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Cleburne City Council continues rezoning hearing for 308 Featherston Street after neighbor opposition
Summary
The council continued a public hearing on a request to rezone 308 Featherston Street from single-family to duplex zoning to March 11 at 5 p.m. after neighbors said the development would not fit a historic block; the Planning and Zoning Commission previously denied the request 7-0 and more than 20% of nearby residents registered opposition.
The Cleburne City Council on a vote to continue a public hearing postponed consideration of a request to rezone 308 Featherston Street from SF-10 (single-family dwelling) to D (duplex dwelling) and set the case for March 11 at 5 p.m.
Neighbors lined up at Tuesday’s hearing in opposition, saying a duplex would not fit the historic character of the block near Fulton School. Renee Morvant, who identified herself as a resident at 316 Featherston Street, said the Victorian house at 308 was built in the 1880s by the town’s founder and that owners in the neighborhood have invested to maintain historic integrity. “We moved to our home from Houston because we wanted to live in a historic home in a beautiful historic neighborhood,” Morvant said. “This rezoning request I have a difficult time understanding… who would go to the most historic neighborhood in a town and not just Cleburne… and say hey that’s a good place for a duplex.”
Kat Sanders, also of 316 Featherston Street, told council the block is well maintained and decorated by residents and urged the council to “consider with all your heart what we can do as a group” to preserve the neighborhood. Jason Marbet, of 1118 West Hill Drive, said the lot should be used for a home that blends with the surrounding properties rather than a duplex.
The applicant asked the council to postpone the case. A speaker who identified himself as Mr. Alvarez, representing the applicant, said the proposer had reduced an earlier plan for higher density to a two-unit duplex to provide lower-cost, starter housing. Alvarez said the intention was to “meet it halfway” with a smaller structure and argued that new housing should support walkability and younger households.
Council legal and staff briefed members that two factors make approval unlikely at this meeting: the Planning and Zoning Commission denied the rezoning 7–0, and city rules require a supermajority on council when a sufficient percentage of nearby property owners oppose. Given those constraints, Councilmember Oliver Cosby moved to postpone the hearing to March 11 at 5 p.m.; Councilmember John Warren seconded the motion. The motion carried with the affirmative voice vote.
The case remains an open public hearing and will be heard again at the March 11 meeting. Neighbors and the applicant will be able to provide additional testimony at that time.
