Commission recommends rezoning of 209 Old Tyler Road to match existing residential use; moves to city council

The White House Planning and Zoning Commission on June 17 voted to recommend rezoning 209 Old Tyler Road (Tract 32.6A, about 2.992 acres) from commercial high intensity to residential medium density and will forward the matter to city council for final action.

The property owner, Josh Hawkins, told the commission he and his family bought the house about eight months ago and that the parcel connects to his parents’ property. Hawkins said the current commercial zoning creates practical problems for insurance and financing and prevents the house from being rebuilt if it were damaged beyond 50%.

“We’d like to stay long term,” Hawkins said, adding that the requested zoning would “allow us to get past a lot of the issues that it’s creating.” City staff briefed the commission that the property had been rezoned commercial in 2009 as part of the city’s Vision 2020 comprehensive-plan changes and that surrounding properties include a mix of commercial and residential zoning, with residential uses predominating to the south and west.

Staff added that public notice requirements were met and that no written objections had been received. The commission opened and closed a public hearing and then approved a motion recommending the rezoning; the item will now go to the city council for final action at its next meeting.

No vote tally with individual member votes was given in the record; the commission recorded the motion, a second and a unanimous “aye” on the recommendation.

The rezoning would align the property’s zoning with its long-standing residential use, simplify future sale or rebuilding of the home and resolve financing and utility complications cited by the owner.