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 teacher for 9 years," Castillo said. "I do have a master's degree in curriculum instruction. I have my CDA certification. Been working with kids my whole life. My mom has a daycare here in Pharr. I am from Pharr originally, and I wanna come back home to be able to provide that same exceptional care that my mom has provided for the community." The conditional-use permit approved by the commission limits enrollment to a maximum of 12 children at a time, requires the provider to reside at the location, allows one unrelated employee in addition to family members, and imposes other standard home-occupation conditions. The permit is issued for one year and must be renewed by the owner 30 days before expiration; Villareal noted penalties and possible revocation for noncompliance.

The commission also approved a conditional-use permit and late-hours permit for Katosabi Sushi Bar, represented on the application by Martin Talavera, to allow on-premise alcohol sales at 1401 South Jackson Road, Suites 7 and 8, in a General Business District C. Villareal said 13 surrounding property owners were notified and staff received one informational call; police, fire, code, health and development services recommended approval. She told the commission the item is scheduled to go before the City Commission on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. The applicant made no comments at the planning hearing.

The commission approved a one-year conditional-use permit to allow an institutional-use school for the Possible Dream Foundation at 3000 North Cage Boulevard in a General Business District C. Darsha Cuellar, superintendent for Possible Dream Adult High School, spoke on behalf of Dr. Daniel P. King, the foundation's board president, and thanked the city for its support. "I'm serving as the superintendent for the Possible Dream Adult High School. I'm here on behalf of doctor Daniel p King," Cuellar said.

Roberto Martinez, planner III for the City of Pharr, presented two preliminary plats. The commission approved preliminary platting for The Reserve at Cage, a proposed 4.88-acre apartment site in the 3000 block of South Cage Boulevard (a property currently zoned RMF-HD). Martinez said development services recommended approval subject to standard conditions. The commission also approved the preliminary plat for Whitechapel Park, a proposed 13.84-acre townhouse subdivision in the 800 block of West Sam Houston Avenue; the parcel is currently zoned RMF-HD and AO and is designated for single-family residential and commercial use in the land-use plan. During discussion a presenter noted that existing older townhomes on the site would be demolished to allow the new development.

All planning items were approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or the names of individual commissioners who moved or seconded each motion. The commissioners closed public hearings on the conditional-use items after no members of the affected areas signed up to speak.

Votes at a glance

- Conditional-use permit (home daycare), Reyna Castillo dba The Kindergartner, 1300 S. Linden St.: Approved; conditions include one-year permit, maximum 12 children, provider residency requirement, one unrelated employee limit. (Staff: Joanna Villareal.)

- Conditional-use permit and late-hours permit (alcohol on premise), Martin Talavera dba Katosabi Sushi Bar, 1401 S. Jackson Rd., Suites 7–8: Approved; scheduled for City Commission consideration Aug. 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. (Staff: Joanna Villareal.)

- Conditional-use permit (institutional use school, one year), Possible Dream Foundation, 3000 N. Cage Blvd.: Approved. (Representative: Darsha Cuellar; Staff: Joanna Villareal.)

- Preliminary plat, The Reserve at Cage (approx. 4.88 acres), South Cage Blvd.: Approved. (Staff: Roberto Martinez.)

- Preliminary plat, Whitechapel Park (approx. 13.84 acres), W. Sam Houston Ave.: Approved; existing older townhomes on site expected to be removed. (Staff: Roberto Martinez.)

What happens next

The Katosabi Sushi Bar alcohol and late-hours permit will be scheduled before the City Commission on Aug. 18, 2025, at 4 p.m., as required for final approval of on-premises alcohol sales. Other approvals carry standard conditions and inspection requirements from city departments; the home-occupation daycare permit must be renewed annually.

(Report based on Planning and Zoning Commission meeting transcript and staff presentations.)