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Council approves contested PD‑H plan for 33 unit triplex development after residents’ protests
Summary
After public opposition and protest petitions from neighbors, the council approved a planned‑development (PD‑H) rezoning to allow 33 triplex units (101 parking spaces) on a 3.11‑acre site in south Odessa; council vote was 6–1 following debate about density, maintenance and enforcement.
The Odessa City Council approved a rezoning to a planned‑development housing district (PD‑H) that will allow a 33‑unit triplex development on a 3.11‑acre tract in south Odessa after a contentious public hearing in which neighbors protested the change.
Elizabeth, city planning staff, introduced the case on the June 10 agenda and said the applicant, Maverick Engineering, proposed 33 residential units in triplex buildings with two‑bedroom, two‑bath floor plans and 101 parking spaces — exceeding the 66 spaces required for two per dwelling unit. Planning staff noted the site is adjacent to commercial uses and that the developer agreed to add landscaping and fencing to address neighborhood concerns. Planning and Zoning had recommended denial (5–2), and staff noted the protest threshold exceeded 20 percent, requiring a super‑majority to approve the rezoning.
Andrew Mellon, representing Maverick Engineering, described the project and the developer’s commitments: “There’s gonna be fences. They’re gonna be 6 foot wood fences that are closed in. You can't see through them or out. There's gonna be additional landscaping. We're gonna go above and beyond ... We're gonna have security on the site. So there's gonna be cameras and things like that during construction. There's gonna be cameras and things like that after construction.”
Several neighbors spoke in opposition. Alberto Brito told the council, “We don't really want this to change to a PDH because it opens the door for a lot of different things that don't need to happen in the South Side. SF‑3 is what it's been zoned for.” Armando Rodriguez and other residents said they expected overflow parking on adjacent streets and expressed worries about transient tenants and late‑night noise. Edgar Favela, who identified himself as the owner, said he and his family will own and maintain the site and that he would pay for monthly landscaping: “I'll pay somebody to go take care of it monthly.”
Bill Cleaver, a longtime resident and local builder, supported the project and estimated the development’s construction value in the meeting at about $5,000,000, noting the applicant was not requesting city financial assistance.
Council debate focused on density, enforcement of site maintenance and whether single‑family development was feasible on the parcel. Councilman Mitchell, whose district includes the site, said the land had been vacant for 25 years and he supported the development. After discussion, Councilman Mitchell moved to approve; Councilman Tompkins seconded. The motion carried 6–1.
Why it matters: the approval adds 33 units in a neighborhood of single‑family homes, drawing a mix of resident concern about density, parking and maintenance and developer assurances about landscaping, fencing and security. Because the rezoning was approved as a PD, the council adopted the submitted site plan as the controlling exhibit; any future changes would require council review.
