Harlingen commissioners reject rezoning for 1.73-acre corner at Stewart Place and Brennaman

The Harlingen City Commission voted against an appeal that would have rezoned 1.73 acres at the southeast corner of Stewart Place and Brennaman Road from residential single-family (R-1) to Neighborhood Services (NS), following a lengthy public hearing in which neighbors cited traffic, drainage and land-use concerns.

Supporters said the corner is better suited to small professional offices than homes; opponents warned the change would open the area to future commercial encroachment and worsen local flooding. The Planning and Zoning Commission denied the rezoning twice; staff recommended approval but the commission’s vote on first reading failed after members were unable to secure the supermajority required given documented opposition.

The rezoning would have allowed a small commercial office development the applicant described as similar to an existing nearby “Stewart Suites” professional-office complex. Property owner Blanca Sarate, who said she owns the corner and operates Stewart Suites down the road, told commissioners: “This is not a request for a multifamily construction project.…