The breakdown
International Commercial Development Enterprise requested a zoning change for 11.40 acres of land off FM 2920 from agriculture to duplex residential zoning, according to the agenda packet. The company proposed developing 26 duplex buildings with 52 residents.
In a 3-2 vote, with Position 2 council member Paul Garcia absent, Mayor Lori Klein Quinn was the deciding vote. Council discussed issues such as drainage and the Texas Department of Transportation expanding FM 2920 prior to the vote.
During public comment, Blair Rowton, a resident near where the duplexes would have been located, said the drainage issue causes flooding during weather events.
“All of that water ends up down [FM] 2920 and it causes havoc. ... That area now is a detention pond in itself,” Rowton said.
International Commercial Development Enterprise was also looking to rezone an additional 4.339 acres on FM 2920 in front of the proposed duplexes from agriculture to general retail zoning. However, in a 4-0 vote, Council denied the request, citing the allowance of general retail zoning would approve the building of a gas station.
“This is why we have zoning ... to present a vision of what we would like the city to look like,” council member John Ford said. “[Living behind] a gas station just does not seem appealing to me as a resident ... as opposed to residing behind professional offices.”
A closer look
City staff recommended approval of the first rezoning request from agricultural to duplex residential, and the planning and zoning commission also recommended approval in a 5-0 vote, according to a city staff presentation.
View the Nov. 4 agenda packet below.
