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Housing authority may seek rezoning for proposed McAllen Towers project after density mismatch
Summary
Commissioners heard an update that the housing authority’s initial proposal for a 160‑unit senior building and below‑grade parking ran into a zoning/density mismatch. Staff and commissioners advised the authority to consider rezoning to achieve the project goals; public‑parking contributions by the city were discussed as a separate possible cost.
During the Jan. 14 workshop a commissioner updated the council about McAllen Towers, a proposed senior housing project by the local housing authority. The presenter said the authority had initially sought a project with roughly 160 senior units (an $18 million financing figure was mentioned) with parking below the building, but that the proposal ran into a zoning and density mismatch under the city’s rules.
Details cited at the meeting
- The housing authority sought an attainable‑housing density bonus that, as presented, assumed higher downtown maxima than the site’s underlying zoning allowed. Staff said the site’s underlying zoning limited density in ways that prevented the package the authority requested.
- Possible rezoning. Commissioners and staff said a rezoning could address the mismatch and give the authority additional time to finalize plans. The commissioner reporting the update said staff advised the housing authority to consider a rezoning request to align allowable density with the project’s design.
- Public parking discussions. Commissioners and staff noted that including public parking in a privately developed project would carry a cost to the city if the commission chose to subsidize spaces; conversations between the housing authority and city staff about parking were described as ongoing.
Next steps
The housing authority was told to re‑examine zoning and consider a rezoning application. Commissioners did not take formal action; staff said conversations about parking and the project’s next steps would continue.
Ending
No formal application or vote was recorded at the workshop. Commissioners and staff said they would continue discussions with the housing authority and that any rezoning or subsidy request would return to the commission for formal consideration.
