[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6297026,"mediaKeyId","2511827-0322ac945842c07bde6e5f296cb00f6b","parentId",2511827,"title","Socorro P&Z approves two ordinances to ease planning requirements for minor utility facilities","audioSeconds",1240,"startMs",3780000,"endMs",5020000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2511827-0322ac945842c07bde6e5f296cb00f6b&start=3780&end=5020","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2511827-0322ac945842c07bde6e5f296cb00f6b/thumbnail_3780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297026/Socorro-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Socorro-PZ-approves-two-ordinances-to-ease-planning-requirements-for-minor-utility-facilities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297026-60466b3bbc30f5457a6bebe99d73b1da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197287&Signature=ba0u0k1J090sFIQIsGQSWM2zreKmnkKNeO1~F8SBChRSfhEKrZaiyf~Dlfq-R0h1mc~9pGEvMo1G3U7QjEQMaWeT54OK5wYFUSDHY~Tt~cE7-24ZNkUicZGdPEQChHQv5ycsI9R31dw4E9pVBpCoz6mDSEqspgsN~Z~Kb8yT54A~4nx245QkkotaT4wSpTgh66UKMjVxIB4MBHfoeWpusgZ7LfB5mmTnml~F57rWIGegroae59UMOkTZkK0p0yHncMysEuhX0rDF3JoAcAou5HBTWGv2vvlF7kiHqaT6vmsYCAyGnoLomRdBtwz63t3-cKcN9cKMIuW7vi8vwu0Zmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Socorro TX","date","2025-03-05T14:39:06Z","article","The Socorro Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 recommended approval of two ordinance amendments intended to streamline siting and expansion of minor utility facilities.

Staff described the first amendment as an addition to Chapter 38, Article 1, Section 38-4 of the City Code to add planning exemptions for certain public utilities — specifically electric company substations and other minor utility facilities — so that routine installations and expansions do not require a full platting process. Staff said the absence of explicit language created inconsistent practice and, at times, required unnecessary replats for routine utility work.

A second ordinance amends Chapter 46 (Article 1 and Article 4) to add clear definitions and to list permitted and conditional uses for utility facilities in various zoning districts. Staff reported they borrowed language from the Texas Local Government Code to define “minor” versus “major” utility facilities and to close gaps in the existing code. The staff presentation noted that the change does not replace franchise or interlocal agreements and that separate construction permits and approvals would still apply.

Commission discussion touched on whether the exemption would remove necessary oversight; staff and the commission said it is meant to reduce “red tape” for small-scale, public-purpose utility work while larger projects would still follow existing platting and permitting processes. A commissioner asked whether the city should consider a sunset clause to test the change; staff said other municipalities already include similar language and did not recommend a sunset but said the amendment simply corrects an omission in Socorro’s code.

Both ordinance amendments were moved and seconded and the commission recorded the motions as carried. Staff said the amendments are intended to help utilities, including El Paso Electric, respond more quickly to demand and to reduce repetitive platting steps for minor improvements. The commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to City Council for final consideration.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance amending Chapter 38, Article 1, Section 38-4 (planning exemptions for minor utility facilities): Motion to approve recorded (mover: Enrique Cisneros; second: Andrew Royos); motion carried. The transcript records an \"Aye\" vote and motion carried; full roll call not recorded.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 46, Article 1 and Article 4 (definitions, permitted uses, conditional uses for public utility facilities): Motion to approve recorded (mover: Andrew Royos; second: Andre Giesisnetos); motion carried. The transcript records an \"Aye\" vote and motion carried; full roll call not recorded.

What the ordinances would do: staff said the Chapter 38 change would exempt small utility facilities such as substations and minor utility installations (as defined in Chapter 46) from routine platting and planning submittals; the Chapter 46 changes add definitions for minor and major utility facilities and list where they are permitted or conditionally permitted in zoning districts. Staff emphasized that building permits and franchise/interlocal agreements remain separate requirements.

