Port Arthur planning commission approves planned-development rezoning for 20.7-acre site near Lake Arthur

The Port Arthur Planning and Zoning Commission voted Feb. 20 to approve a zoning map amendment (Z2501) to reclassify a 20.7-acre tract south of Lake Arthur Drive and north of 60th Street from commercial retail to a planned development district.

Planning Department staff told commissioners the property owner is Eleanor Elnor Marani and the site is legally described as Lot 5 to 7, Block 10, Tract 1, Range H, Port Arthur Land Company, Jefferson County, Texas (parcel number 73406). Staff said six notices were mailed to adjacent property owners within a 200-foot radius and the notice was published in the Port Arthur newspaper at least 15 days before the Feb. 20 public hearing; staff also said no letters of opposition were received.

The staff presentation said the planned development request is intended to allow single-family residences behind limited commercial uses at the frontage. "Dr. Haney came to me with this particular project and he said that they were going to put single-family residences on it and with a commercial in the front," a Planning Department staff member said, characterizing the applicant's proposal. The staff member added that a planned development zoning would let the city specify allowable uses and site controls rather than leave uses to a general zone.

Commissioners and other participants raised infrastructure questions during the hearing. A commissioner noted the site is undeveloped and asked who would build roads and utilities; staff said the applicant met in a predevelopment conference and each relevant department had listed requirements for bringing the site up to city standards, including water, gas and electric. The building official provided a comment that the developer must follow any applicable pipeline regulations, staff said.

No members of the public spoke for or against the request during the hearing. After the public hearing was closed, the commission moved to approve the zoning map amendment Z2501; a roll-call tally was not specified in the transcript and the motion passed.

The commission also approved meeting minutes and closed the public hearing on Z2501 during the same session. Staff announced the commission's regular schedule and noted the next regular meeting date as March 3; staff additionally said a separate item called the Pleasure Island decision will go to city council for final action on Tuesday.

The commission's approval changes the property's zoning classification to a planned development, which the commission said will allow the city to review and limit specific uses and site layout when the applicant files development plans. The transcript did not state any subsequent deadlines, conditions attached to the approval, or whether final authority for this specific rezoning rests with city council.