Planning commission backs rezoning and three-year conditional permit for Milk Street auto shop

The Laredo Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 19 recommended that city council rezone two adjacent lots at 1802 and 1804 Milk Street and approved a conditional-use permit allowing an auto body repair, paint and body shop to operate there, while adding a three-year expiration condition and several operational requirements.

The action applies to Lot 7 and Lot 8, Block 2084, Eastern Division — properties owned by Juan Garcia and Willida Garcia — and was recommended to city council by a 3-2 vote on the rezoning request. The commission separately approved the conditional-use permit with the additional three-year condition; the CUP was passed by the commission and will still require all applicable building, floodplain and environmental permits before the business may legally operate.

The commission’s staff report said the property is currently zoned R-3 (mixed residential) and that staff did not support converting the site to a B-1 (limited business) district because the area is “predominantly residential” and the change would not conform with the comprehensive plan. Staff also listed multiple…