Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission recommends three land-use items to City Commission

Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission members voted to forward two rezoning requests and one final plat to the Pharr City Commission for consideration, with staff recommending approval on all three items and no members of the public registered to speak.

Laura Fonseca, Planner II with Development Services for the City of Pharr, presented the first two items and outlined staff findings and recommendations. Roberto Martinez, a representative for an applicant, presented the final plat item.

The first item was a rezoning request to change approximately 49.49 acres from Agricultural/Open Space (AO) to Heavy Industrial (H.I.) to allow warehouse development on a site described in the transcript as located on the south side of West Military Highway, approximately 970 feet east of South Veterans Boulevard, in the 2000 block of East Military Highway. Fonseca told the commission the property is designated for industrial use in the city's future land use plan, meets area requirements, and has adequate ingress and egress. Development Services recommended approval. No one from the affected area signed up to speak. Commissioner Sherman moved to approve; the motion carried after the commission voiced assent.

The second item was a rezoning request to change a property from General Business (C) to Residential Multi-Family High Density (RMFHD) to allow construction of apartment complexes at 1904 West Ridge Road. Fonseca said the property (described in the record as 4.64 acres though the transcript contains a numeric transcription irregularity) fronts West Ridge Road and that the request aligns with local development trends where commercial fronts the corridor and multifamily is located behind commercial strips. Development Services recommended approval. No public speakers registered; a motion to approve carried.

The third item was a final plat for the proposed "Crash Draw" subdivision (transcript spelling), submitted by Melden and Hunt, Inc., on behalf of Leah Wise Enterprise LLC. Roberto Martinez presented the item and said the site is a 1.441-acre tract out of Lot 100 of the Kelly Forest Subdivision in the 4500 block of North IH 69C. Martinez said the proposed use includes a law office and retail; the presentation noted the plat will create two lots and that one fronting lot is intended for a Dunkin' Donuts. Development Services recommended final plat approval subject to conditions in the staff report. No public comment was recorded; a motion to approve carried.

Votes at a glance

- Rezoning (AO to H.I.) — property at West Military Highway (about 49.49 acres): motion to recommend approval carried; no public speakers; forwarded to City Commission meeting scheduled for Jan. 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., per staff.

- Rezoning (C to RMFHD) — 1904 West Ridge Road (transcript lists acreage with a numeric irregularity): motion to recommend approval carried; no public speakers; forwarded to City Commission Jan. 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., per staff.

- Final plat ("Crash Draw" subdivision) — Lot 100, Kelly Forest Subdivision, 1.441 acres in 4500 block of North IH 69C: motion to recommend final plat approval carried; no public speakers; forwarded to City Commission (January 2025 meeting at 4:00 p.m., per staff).

Why it matters: Recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission move these items to the Pharr City Commission, which must act before any rezoning or platting becomes final. The approvals would allow industrial warehouses, a multifamily apartment project, and a small commercial/residential subdivision to proceed through the city's review and permitting processes if the City Commission concurs.

Meeting context and next steps: Development Services staff noted that applicants must comply with all city ordinances and department requirements if approvals are granted by the City Commission. The commission did not receive written responses from nearby property owners (staff said notices were mailed and a legal notice was published). The City Commission was listed in the record as the next body to hear these items on Jan. 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

No public testimony was recorded on any of the three items; the commission meeting included routine procedural actions (approval of minutes, excusing absentees) and an announcement that future meetings in January will be at 6 p.m. rather than 4 p.m.