Public hearing on Westover proposal rescheduled
A public hearing on a zoning change request that would allow the construction of 12 zero lot line homes in the Westover neighborhood was postponed until next month.
At the Planning and Zoning Commission’s meeting Tuesday night, commission chair Jim Garber announced that due to a notification error, the public hearing and consideration of the zoning change request would not occur and would be part of the P&Z meeting on Nov. 13. He acknowledged that several residents had shown up to speak on the item.
“Many of you probably wanted to speak tonight. You can still do that,” he said, noting that the citizen comment period made time available to residents who wanted to discuss the zoning change request. “You may also speak on Nov. 13, during either the public hearing that we have on that item or during the citizens comment period during that meeting, but not both at that meeting.”
Several residents did use the public comment period to voice their opinions on the zoning change request. The property owner, Lance Huber, seeks to rezone about 1.2 acres at the intersection of Baylor Avenue and Earle Street from Single Family 6 to Neighborhood Density 3. The change would double the number of homes that could be built on the property. Numerous neighbors shared concerns about parking, traffic, stormwater runoff and other issues.
Two Westover residents cited problems they have had with duplexes near their homes where garbage and old furniture ends up on the lawns and cars park in the streets.
Huber, the property owner, also spoke during the meeting in an attempt to relieve some of the neighbors’ concerns.
“These are single-family homes,” he said of his planned development. “They’re not duplexes, not apartments, they’re not multifamily. They are zero lot line family homes.”
Zero lot line construction means the houses can be located very close to a property line. This allows for smaller lot size and, Huber said, smaller lots can make houses more affordable.
In other business Tuesday night, P&Z approved conditional use permits for Ivar’s River Pub and Cheer and Chow restaurant. The Ivar’s permit allows for the sale of mixed beverages for on-premise consumption. The Cheer and Chow permit is to allow the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption at the restaurant’s new location. Cheer and Chow is moving in to the space previously occupied by Erbert and Gerbert’s.
