The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 13 approved a rezoning request for 15051 Veterans Memorial Highway, changing the parcel from C-1 (commercial low density) to I-2 (industrial medium density) to reflect its current use as a truck freight terminal.

Commission staff told the commission the request would not introduce new development and is intended to align the zoning map with existing operations on the 33.35-acre site. "No developments proposed with this request, and there's no change to the current business operations. They will continue to operate as is," Planning and Zoning Administrator Sean Myers said.

The rezoning was approved with a condition restricting the property to use as a truck freight terminal with related logistics and transportation operations; any other industrial uses would require review and approval by the commission and city council. The motion to approve the rezoning as amended passed; one commissioner opposed and Commissioner Newton abstained from the vote. There were no members of the public who spoke for or against the request during the public hearing.

The applicant, Richard Kangemi, president and CEO of East West Express, told the commission he opened the business at the site in 1988 and has operated there continuously since. "We put several million dollars into the... construction," Kangemi said, and added the company currently employs about 200 people regionally. He told the commission he had no objection to the condition limiting the property to trucking operations: "Yes. I'm not building a refrigerated warehouse... I'm a trucker. We're into trucking business."

Staff presentation said the site is bordered by Interstate 20 to the south, Veterans Memorial Highway to the north and a railroad corridor, and that the surrounding area is predominately industrial in character with nearby traffic-signal contractors, construction firms, U-Haul and boat storage, and warehouses. Staff also noted the parcel is in the East Village character area and that the future land development map allows industrial activity in this corridor.

The commission and city attorney discussed a 2021 variance that allowed a 12-acre gravel parking area on the site despite the code requirement for a hardened surface. Staff said such variances do not establish citywide precedent, though similar variances have been granted elsewhere. The 12-acre gravel lot was developed under the 07/13/2021 variance; staff said paved building pads, driveways and customer parking on the site are improved and paved.

City Attorney Kevin (last name not provided in the record) clarified on the public record that the rezoning condition would limit the site to the current truck-terminal use and that, without such a condition, other I-2 uses allowed by right could be established without returning to the commission. Staff explained the condition was proposed to limit potential future uses that could produce greater impacts, noting some I-2 uses (for example, certain heavy industrial operations) could be undesirable near nearby properties, including a school referenced by staff.

The commission’s approval locks the zoning to I-2 for the parcel subject to the condition; staff and the city attorney noted the truck-terminal use also runs with the property as a grandfathered/vested use. The record shows no scheduled changes to operations, no new construction proposed, and no public opposition during the hearing.

The rezoning item was identified on the agenda as RAD-02-25, parcel Partial 01450250037. The commission opened and closed a public hearing on the request during the meeting and then voted to approve the rezoning with the condition limiting the site to truck freight terminal operations unless the applicant later returns for a different approval.

Looking ahead, staff said any future change in use beyond the condition would require either an amendment to the future land development map or a future rezoning and approval by the commission and city council.