The Rockwall City Council on July 21 denied a request to change zoning for an 80.5‑acre tract north of Justin Road from agricultural to light industrial, rejecting a proposal the applicant said would allow a manufacturer to relocate a production facility to the property. The denial followed public comment from nearby residents and discussion about the site’s size and long‑term plan.

The request covered an 80.5‑acre parcel between John King Boulevard and FM 3549 that faces Justin Road; staff told council the property is adjacent to Union Pacific railroad right‑of‑way and sits in an area the comprehensive plan labels “technology and employment” but also flags as potentially suitable for a special commercial corridor. Planning and Zoning voted 7‑0 to recommend approval before the item reached council.

Residents who live behind the property opposed the rezoning at council, saying the land directly abuts the rail line and that industrial use would harm quality of life. “This zoning change harms the residents who’ve lived on Airport Road and back whose property backs up to this,” said Patty Cornelius Griffin, who identified her address and said she was speaking with neighbors; she urged council to reject the request. The applicant’s representative said the prospective tenant is Colmet, a metal‑processing company, and clarified the operation: “It is not an aluminum extrusion facility. It is basically… cold metal forms that become the product,” he said.

Council members who opposed the rezoning cited the parcel’s size and the absence of a site master plan. Several members said a Planned Development (PD) application with a concept plan would give the city more control over uses, screening and layout before approving a broad light‑industrial designation. Staff noted the property also sits adjacent to land recently approved for a super‑regional commercial center, a factor members said argues for a more cautious approach.

The matter was presented to council as a discretionary zoning decision; after discussion a motion to deny the rezoning was made and seconded and carried, leaving the property zoned as it was. Councilmembers said the applicant could return with a PD or with more detailed plans and buffering proposals.

The denial preserves the current agricultural/light‑industrial zoning split and leaves unanswered whether the site will ultimately become industrial or commercial; any new rezoning application would require fresh public notice, Planning & Zoning review and a council vote.