper
SEC Planning is representing Nations for the project and proposed a development with completely new construction for nonresidential commercial and retail uses, according to city documents.
The proposed rezoning includes a C3 base zoning, with a 100-foot buffer of C1 zoning directly adjacent to Parmer Ranch residential properties.
The C3 zoning designation is the highest density commercial zoning and is intended for community-wide or regional business needs rather than just immediate neighborhood convenience.
Allowable uses include:
- Strip retail centers
- Hotels and motels
- Live music or entertainment
- Commercial recreation
- Automotive repair services
In case you missed it
Council members approved the initial request for commercial rezoning at a July 14 City Council meeting 5-1, and requested the consideration of other zoning options and restrictions near the residential border.
District 7 council member Ben Stewart voted against.
At the public hearing for the proposed ordinance, several community members spoke and requested a less intense commercial zoning designation near their homes. Their main concerns are with late-night businesses, building heights and unsafe activity.
“Please make child safety and neighborhood compatibility part of the zoning now, not problems for families to solve later,” Mohnte Elizondo said July 14.
Mark Baker with SEC Planning said Nations is sympathetic to resident concerns, but that the C3 zoning was chosen based on compatibility with the site and proximity to a major arterial road.
“We do fully recognize ... when you look at the entire list of uses, there’s some scary-looking stuff on there that Mr. Nations has no intention of doing,” Baker said. “We respect and understand the concern about that.”
