Planning commission asks city to consider an 'SPI Ecotourism District' designation
Loading...
Summary
The South Padre Island Planning and Zoning Commission voted to request that City Council review designating an area west of Padre Boulevard — including the Birding and Nature Center and Sea Turtle, Inc. — as the SPI Ecotourism District to support ecotourism, education and grant eligibility without changing zoning rules.
The Planning and Zoning Commission of South Padre Island voted to ask City Council to review designating the area west of Padre Boulevard — from the north side of the Convention Center to the south side of Sea Turtle, Inc. — as the “SPI Ecotourism District.” Carrie, a commission member who introduced the item, said the designation is meant to promote the island’s ecological and cultural attractions without altering existing zoning.
Commissioner Carrie told the commission the district would encompass the Birding and Nature Center and Sea turtle-related attractions that draw tens of thousands of visitors annually and could help marketing and grant applications similar to the city’s Art District designation. “Ecotourism now is huge,” Carrie said, arguing the designation could support future convention center or theater projects while focusing on habitat preservation and year-round educational programming.
Carrie said the change would be a name and marketing designation, not a zoning change, and would not in itself restrict development. She described potential partnerships with Texas A&M, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, ornithology clubs, the National Audubon Society and the Wyland Foundation to expand educational programming and to pursue grants. A commissioner asked whether the designation would change what could be built; Carrie replied it would not, and that existing allowable uses — including hotels — would remain.
Commission members raised questions about land ownership and approvals. Commissioners were told Sea Turtle, Inc. owns its property, the convention center sits on leased land and some parcels in the proposed area are privately owned; approvals from any affected owners and from the county would be required for site-specific changes. Carrie said the idea is to “embrace our ecology” and use the designation to highlight ecological attractions in advertising and partnership outreach.
The commission voted to send the request to City Council for review and recommendations. The motion to forward the designation passed on a voice vote with no opposition recorded.
The request will now appear on the City Council’s docket for consideration and any subsequent recommendations or changes to policy, grant-seeking or signage would be handled at that level.
