Council approves five zoning changes and an annexation agreement during consolidated public hearing

The Lubbock City Council unanimously approved five zoning changes and authorized an annexation/municipal services agreement during a consolidated public hearing on April 22.

Kristin Sager, director of planning, summarized each case and noted the planning and zoning commission had recommended approval of each zone change by unanimous votes. The cases and staff notes included:

- Zone Case 35-20 (applicant Hugo Reed and Associates): request to rezone from SF‑2 (low-density single-family) to Light Industrial; property vacant and bounded by city limits; future land-use map designates industrial uses; staff recommended approval. No public responses received in the mailed notice.

- Zone Case 19-O-1-A (applicant 7B Building & Development LLC): request to rezone from Medium Density Residential and Neighborhood Commercial to Auto Urban Commercial for a proposed car wash near 50th and Slide Road; staff recommended approval; 26 notices sent with five in favor and one opposition citing traffic and noise concerns.

- Zone Case 3519 (applicant AMD Engineering LLC): request to rezone from SF‑2 to Auto Urban Commercial at Quaker and Woodrow; future land-use designated low-density residential but the comprehensive plan anticipates a commercial node at the intersection; staff recommended approval.

- Zone Case 3518 (applicant AMD Engineering LLC): request to rezone from SF‑2 to Heavy Commercial south of Loop 88 east of Milwaukee Avenue; property currently owned by a church with development concept showing the church on the southern portion and commercial fronting Loop 88; staff recommended approval.

- Zone Case 35-21 (applicant AMD Engineering LLC): request to rezone from SF‑2 to Neighborhood Commercial north of 104th west of Milwaukee Avenue; staff noted only about three of the roughly 15 acres are buildable and that the future land‑use map designates low-density residential, but the neighborhood-commercial designation was judged appropriate given proximity to Milwaukee Avenue.

Planning staff also presented item 7.6, an annexation/municipal services agreement for approximately 21.8 acres south of Loop 88 and west of Milwaukee Avenue; staff said if council approved the agreement an ordinance to enact annexation would return at the next meeting. Sager explained the agreement lists services the city will provide (police, fire, GIS, building safety, animal services) while infrastructure (water, sewer, paving) is the developer's responsibility under the terms presented.

Multiple applicants and representatives spoke in favor during the hearing. Will Stevens of AMD Engineering described plans for approximately six acres near Liberty High School intending a car wash and related development; Terry Holman of Hugo Reed and Associates said the light-industrial request was a logical next step after recent annexation of the property.

A motion to approve items 7.1 through 7.5 carried unanimously (motion by Dr. Wilson; second by Mayor Pro Tem). A separate motion to approve the annexation/municipal services agreement (item 7.6) also passed unanimously (motion by Mayor Pro Tem; second by Dr. Wilson). The transcript records unanimous approval for all matters; no roll-call vote counts or opposing councilmembers were recorded in the hearing portion of the transcript.

Ending: Staff said the annexation ordinance will be brought back for formal adoption at the next council meeting if council's approval of the agreement stands; applicants may proceed with development review consistent with the new zoning after the ordinance is adopted.