Commission adds 1.65 acres to PD‑50 for residential-office development after neighbors weigh in; unanimous with recusal

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to amend Planned Development District 50 to add a 1.65-acre parcel adjacent to Bend 303 for residential-office (live‑work) development, forwarding the amendment to City Council. Commissioner Jay Odom recused himself from the vote; the remaining commissioners approved the amendment.

Staff explained the parcel fronts Olive Street and sits within the Old Town Rockwall Historic District; any new construction would require Historic Preservation Advisory Board review and would need to meet the district’s design guidelines. The applicant, represented by Price Pointer of TCB Construction Group, said the intent is to allow residentially scaled office buildings that blend with surrounding historic homes rather than full-scale commercial development.

Why it matters: The amendment converts a parcel with inconsistent zoning layers into the PD50 live‑work context used directly west of the site; supporters argued live‑work office buildings protect the historic neighborhood from more intensive commercial development while making productive use of a parcel that otherwise would be difficult to develop as conventional single-family lots.

Public input and balance: Several adjacent homeowners spoke at the hearing. Some neighbors supported the amendment if the architecture remains residential in scale and the Historic Preservation Advisory Board retains design control; others expressed concerns about traffic, proximity and the change of use behind family homes. Supporters noted that the applicant owns nearby properties and has a track record restoring historic homes.

Notable procedural and technical notes - Notices: Staff mailed 375 notices for the PD50 amendment and received four responses in favor and two in opposition. - Historic-district review: Because the parcel lies within the Old Town Historic District, any site plan and building elevations must meet Historic Preservation Advisory Board criteria before final approvals.

Vote and next steps: The commission voted to recommend the PD amendment (6-0 with one recusal). The ordinance will be prepared for City Council consideration. If Council approves the zoning change, subsequent site-plan and historic-board reviews would be required before any construction.

Ending: Commissioners described the proposal as a compromise that can deliver small-scale office uses without eroding the historic character of the neighborhood when built under historic-preservation guidelines.