Pharr planning commissioners approve home daycare, alcohol permit, school use and two subdivision plats

The City of Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission approved five land-use applications at its Aug. 4 meeting, including a conditional-use permit for a home-based daycare limited to 12 children and a conditional-use and late-hours permit for on-premises alcohol sales at a sushi restaurant. The commission also approved a one-year institutional-use permit for an adult high school and preliminary plats for two residential developments.

Planning staff presented the items and recommended approval. Joanna Villareal, planner I for the City of Pharr, told the commission that Reyna Castillo, doing business as The Kindergartner, applied for a conditional-use permit to operate a home-occupation daycare at 1300 South Linden Street in an R-1 single-family residential district. Villareal said the proposed hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 33 surrounding property owners were notified, and staff received two written oppositions. Fire and health inspections were completed and earlier deficiencies had been resolved. "Development services is recommending approval of the condition to use permit to allow a home occupation day care in a single family residential district R 1 subject to the applicant and site being in compliance with all city ordinances and city department requirements," Villareal said.

Applicant Reyna Castillo addressed the commission, citing her background in education. "I'm a teacher. I've been a…