[{"_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",6268903,"mediaKeyId","3048654-52ecfee1b7dc7a9d2709d9bd79a760e3","parentId",3048654,"title","Commission approves multiple plats and rezoning items; denies some zone changes following public comment","audioSeconds",1416,"startMs",104000,"endMs",1520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048654-52ecfee1b7dc7a9d2709d9bd79a760e3&start=104&end=1520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048654-52ecfee1b7dc7a9d2709d9bd79a760e3/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268903/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Commission-approves-multiple-plats-and-rezoning-items-denies-some-zone-changes-following-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268903-03e646b87f8795f346f709720769312e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260728&Signature=P~xpsoaeK-q86U5Z9fZC2bAE~o06SLKKpljg38df39P0PRVIbc8XxbpLVghjwF7pBeWrKXrUWu1vFT52kWDB9tPAoP3f6E-1ypoKFoa9BTgwGmBTAJy1zeKZj90IcEZTFVpiF9TweUgPxrOMvYROFqTYGfIh~Jw5eldE9zFBN0mmt-OuH~jvzIJA6plK0pk9J~WCBJYftfI5Q7IvQKNUX3NljPwnoELmSoRXw8d6HC8q2Cyx~omo2lkiCTaiWydYvCjM8RyrVJRmHty0WnYbKGRtH-P-yg3JRyjiPwXv6UOhZKemmX-mWE1YFb-O6p60j4A6N4zYjpkQO7KfViCROA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-04-18T08:40:29.357Z","article","The commission considered multiple zoning map amendments, preliminary plats and final replats and recorded a series of votes: it rejected two rezoning requests that staff opposed, approved several rezonings and plats supported by staff, and approved a conditional-use permit for a hospital (separately reported). The meeting record shows motions and votes on items including Lot 1 Block 9 Santa Rita Subdivision (901 Lope De Vega Drive), Lot 8 Block 1512 Eastern Division (2502 East Frost Street), Lots 8 and 10 Block 347 Eastern Division (2802 Springfield Avenue), a roughly 3.05-acre AG→M1 rezoning south of FM 1472 and east of Iron Mine Road, and multiple preliminary and final plats.

Why it matters: These votes affect future land use in several Laredo neighborhoods and advance commercial and industrial plats and subdivisions that will shape development and services. Several decisions followed staff recommendation while others did not, and at least one public commenter urged denial on neighborhood-protection grounds.

Key items and outcomes

- 901 Lope De Vega Drive (Lot 1, Block 9, Santa Rita Subdivision, Phase 14): Applicant Oscar de Aleniza requested rezoning from R-1A to R-1MH to allow a manufactured home. Staff did not support the zone change. The commission closed the public hearing and supported staff’s recommendation (the rezoning did not advance). The staff presentation recorded 4 notices of opposition inside 200 feet and additional notices outside the 200-foot radius.

- 2502 East Frost Street (Lot 8, Block 1512, Eastern Division): Jose and Miriam Ramirez requested rezoning from R-1 to R-3 to allow a second single-family dwelling at the rear of the lot. Staff did not support the change; resident Fernando Valdez spoke in opposition citing narrow streets, traffic and a primarily elderly population. The commission closed the public hearing and voted with staff to deny the rezoning.

- 2802 Springfield Avenue (Lots 8 and 10, Block 347, Eastern Division): Applicant Antonia Margarita Vigil (owner) with Samantha Yvonne de Leon as applicant/representative requested rezoning from B-1 to R-3 to allow a manufactured home as a second dwelling. Staff supported the request; the commission voted to follow staff’s recommendation and approved the zone change.

- 3.05-acre tract south of FM 1472 and east of Iron Mine Road: Applicants Jose J. Gutierrez and Judith E. Gutierrez requested rezoning from AG to M-1 for industrial use. Staff supported the change; the commission voted to approve it with no recorded opposition in the hearing.

- Preliminary and final plats: The commission approved several plats and replats, including the preliminary replat of San Ysidro Southwest detention/retail, the final replat of North Laredo Industrial Park Phase 5 (to combine Lots 4 and 5, Block 4), model subdivision compliance items for Bartlett Holdings and Porras Nance Engineering projects, and final plats for El Eden Subdivision Unit 24 and Las Andes Subdivision Phase 2. One preliminary plat (Calle Del Norte Springfield) was tabled to a time certain at the applicant's request to resolve a planning department right-of-way comment.

Public comment and staff positions

Staff recommendations are recorded for each item and differ by case: some zone-change requests recorded staff support (for instance, 2802 Springfield and the AG→M1 change), while others recorded staff opposition (901 Lope De Vega and 2502 East Frost). Public comment influenced the record: Fernando Valdez explicitly opposed the Frost Street rezoning, citing neighborhood character and traffic.

Votes at a glance

- 6a: 901 Lope De Vega Drive (R-1A→R-1MH) — staff: do not support — commission: closed hearing and supported staff recommendation (rezoning not approved).

- 6b: 2502 East Frost Street (R-1→R-3) — staff: do not support — public comment opposing — commission: closed hearing and followed staff recommendation (rezoning not approved).

- 6c (2802 Springfield Ave): B-1→R-3 — staff: supports — commission: approved.

- 6e: ~3.05 acres south of FM 1472 & east Iron Mine Road (AG→M-1) — staff: supports — commission: approved.

- Plats approved (preliminary/final/model compliance): San Ysidro Southwest replat (commercial), North Laredo Industrial Park Phase 5 (final replat), CAL Real Estate Holdings preliminary plat (commercial), El Eden Subdivision Unit 24 (final), Las Andes Subdivision Phase 2 (final), Bartlett Holdings replats (model subdivision compliance). Calle Del Norte Springfield preliminary plat was tabled to a time certain to address an additional right-of-way comment.

