Katy officials rezone land at southern city limits to commercial use

Katy City Council invited members of the community to speak on the rezoning of just over 20 acres of land in the James Conner Survey from a single family, R-1 residential district, to a C-1 commercial district before considering an ordinance at a June 27 meeting. Ultimately, city officials agreed to make the change.

The James Conner Survey, also called the Davoody Change, refers to a tract of land located at the intersection of Spring Green Boulevard and Crossover Road at the most southern point in the city, City Planner Rachel Lazo said.

Katy resident Julie Jenson expressed concern that rezoning the area to commercial may cause light and sound pollution to homes that neighbor the area.

In response, Council Member Dan Smith referred to the classifications of C-1 as “the most friendly zoning restrictions to be adjacent to residential as possible,” referencing recent changes to the parameters of the zoning district that restrict sexually oriented businesses, tobacco or vape shops, or liquor stores.

City Attorney Arthur Pertile III agreed that the C-1 district is meant to enhance the areas zoned as residential, and could welcome businesses like doughnut shops or cleaners to help facilitate residential use.

The Davoody Change was annexed by the city of Katy in October; prior to then it was within Houston’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The agreement to transfer the land was originally made on the condition that it would be zoned as a commercial district, Smith said at the meeting.

Smith confirmed with Pertile that if the area had not been transferred to Katy as a commercial property, this tract of land could have housed any type of business and would not be subject to the city’s zoning restrictions.

Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris added that rezoning this area to commercial use follows Katy’s previous comprehensive plan to push businesses to the edge of city limits.