Hurst council approves first reading to rezone small parcel for Hearst Business Park flex spaces

Hurst City Council on Tuesday approved on first reading Ordinance 2608 (Z-2025-3), a zoning change and site plan for the Hearst Business Park that rezones a 0.08-acre parcel at 708 Westhurst Boulevard from mobile-home zoning to an outdoor commercial planned development.

The change, presented by city planning staff member Michelle and applicant representatives from Riverbank Capital, would allow two small buildings with parking facing the street and a shared loading area. Steven Rivers, a representative of Riverbank Capital, told the council the development is intended as “flex space” for small businesses and that heavy trucks are not expected to use the bay doors on the units.

Michelle said the project will meet Highway 10 landscape setbacks, provide sidewalks along Highway 10, and must include a six-foot masonry wall along the north perimeter adjacent to the mobile-home park as required by ordinance; she said the developer will keep the main drive into the mobile-home park open.

Council members asked about vehicle access and tenant types. Rivers said tenants typically include electricians, plumbers and similar trades, and that architects and engineers have also shown interest. He said loading would generally be light and might use hand trucks or dollies rather than large delivery vehicles.

Mayor (unnamed) moved approval of Ordinance 2608 on first reading; a second was made, and the council adopted the item by voice vote. The motion carried.

The site plan and the requirement for the masonry wall will be enforced under the planned-development permit; staff said standard landscape and setback requirements for Highway 10 will apply. The applicant did not request any changes to existing access to the adjacent mobile-home park.

The ordinance proceeds as a first reading; the council may take final action on a subsequent reading per city procedure.