Anna planning commission recommends approval for four-unit building at East Seventh and Easton

The City of Anna Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously July 7 to recommend approval of a request to rezone about 0.149 acres at the northwest corner of East Seventh Street and Easton Drive from Single-Family 1 (SF-1) to the Downtown Neighborhood district and to grant a specific-use permit for a four-unit multifamily dwelling.

The request, presented as a combined rezoning and specific-use permit application, would permit a two-building, two-story development containing four one-bedroom units, each with an attached one-car garage; the applicant estimated unit sizes of about 850 to 950 square feet. Planning staff recommended approval subject to development in accordance with the concept plan, a maximum of four residential units, and garages for each unit plus required visitor parking.

Commissioners and staff emphasized why the proposal comes before the panel: the property currently carries SF-1 zoning, a legacy district that the staff described as inconsistent with the downtown land-use pattern. Lauren (planning staff) told commissioners the site is on the edge of the downtown core and downtown neighborhood districts and that the city’s future land-use map designates the parcel as “urban living,” which supports higher-density, walkable housing types. Lauren also explained the city’s current parking standard: two resident spaces for a two-bedroom-or-larger unit, one space for a studio or one-bedroom, and 0.25 visitor spaces rounded up; 50% of required resident spaces must be covered. Under that formula, staff said the proposal provides four resident spaces (all in garages) and one visitor space, meeting the ordinance’s minimum.

Neighbors who spoke at the public hearing opposed the plan on size and traffic grounds. Brooke Hendricks (405 Eastern Street) said the lot is small relative to the proposal and warned of parking pressure: “You don't have room for 8 cars. And plus the city sooner or later is gonna turn that spot the road...So now you've got a whole lot less.” Ryan Long (411 Eastern Street) cited bus traffic and existing congestion near adjacent buildings: “There's almost no way to get around in there during the school year already without having multiple cars added to the area.” Those speakers asked commissioners to visit the site before approving denser development.

The applicant, Fia Zvitiano (1001 E. Hebron Parkway), described the design as a townhouse-style arrangement with garages underneath and stairs to upper units. Zvitiano said unit footprints would be “around 850 to 950” square feet and that the garage design is intended to keep parking visually consistent with single-family character.

Commission discussion ranged from technical questions about parking and unit sizes to broader downtown planning. Commissioners and staff noted several downtown projects under consideration that, they said, would increase pedestrian activity and eventual street improvements near the site. The record also shows the Board of Adjustment granted variances for front- and side-yard setbacks and lot dimensions in November 2023 for the parcel; staff said those variances run with the land under the current zoning.

Commissioner Palmer moved to recommend approval with the staff stipulations (development per the concept plan, maximum four units, attached garages for each unit and required visitor parking). The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The vote on the recommendation was recorded as unanimous by the commissioners present.

The public record of this meeting contains the concept plan, the applicant presentation, and the public comments captured at the hearing.