Commission approves comp-plan amendment and rezoning near Mount Carmel Cemetery over split vote

The City Planning Commission on March 26 approved an amendment to the future land use map and a rezoning for property north of Americas Avenue and west of Southside Road that will allow commercial and industrial development where the plan previously designated preserve and agricultural uses.

Planning staff described the request as a cleanup to match existing commercial and industrial zoning that has emerged around the Saragosa Port of Entry. The commission approved both the comprehensive-plan amendment (changing portions designated O-1 Preserve and O-3 Agriculture to G-7 Industrial and Rail Yard) and the rezoning from Ranch and Farm (RF) to C-4 (commercial) after debates about the site’s proximity to Mount Carmel Cemetery and neighborhood concerns.

Why it matters: The approvals change the long-term future land use and zoning for land at an entry corridor into El Paso and enable a planned industrial park that the applicant says will leverage proximity to the international border and the Saragosa port of entry.…