San Benito opens public hearings on multiple rezones and conditional-use permits; first readings scheduled

The City of San Benito Commission on March 4 opened public hearings and conducted first readings for multiple land-use items, including rezoning requests and conditional-use permits.

The commission opened a public hearing and conducted the first reading of an ordinance to rezone a 5.13-acre tract from AO (agricultural/open) to C2 (commercial general retail business). The applicant is Juan Ruben Vela. The first-reading ordinance was identified in the meeting as Ordinance No. 2252-AF-O3-2025 (first reading).

A second first-reading ordinance was read for a separate rezoning: a 3.636-acre tract proposed to change from Single-Family 1 to C2 commercial general retail business. The applicant is Arturo Martinez; Isidro Fernandez of Landmark Services spoke on behalf of Martinez and described a proposed commercial plaza facing Sam Houston Boulevard with residential behind it. Fernandez said the project would follow the city’s planning process, including preliminary and final plats, and that the applicant will comply with landscaping and parking requirements.

The commission also opened public hearings for conditional-use permits: one for a liquor store at 325 East Business 77, Suite A and B (applicant Renato David Hernandez), and one for an automobile sales establishment with placement of a portable building on C1 commercial-restricted property (applicant Marco Cortez). The city opened and then closed public hearings for items 2, 3 and 4 at about 5:47 p.m.; no public speakers were recorded opposing those items during the hearing.

These items were taken as first readings; no final votes to adopt rezoning ordinances were recorded at the March 4 meeting. Staff and applicants said subsequent planning procedures and conditions (landscaping, parking, platting) would apply if the rezonings advance.