Over 20 residents spoke at a May 20 Bellaire City Council public hearing over a request to rezone a residential property at 4301 Bellaire Blvd. to accommodate a proposed office building. David Ebro, a representative of A Beautiful Bellaire, LLC, presented plans for the property to the council and public before the hearing. If rezoning is approved, the company would build a 22,280 square foot, two-story office building with surface parking. “We understand the challenges this property poses,” Ebro said. “We understand the neighbors' concerns, and we’ve developed a plan to address them.” Ebro said the company hired consultants to conduct a traffic impact analysis to ensure that the development would not cause problems. The plan also includes water detention measures above what is expected by the city’s standards for new development, he said. During the public hearing, 19 people spoke out against the plans and urged the council to deny the rezoning request, citing concerns about adverse effects to traffic flow, drainage, property values of nearby residential properties and the integrity of Bellaire’s zoning standards as a whole. “Who are you here to stand up for? Who are you here to protect? The city of homes or the prevailing tax interests of the day,” Rebecca Doty, a Bellaire resident, said. “It’s a slippery slope from here, and it is your legacy as our city council because what you decide now cannot be undone.” The council will deliberate and vote on whether or not to approve the property’s zoning at its June 17 meeting. Rezoning of the property will require a supermajority vote, or 6 out of 7 votes, in order to pass. Written comments to the council concerning the property may be submitted to the city clerk’s office until noon on June 13.