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Crockett council approves rezoning strip between MLK Jr. Blvd. and Goliad for residential use
Summary
After a public hearing, the Crockett City Council voted to adopt Planning & Zoning Commission recommendations to change a band of land currently zoned manufacturing to residential zoning (R‑2 or R‑3) to reflect existing homes and limit future industrial uses.
The Crockett City Council on July 21 approved a Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation to amend the zoning map for a strip of properties generally bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Sycamore Street, West Goliad Avenue and Burleson Avenue, changing many parcels from M (Manufacturing, Warehousing and Wholesale) to R‑2 (two‑family) or R‑3 (multifamily) residential designations.
City staff said the change was prompted by requests from local property owners and by the reality that much of the strip already contains houses and vacant lots rather than active manufacturing. “Residential seems to be the prominent use,” a city staff presenter said during the council meeting, noting infrastructure such as streets, water and sewer in the area is not built to support heavy manufacturing uses.
The rezoning was presented as a way to protect existing homeowners from the prospect of new industrial businesses moving next to residences without a specific-use review process. The staff presentation said allowing manufacturing uses to remain could permit a business like a tire shop or other heavy commercial use to move next to long-standing homes and create noise or nighttime activity that residents did not expect.
Gloria Baker, a property owner at 808 Sycamore Street who could not attend in person, submitted a letter read into the record urging the council to make the area residential. “My goal is to ensure the area listed being residential only. I recommend planning and zoning for residential,” Baker wrote and the presenter read aloud.
Councilmembers asked questions about how the map change would affect the first block nearest West Bell Avenue, and staff explained two small blocks would remain designated for commercial/manufacturing uses because existing structures there appeared to require demolition or further planning before any change. Staff also said property owners received certified notices and signage in the area before the public hearing and that those who responded were in favor of rezoning.
The council closed the public hearing and, after a motion to consider and approve the Planning & Zoning Commission’s final report, voted in favor. Council recorded the motion as carried; no roll‑call vote count was provided in the minutes.
Officials said the amendment is intended to prevent spot zoning that would allow industrial uses to establish beside established homes and to allow homeowners and prospective residential developers to proceed under residential standards.
The council did not adopt a map text amendment that would change infrastructure standards; staff said future development in the newly rezoned blocks will still require site planning, and that properties that seek commercial uses would need to request specific approvals from the Planning & Zoning Commission and council.
The zoning item followed staff presentation, public comment (including the submitted letter from Gloria Baker) and council discussion. The measure passed by motion and second with the mayor and council in favor.
Looking ahead, staff said property owners who want a commercial or specific use on a residential block may still apply for a special permit through the Planning & Zoning Commission and that enforcement or cleanup will be handled by code enforcement when needed.
