BRIDGEPORT, Texas — The Bridgeport City Council on July 14 adopted three ordinances to rezone 0.28-acre parcels in the Chance Stevens Addition from Manufactured Housing Park (MHP) to Two-Family District (R-2), allowing duplexes on lots commonly identified as 715, 717 and 719 Crittendon Street.

The rezoning passed by unanimous votes after a public hearing featuring nearby residents and the property owner’s representative. The council, development staff and neighbors debated parking, potential rental use and how the city enforces property maintenance.

The rezoning matters because the MHP zoning does not permit two-family residences; the change lets the property owner and a local builder construct duplexes rather than single-family or manufactured homes. Natalie, Development Director, told the council that the five-lot subdivision was recorded in 2020, that Lot 5 already has a single-family home, and that the applicant seeks the change to allow duplex development. She said a public notice ran in the Wise County Messenger on June 26 and that notification letters were mailed to property owners within 200 feet; she estimated about "20 to 30" letters were sent and reported two oppositions were received prior to the hearing.

Neighbor Carrie Ingram, who lives at 713 Crittendon Street adjacent to the subject lots, said she was opposed. "I am opposed, to this being a, a 2 family district," Ingram said, adding she had expected houses rather than duplexes and that introducing rentals into a predominantly owner-occupied neighborhood "just changes the dynamic of the neighborhood." Another resident, Jennifer Jackson, raised concerns about parking and recommended garages or carports to reduce curbside parking pressure on the narrow street.

Developer David Gomez, who said he is a partner in the ownership of the lots, described planned units as "duplex, but they're gonna be looking nice. I have built over here, like, 12 houses on Bridgeport... I tried to build 9 nice houses so that they look good and, you know, they can bring more value." Gomez told the council each duplex is planned to be about "2,200" square feet and said he could add garages if the council or neighbors preferred.

Staff, residents and councilmembers clarified regulatory limits: Natalie said straight zoning approvals cannot include conditions such as a homeowners association covenant; she noted that if the site had been proposed as a planned development, specific conditions could be required. She also said code enforcement handles post‑construction maintenance issues and that the city requires two off‑street parking spaces per unit. In the P&Z process, the commission recommended approval despite the objections, Natalie said.

Each of the three rezoning motions was approved by a voice/hand vote of 5-0. The motions were made at different points in the meeting: the Lot 4 (715) ordinance was moved by Councilmember Sylvia Ramirez and seconded by Susan Kaufman; the Lot 3 (717) ordinance was moved by Susan Kaufman and seconded by Bobby Rodriguez; the Lot 2 (719) ordinance was moved by Preston Brown and seconded by Van Hoos. The mayor thanked Carrie Ingram, David Gomez and the Jackson family for participating in the public hearing.

Discussion versus decision: councilmembers and staff repeatedly distinguished between discussion (concerns about rentals, parking and visual character), regulatory direction (staff explained P&Z recommendation, notice procedure and that code enforcement addresses maintenance), and formal action (three separate ordinance adoptions to rezone the three lots, each passing unanimously). Councilmembers noted that even if the rezoning had been denied, the site could still be developed under the existing MHP rules for single manufactured homes on individual lots.

Background details: the three subject parcels are part of a five-lot plat recorded in 2020 as the Chance Stevens Addition. P&Z held a public hearing and recommended approval. The city mailed notices to nearby property owners and published a legal notice in the Wise County Messenger on June 26. Zoning change enables duplex construction where the MHP district does not permit two-family dwellings.

For neighbors, the next step will be the standard building-permit process; the council and staff said final plans would be reviewed through normal permitting channels and that conditions such as garages cannot be imposed as part of a straight zone change.