The transcript records motions, seconds and multiple unanimous “Aye” responses for many items; specific roll-call tallies are not recorded in the excerpted text for every vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 04/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved several plats and rezoning requests (including a B1→R3 change at 2802 Springfield Ave and an AG→M1 change south of FM 1472) and denied or followed staff opposition on other rezoning requests (including 901 Lope De Vega and 2502 East Frost). Several preliminary and final plats advanced.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"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},6268908,"Commission approves ClearChoice ER conditional-use permit to add five inpatient beds over staff objection",778,611000,1389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048654-52ecfee1b7dc7a9d2709d9bd79a760e3&start=611&end=1389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048654-52ecfee1b7dc7a9d2709d9bd79a760e3/thumbnail_611000.jpg","/articles/6268908/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Commission-approves-ClearChoice-ER-conditional-use-permit-to-add-five-inpatient-beds-over-staff-objection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268908-4bac9c89732c46e3a8e1ec61b00148bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260728&Signature=IE~wXG6R68A43HXj3X48Gw6lS4TOxe8Ceyaynci7oRO4SObo377r1LM6n-YYgx1uHMinZcAPgoAn7w-I4I5FzPLAu08bQwTlJLg0wpsmmmSJrOAnvDptzeqXdG5-mvL-jInEDi-sBMLHUFd9pz7~4g22qj3YyiOJHQirW9SkjPFM0z-b21DbORAYPNL1C-s1xMqj7rHfBiSeQzBnFS65GAg3otB3a1r7kha1HYwnwffCAZxs5C9T7o3gwVk4nUmYPD0A5dHP9TbsmRxcHS5D6tPXBOZTTZgokXnmZpwPXAA56mr8AqvxW3s5gZpc46Lm1sbJv8o6UA7SGZ6LRpAwdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission voted to approve a conditional-use permit (CUP) for ClearChoice Emergency Room at 1701 and 1705 North Bartlett Avenue, allowing the facility to seek a hospital license and add five inpatient beds and surgical rooms despite a staff recommendation against the permit. The motion to close the public hearing and support the CUP passed following applicant presentations and questions from commissioners.

The commission’s action matters because the CUP would change the facility’s status from a freestanding emergency clinic to a licensed hospital with inpatient capacity, which the applicants said will allow more patients to be treated locally instead of transferred to other hospitals. Staff told commissioners it did not support the CUP, citing proximity to residential dwellings, potential noise and traffic impacts, and the site’s scale relative to typical hospital locations in the city’s comprehensive plan.

Representatives for the applicant said the change reflects a licensing and service expansion rather than an intent to operate a large hospital. Edward Ochoa of ACI Technology introduced the applicant team; Jacob Puig, vice president of ClearChoice Emergency Room, described the licensing difference: “We are going to be applying for a hospital license in the state of Texas. They don't differentiate between the size of a hospital that you're trying to build. Right? You can build one with one room. You can build one with 500 rooms. It's the same licensure.” Puig and Oscar Wheatthrone, identified in the record as chief operating officer, said the facility would add five inpatient beds and surgical rooms and expand some existing services such as onsite laboratory and imaging.

Applicants and their representative addressed several conditions staff proposed. The record shows a code-based requirement for an opaque fence or wall of no less than seven feet in height; the applicant asked the commission to consider that an existing block wall along the property rear — described by the applicant as about five to six feet on the applicant’s side and six feet or more on the residents’ side — might be sufficient because the wall is owned by neighboring residents and not the applicant. A planning staff member explained that the fence requirement is part of the code and would apply regardless of whether it appears explicitly in the CUP conditions.

Commissioners questioned operational details and community impacts. Commissioners asked whether the facility currently transfers higher-acuity patients by ambulance and whether approving inpatient beds would reduce transfers; applicants said transfers happen now (about 45–50 times last year, per the record) and that adding inpatient beds would likely reduce transfers. Commissioners also discussed roadway and land-use context: staff noted Bartlett’s designation in the long-range thoroughfare plan as changing from arterial to collector in parts but observed it operates like an arterial and has multiple lanes.

Members of the public spoke in favor, including an unnamed resident who described a recent personal experience: “I was there two weekends ago. My husband had an emergency. Ambulance came. It was very convenient. We lived in Alexander. No sirens. No anything. The service was excellent.”

After discussion, a commissioner moved to close the public hearing and go against staff’s recommendation to support the CUP; the motion was seconded and passed. The transcript records the motion and the chair calling “All in favor? Aye,” followed by “Motion passes.” The record does not show a roll-call vote or counts in the transcript excerpts.

The CUP approval permits the applicant to pursue the required hospital licensure and obligates the applicant to observe any code-required improvements and the site-specific conditions the commission imposes. The transcript indicates the site plan submitted with the CUP will be attached to the ordinance, limiting future expansion unless the commission approves a change.

The item advanced by vote at the meeting; the transcript does not specify final permit conditions, a timeline for implementation, or any required follow-up reporting to the commission.","The commission voted to grant a conditional-use permit allowing ClearChoice Emergency Room to seek hospital licensure and add five inpatient beds and surgical rooms at 1701–1705 North Bartlett Ave, overturning staff's recommendation against the permit.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission approves multiple plats and rezoning items; denies some zone changes following public comment

Commission approves ClearChoice ER conditional-use permit to add five inpatient beds over staff objection