Planning and Zoning Commission denies rezoning request for infrared-therapy business at 1212 West Murphy Road

The Colleyville Planning and Zoning Commission on an undated meeting denied a rezoning request for 1212 West Murphy Road, rejecting a proposal to change the property from AG (agricultural) to PUDC (planned-unit development commercial) by a 4-1 vote.

Staff described the proposal as a conversion of an existing house to a small commercial wellness clinic that would allow red-light/infrared therapy (and related low‑impact services) under a CC1 Village Veil base zoning. The proposed development standards presented to the commission included business hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., a minimum 6-foot wrought-iron fence along the eastern boundary adjacent to an HOA trail, a refuse enclosure behind the primary facade and at least 50 feet from residential zoning, and cross-connectivity to an adjacent commercial parcel. Staff said the applicant would meet land development code requirements including urban forestry standards and that staff remained neutral on the request.

The applicant, Saima (who gave a Colleyville address of 210 Bandit Trail), said her intent was to operate a small, appointment‑only infrared-therapy and Himalayan-salt therapy clinic catering to people with chronic pain and autoimmune conditions. "This is going to be a serene location to cater to mostly patients that have to travel far distances to get infrared therapy," Saima told commissioners, and she said the business would operate largely by appointment with minimal staffing.

More than a dozen nearby residents spoke in opposition during the public hearing, citing traffic and safety concerns at the Murphy Road/Precinct Line Road intersection, the property's immediate proximity to homes, the presence of a neighborhood pedestrian trail and school‑bus stops, and the risk that a commercial zoning approval could allow more intensive uses later. "This is a piece of property that's stuck right in the middle of our neighborhood and that's what we're concerned about," said Winona Nichols, who gave her address as 1017 West Murphy Road, and added that construction activity was already visible at the site. Other residents said the site sits at a bottleneck used daily by hundreds of neighborhood vehicles and school traffic and that commercial designation would be a permanent change. Several speakers also told commissioners they received little notice and urged the commission to preserve the residential character of the area.

Commissioners debated how the request fit the city's future land‑use plan and whether the parcel's configuration and access would create traffic impacts for adjacent subdivisions. Commissioner Gross moved to deny the rezoning; the motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Arnold the sole opposing vote. The recorded vote was: Groves — aye; Savoy — aye; Obinabo — aye; Arnold — nay; Bevel — aye.

By denying the rezoning, the commission kept the property's AG designation intact; any future commercial use would require a subsequent application or different site configuration. Several residents were told they may raise their concerns again at the City Council level should the applicant appeal or pursue a new application.

The case drew substantial public comment and questions about enforcement: residents asked whether work already underway at the house had proper permits; the applicant said interior remediation had been performed to address mold and that no structural construction had begun and that building permits would be obtained if and when construction started. Staff advised the commission that any required permits would be reviewed according to the land development code.

The denial leaves the property under its existing zoning and continues a long-running neighborhood debate about where and how commercial uses should be allowed to encroach on adjacent residential areas.