Council approves industrial rezoning along Military Highway amid resident concerns about possible future expressway alignment

The Mission City Council voted unanimously Monday to rezone several parcels along Military Highway from agricultural to light industrial, a move developers said will allow planned industrial development even as nearby residents expressed concern about a potential future expressway alignment. Nut graf: Residents asked the council to acknowledge that the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) has shown a possible western loop alignment near the properties and to explain the timeline. City staff said portions of the corridor have been environmentally cleared and that the RMA has publicly posted an alignment approved by TxDOT, but added the timing of any right‑of‑way action is uncertain. Three separate rezoning items affecting parcels near Military Highway and the planned expressway were presented to the council. Staff recommended approval on all items; the council approved the rezonings and adopted ordinances 56 94, 56 95 and 56 96, recorded during Monday's meeting. Resident Julio Serra told the council he and neighbors want the record to reflect that they are opposed to any alignment cutting through developed parcels and that they have seen no recent RMA public outreach. "We haven't spoken to [RMA] in probably about 4 years," Serra said, and asked that the council note the neighbors' objections on the record. City planning staff told the council they had invited RMA representatives to the meeting and that staff had spoken with RMA staffer Ramon Navarro, who told city staff the area is "environmentally cleared" and that documentation regarding right‑of‑way procurement had been provided to the city. Staff also emphasized that under state law the city cannot impose conditions on a rezon