Lufkin council approves first-reading rezonings for Moore, Cimarron and Walter properties

The Lufkin City Council on a special call meeting conducted public hearings and approved on first reading ordinances to rezone three separate properties: 822 Moore Avenue to Local Business; 1615, 1701, 1705 and 1709 Cimarron Street to Duplex (with future land-use designation to Medium Density Residential); and 520 Walter Street to Residential Medium.

Kevin, a city staff member, told the council the request for 822 Moore Avenue was made by Isaac Lowe on behalf of KTTK Properties and covers 0.24 acres (Block 4, Lot 6 of the Oakland subdivision). "Staff recommends city council conduct a public hearing and consider approval on first reading of an ordinance changing the zoning to local business on property located at 822 Moore Avenue," Kevin said. He said the change is intended to allow a parking lot to serve a proposed medical clinic adjacent to the parcel and that the Comprehensive Plan designates the site as institutional. He also reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval.

For the four Cimarron Street parcels, Michael D. Parker, acting on behalf of Nathan Nicole Blakely, requested rezoning from Residential Large and Commercial to a Duplex zoning district to allow construction of duplex units. Kevin described the area as a mix of commercial, local business, and residential uses — noting nearby properties that include First Christian Church, DP Solutions, JRM Title Loan and Mike's Auto and AC — and said the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The staff report said the Comprehensive Plan currently designates the parcels as Commercial but staff found the proposed rezoning consistent with existing uses and recommended changing the future land-use designation to Medium Density Residential.

Michael D. Parker also presented the request for 520 Walter Street on behalf of Ronnie Frankens. Kevin said the Walter Street parcel is 2.96 acres, undeveloped, and wraps behind Strangers Rest Cemetery with frontage on Walter Street near Hackney Elementary School and Iglesia de Cristo. The requested change from Residential Large to Residential Medium is to allow construction of two single‑family site‑built homes; the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval unanimously and staff recommended first reading approval.

Councilmembers moved and seconded the ordinances and approved each on first reading by voice vote; no individual roll-call tallies were recorded in the minutes for these items. The council opened and closed the public hearings for each item; no members of the public spoke on these three zoning items during their respective hearings.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance (first reading): Change zoning to Local Business — 822 Moore Avenue (applicant: Isaac Lowe / KTTK Properties). Planning & Zoning: unanimous recommendation. Council action: approved on first reading (voice vote).

- Ordinance (first reading): Change zoning to Duplex and change future land-use to Medium Density Residential — 1615, 1701, 1705, 1709 Cimarron Street (applicant: Michael D. Parker on behalf of Nathan Nicole Blakely). Planning & Zoning: unanimous recommendation. Council action: approved on first reading (voice vote).

- Ordinance (first reading): Change zoning to Residential Medium — 520 Walter Street (applicant: Michael D. Parker on behalf of Ronnie Frankens). Parcel size reported as 2.96 acres. Planning & Zoning: unanimous recommendation. Council action: approved on first reading (voice vote).

The council's approvals advance each rezoning to a subsequent reading or ordinance process; the first-reading actions do not finalize zoning changes until any legally required subsequent steps are completed.