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Council rezones city-owned property for proposed emergency homeless shelter despite public opposition
Summary
City-initiated rezoning of approximately 6.79 acres on Liberty Street and Atkinson Avenue to allow an emergency homeless shelter and transitional housing was approved 5–0. Neighbors and commenters raised concerns about placing a shelter in a flood plain and impacts to waterways and nearby schools.
KILLEEN, Texas — The Killeen City Council on June 17 approved a city-initiated request to rezone roughly 6.789 acres of city-owned land near Liberty Street and Atkinson Avenue from R-1 (single-family) to R-3A (multifamily apartment residential) to allow construction of an emergency homeless shelter and related supportive services.
City planning staff presented the request as part of the city’s adopted homeless and mental health strategic plan and said the proposed facility would provide temporary emergency housing and services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Staff noted the property is within the neighborhood infill area and is designated as campus and flood plain on the future land use map. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 5–0.
During the public hearing, several residents urged council to reconsider the site. Melissa Brown said placing a shelter in a flood plain near Nolan Creek and the Leon River watershed was inappropriate and risks trash and other contaminants entering waterways; she also said the council had not decided how to finance the facility. Brown and other speakers argued that flood-prone lands are commonly used for parks and that locating a shelter in a flood plain sends the wrong signal to residents and to the shelter population.
City staff answered procedural questions and said rezoning would permit development of the proposed emergency facility; design, funding and final approvals would follow. Legal staff confirmed that if the council later chose a different direction for the site the zoning could be changed again under normal zoning procedures.
The council voted 5–0 to approve the rezoning. Councilmember Segarra moved to approve the city-initiated rezoning and Councilmember Kendrick seconded.
Council members and staff noted additional project steps, including site design, funding decisions and environmental/engineering work to address floodplain issues before any shelter construction begins.
