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Public hearing held on rezoning 179.73 acres in Lafitte's Landing; residents express support
Summary
The Port Arthur City Council held a public hearing Feb. 11 on a proposed zoning map amendment to change approximately 179.73 acres in Lafitte's Landing from Commercial General to Medium Density Residential.
Port Arthur — The City Council opened and closed a public hearing Feb. 11 on a petition to rezone about 179.73 acres in Lafitte’s Landing 1 & 2 and parts of the Diga Hagen subdivision from Commercial General (CG) to Medium Density Residential (MDR).
City planning staff summarized the request and the administrative record: the Planning and Zoning Commission initiated the zone change, community meetings and mailed notices were completed, and the commission voted 4‑0 to recommend approval. Staff said the requested change would allow residential uses that are incompatible with the current CG designation, which no longer permits residential rebuilding following natural‑disaster damage. Staff cited Texas Local Government Code and the city’s zoning ordinance as the governing procedures for the hearing.
At the public hearing, one resident, Susan Sherfus, said she supported returning the area to residential zoning, citing long-term neighborhood residency and difficulty for owners to sell property under the current commercial designation. Council members asked staff whether any developers had expressed interest; staff said only realtors and property owners had contacted the city and that some larger parcels (about two acres or greater) could remain commercial by owner request. Mayor Thurman Bill Barty closed the hearing following motions from council members.
No council final vote on the rezoning appeared in the meeting transcript; the hearing was closed and the council moved on to proclamations and other agenda business. Staff information in the hearing record shows notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet and a previous public meeting was held Aug. 22, 2024; Planning & Zoning conducted its hearing Dec. 9, 2024. Under state law cited by staff, approval or denial by council requires a simple majority.
Ending — The record will remain open for administrative deadlines until council acts on the rezoning request in a future meeting; interested property owners were given planning‑department contact information during the hearing.
