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Commission approves comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning to allow funeral chapel at 310 SW Third Street
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on July 14 to change the future land use designation and rezone 310 Southwest Third Street to allow a funeral-chapel use, despite staff saying the proposals did not align with the adopted future land use map.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved, over staff recommendation, a comprehensive-plan amendment and associated zoning change to allow a funeral-chapel use at 310 Southwest Third Street.
Staff presented the comprehensive-plan amendment (CPA255060012) and the zoning change (ZON25060021) together and said it could not support the request because the City's future land use map designates the parcel as medium-density residential and the proposed general retail zoning would permit a range of commercial uses beyond a funeral chapel. Staff noted property-owner notification letters were sent to 51 properties; staff said it received one opposition letter and no letters of support.
Applicant Dene Sanchez said the proposal is to operate only the visitation and chapel portion of a funeral service at this location and that mortuary services (removals, embalming, refrigeration) would continue to be handled at another facility the applicant operates in Irving. Sanchez said the plan would allow the congregation to continue using the building on Sundays and that he intends to maintain the church structure and provide community access. He described existing parking capacity and said the property currently has 86 parking spaces and had previously hosted larger congregations.
Commissioners asked about potential exterior changes, traffic and neighborhood impacts; Sanchez said exterior changes would be minor and the applicant would not relocate mortuary functions to the site. Several commissioners said they were persuaded that preserving the church building and allowing the chapel/staging use would serve community needs; others noted staff's concern that rezoning to a base general retail district would allow many commercial uses by right in the future.
Commissioner Adakari moved to approve both the comprehensive-plan amendment and the zoning change "notwithstanding staff recommendation." Commissioner Luckybaum seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The commission instructed staff to prepare materials for City Council reflecting the decision and the applicant's commitments on uses at the site.
