Pharr commission shifts rezone request at 3801 N. Sugar Road to neighborhood commercial; motion carries

The Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 30 considered a rezoning request for a 1.11‑acre parcel at 3801 North Sugar Road and voted to grant neighborhood commercial zoning rather than the General Business District C originally requested by the applicant.

Joe Garza, assistant director of Planning & Zoning, presented the item and said the subject site is legally described as 1.11 acres, more or less, out of Lot 120, Kelly Farr Subdivision, with a physical address of 3801 North Sugar Road. Garza told the commission the property fronts North Sugar Road, described as a 70‑foot minor collector, and that surrounding parcels have varied rezoning histories. He said nine surrounding property owners were notified on Sept. 5 and legal notice was published Sept. 3; staff received no responses to the notices.

Garza said the property is designated for residential use in the city’s future land‑use plan and that Development Services recommended disapproval of rezoning to General Business District C, concluding it could “have the terminal impact to the neighborhood character and is not in line with the future land use plan.”

Raul Garcia, the consulting engineer representing the applicant (identified in the application as Rich Heritage Construction Inc.), described plans for a retail plaza with small services aimed at nearby residents. Garcia said, “If you look at it, I think we counted 480 potential families who will be living in that area,” and added the plaza would offer “barbershop, dental point, mom and pop grocery store” and similar neighborhood services.

Reuben Ruiz, identified in the record as representing Ridge/ Rich Heritage Construction, said his development behind the site — Wood Bridal Landing — will add 48 fourplexes (about 192 families) and referenced an existing 64 fourplexes nearby. Ruiz urged that the proposed plaza would provide walkable services for those residents.

Commissioners discussed alternative zoning that would better match the proposed uses. After the presentation the commission briefly entered a closed (executive) session “in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code,” returning to open session and then moving to grant neighborhood commercial (a smaller scale commercial zoning intended for barber shops, small retail, professional services and similar uses). A commissioner moved and the motion passed by voice vote.

Development Services’ original recommendation of disapproval and the commission’s eventual approval to rezone to neighborhood commercial were both entered on the record; the transcript does not show a roll‑call vote or the names of the motion’s mover and seconder. Garza said the item will proceed to the Pharr City Commission on Oct. 6, 2025, for final action.