Edinburg — The Edinburg City Council on Aug. 4 denied a rezoning and comprehensive‑plan amendment that would have changed two small, adjacent lots in the original town site to multifamily residential, and later approved a separate variance request for a commercial/mixed‑use property on North Business Highway 281.

In the zoning matter, Jaime Macedo, planning and zoning director, told the council staff recommended denial because the lots were too small to meet the city’s multifamily minimum (8,000 square feet). Macedo said the Planning & Zoning Commission had also denied the request 4–1. Council Member Jason Belon made the motion to follow staff’s recommendation to deny; council voted and the motion passed.

Nut graf: The denial keeps the city’s adopted lot‑size standard for multifamily development unchanged and reflects planning staff’s and the commission’s concern that the two small lots would set an inconsistent precedent with nearby multifamily developments on larger parcels.

Later the council considered a variance to the Unified Development Code for nonresidential/mixed‑use building placement standards at 1102 N. Business Hwy. 281, requested by JSCJ Investments LLC. The applicant sought relief related to setbacks because existing buildings on the irregular lot already sit at a 0‑foot setback. Planning staff recommended the variance for the current configuration but said future lots should meet the updated setbacks. The council approved the variance after a brief public exchange clarifying notification signage, P&Z action and the lot’s irregular shape.

What officials said: Macedo explained the multifamily denial was based on lot size and P&Z’s recommendation. During the variance discussion, council and staff noted this administration had added on‑site signage for variances and that the P&Z granted the requested relief to maintain existing building placement while asking that future development comply with new standards.

Decisions and consequences: The multifamily denial means the applicant’s request was not approved and the site remains in the current zoning/use designation. The variance approval allows the applicant to proceed with the proposed commercial plaza configuration that relies on the existing building footprint; staff told council any future lots created beyond this project will need to meet the city’s updated setbacks.

Ending: Planning staff will record the council decisions in the official zoning records; the applicant for the variance may proceed under the granted relief with the condition that future development adhere to updated placement standards.