Next steps: Planning staff will forward the commission’s recommendations to City Council for final action. Staff said these amendments are intended as gap fixes that will also align with the city’s ongoing zoning code rewrite.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting March 03, 2025, @ 05:30 pm","oneSentenceSummary","The Socorro Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 recommended two ordinance amendments to ease planning requirements for minor utility facilities and to add definitions and permitted uses for utilities in the city code.","taxTitle","Socorro City, El Paso County, Texas","taxId",51022,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297031,"Socorro planning commissioners approve rezoning at 166 Tassie Way with limit of two units",3853,163000,4016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2511827-0322ac945842c07bde6e5f296cb00f6b&start=163&end=4016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2511827-0322ac945842c07bde6e5f296cb00f6b/thumbnail_163000.jpg","/articles/6297031/Socorro-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Socorro-planning-commissioners-approve-rezoning-at-166-Tassie-Way-with-limit-of-two-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297031-43b1ed75db12bfbf8814f365d8c3de99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197287&Signature=mThLKMbMTeLenys2f8VhwsyWi9HGMAjKzOF8sdfnVo-7Y7mzh9423xK8hkvGtjYSiVOKf0nPxjqIOxRKVCJWogIxX57uNNSn2jR3MvnR3SGtwsr3Rr5v3o70eoeDOEksuwcPKfcsEsDEq-taGuiRdJhmZ53RCWv~by87paXUHs6SrJBK3G03zZBNDmryL~dKxE0zSl7uYbD-BHuBREfEfoq9g8u381kglwHfqw8Oht2JcpONHhKzdhZwuKhPs7yC1fXyZI9aPLQDxMMav2ca4pnrRuybq0LuvsegfJanaZ--DVjrA9ULYgKx2pSkafzqzp3dmMJgb-fm9TdgAzrJng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Socorro Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 approved rezoning Lot 11, Block 2 of the Lehi Milpa Subdivision at 166 Tassie Way from R-1 (single-family residential) to R-2 (medium-density residential) with a condition that the property be developed with no more than two dwelling units and no accessory buildings.

The change was requested by property owners Eric and Yvonne Gomez Trujillo to allow up to three apartment units on the 9,060-square-foot lot; staff presented the request at the meeting and recommended approval. The applicant’s representative, Mr. Trujillo, was present and the public hearing drew multiple neighborhood speakers who said they preferred one unit but would accept two.

Commissioners focused discussion on whether the lot meets the city’s R-2 area requirements and how the code’s language treats ponding. Staff noted the lot is shown as “suburban residential” on the Socorro 2040 comprehensive plan and that, under the city’s current density formula (15 units per acre), the site could technically allow roughly 3.11 units. Staff also reported the site plan shows the required parking (1.5 spaces per unit, five spaces total) and an on-site ponding area.

Neighbors and commissioners raised two technical points repeatedly: (1) the code’s area-requirement text refers to a minimum lot area of 6,000 square feet “for areas with ponding” and 10,000 square feet “for areas without public ponding,” and (2) whether the ordinance language was intended to reference public ponding, on-site ponding, or both. Commissioners and staff traced the discrepancy in part to the subdivision’s age — the subdivision was recorded in March 1973, before the city’s 1989 Ordinance No. 76 that first adopted zoning regulations — and to inconsistent wording in the code that staff said should be clarified in the planned Unified Development Code rewrite.

During the meeting a motion to approve with a strict cap of two units and no accessory buildings failed on an initial vote. Following additional public comment and further discussion about neighborhood character, parking, and ponding, commissioners voted to approve the rezoning with the conditions limiting the parcel to two units or fewer and prohibiting accessory buildings. The motion was recorded as carried; the transcript does not include a full roll-call tally for the final vote.

What the action does and what happens next: the commission’s approval sends the rezoning recommendation to the City Council for final action. Commissioners and staff said the discussion highlighted ambiguities in the existing zoning code’s ponding and minimum-lot-area language; staff and consultants were asked to review and clarify those provisions during the code rewrite.

Public comments and developer response: Residents who spoke from the neighborhood — including Lourdes Almanza of 155 Tassie Way — said the block is small and quiet and preferred fewer units; Ms. Almanza told commissioners she and neighbors would prefer a single unit but would accept two. The applicant said he would consider redesigning as an attached duplex if needed and that his civil engineer had sized an on-site ponding area for the lot. A legal advisor present confirmed a neighboring property owner would have a private cause of action if construction caused damage to an adjacent house.

Clarifying technical details from the record: the property owners are Eric and Yvonne Gomez Trujillo; the lot is 9,060 square feet; the subdivision was recorded March 1973; R-2 area rules were discussed as stating 6,000 square feet minimum for areas with ponding and 10,000 square feet for areas without public ponding; parking requirement cited was 1.5 spaces per unit (five spaces for three units). The transcript records staff saying the presented site plan complies with area requirements for R-2 but commissioners limited the approval to two units.

The commission closed the public hearing at 6:28 p.m.; with the commission’s recommendation, the rezoning will next be considered by Socorro City Council on a later agenda.","The Socorro Planning and Zoning Commission approved rezoning of Lot 11, Block 2, Lehi Milpa Subdivision (166 Tassie Way) from R-1 to R-2 but conditioned the approval on a maximum of two dwelling units and no accessory buildings; commissioners debated minimum-lot-area language and ponding requirements in the city code.","actionData","errors"]

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Socorro P&Z approves two ordinances to ease planning requirements for minor utility facilities

Socorro planning commissioners approve rezoning at 166 Tassie Way with limit of two units