The City of Leander Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a comprehensive plan amendment (CTA‑24‑0015) and to recommend rezoning (Z‑24‑0147) that would change a roughly 20‑acre tract east of County Road 175 from an employment‑center future land use to neighborhood residential and rezone the property from Interim SFR‑1B (Single‑Family Rural) to SFE‑2A (Single‑Family Estate) to allow large‑lot single‑family lots.

Staff said the rezoning and plan amendment are linked to an annexation request and that the zoning adoption will be delayed until the annexation is completed. Staff noted the city council already voted to support the comprehensive plan change at an earlier review and recommended approval of both the plan amendment and the zoning request “contingent on the annexation being approved,” (Carina Castillo, staff presenter).

The applicant, Josh Becker, told the commission he had purchased the land about a year earlier and withdrew a prior plan for commercial use after viewing the property. “We brought this before council just to kind of get their pulse,” Becker said, and described a preliminary layout calling for about 40 to 45 large lots on the site.

A nearby resident, Jody Brodicker, asked whether the rezoning would affect her property to the north. Staff replied that the change would not automatically alter neighboring properties’ zoning; neighbors would retain their existing base zoning and would need to apply separately if they sought redevelopment or a rezoning.

Commissioners discussed outreach to neighboring property owners and noted the change creates a pocket of residential land that differs from surrounding employment center designations. Commissioner Morales said it would have been good to coordinate more with adjacent owners, and Commissioner Latrim said she had no objection and that the employment‑center designation had previously extended too far into residential areas.

Commissioner Lantrip moved to approve the comprehensive plan amendment; Commissioner Ladde seconded. The commission voted unanimously in favor. The commission then considered the zoning case; Commissioner Morales moved to approve the zoning change and Commissioner Ladde seconded. That motion also passed unanimously. Two commissioners were absent for the meeting (Commissioners Oliver and Mahan).

Next steps: staff said the annexation resolution is scheduled to be heard by city council on February 6, with a related public hearing scheduled for March 6; final zoning action by council is contingent on the annexation timeline.