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Paris council unanimously approves three zoning changes after residents urge support for Forest Brook addition
Summary
Paris City Council on Nov. 10 approved three zoning changes affecting parcels on Lamar Avenue and Spring Lake, following multiple public commenters who urged support for the Forest Brook addition and a related thoroughfare. Planning staff noted P&Z recommended approval and TxDOT will handle traffic-signal modifications.
Paris City Council unanimously approved three zoning requests on Nov. 10 after residents urged the council to support a proposed Forest Brook housing addition and an associated thoroughfare.
Romero Mensa, the planner presenting the applications, said the primary parcel on Lamar Avenue is directly across from the Walmart intersection and that the applicant seeks to change the future land-use designation from low-density residential to commercial to align with surrounding uses. Mensa told the council the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval.
Multiple residents spoke during the citizens forum in favor of the project. Ricky Horton, representing Covenant Christian Church, said the church borders the proposed addition and "we all are interested in and support anything that would raise up the construction." Donna Burnett, who lives on Bunker Street, said a new thoroughfare would improve "accessibility to schools, parks and retail" for seniors, families and possible new retail on the south side of the loop. Joe Matthews, a Paris small-business owner, said added shopping and dining options would benefit the whole city.
Council members asked staff and the applicants about traffic impacts at the Lamar intersection. Mensa and a project representative said TxDOT will evaluate traffic and that signal modifications are expected; a city engineer present said the owner has met with TxDOT about ideas to modify the signal to accommodate new access.
Councilmember motions to approve each rezoning passed 6-0. The approved items include: (1) a comprehensive-plan amendment changing the Lamar Avenue parcel's future land use to retail; (2) a zoning change from agriculture to commercial on the same parcel; and (3) a rezoning from planned development to general retail for a Spring Lake/Northeast 28th Street parcel to enable an expansion of a previously approved development.
The council did not set additional conditions during the public hearing; staff noted that TxDOT and engineering will handle specific access and signal design, and that any detailed site plans will return to staff review and required permitting.
