Commission approves rezoning for 7‑acre site near North Loop for self‑storage and retail, with bridge and buffer conditions

The El Paso City Planning Commission approved rezoning of an approximately 7‑acre vacant site northwest of Zaragoza and west of North Loop to C1 and C2 to permit a proposed self‑storage facility and retail center, planning staff said.

Staff said the site plan is conceptual and not binding, and described the recommended conditions: (1) improve and construct the Pelway bridge crossing over the Juan De Herrera Lateral to city standards per Title 19 (subdivisions) and Title 18 (building and construction), (2) provide a 10‑foot landscape buffer where the site abuts residential zone districts (except where adjacent to planned residential), (3) ensure commercial truck loading/unloading areas are at least 20 feet from any residential lots, and (4) submit a detailed site development plan for review under El Paso City code.

The applicant representative, Andre Cayla of CAT Consulting, concurred with staff comments; the Mission Valley Civic Association provided a letter of support. During public comment Silvia Carreon said the association had previously opposed higher‑intensity C3 zoning but approved the reduced C2/C1 approach; she asked that truck access be limited to passenger‑vehicle types for storage delivery.

Commissioners approved the rezoning by motion and voice vote. Staff and the applicant emphasized that detailed engineering and platting will address access and the bridge improvements, and that the conceptual site plan may change during subsequent reviews.

Staff recommendation: approval with conditions (bridge improvement, landscape buffer, truck loading limits, detailed site plan). Applicant: CAT Consulting/Andre Cayla. Outcome: approved (voice vote; numerical tally not specified).