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Hondo council keeps contested neighborhood zoned R-2 after public comment and abstentions
Summary
The Hondo City Council voted to accept the Planning & Zoning recommendation and keep a central neighborhood zoned R-2 rather than rezoning to R-3. One public commenter raised concerns about bilingual notice and gentrification; two council members abstained from the vote citing potential conflicts.
Hondo, Texas — The City Council voted Jan. 27 to keep a block of land between Avenue P and Avenue U and between 14th and 18th streets zoned residential R-2, declining a staff-initiated rezoning to R-3.
The rezoning request (No. 002-24) was introduced by the council for land inside the city’s corporate limits. City staff said Plan & Zoning recommended against approving the change from R-2 (single-family dwellings on 6,000-square-foot lots) to R-3 (medium-density residential allowing duplexes, townhomes, triplexes and manufactured housing). The public hearing drew one speaker, Charlie Lopez, who said many residents in the affected square are Spanish-speaking and that mailed notices were provided only in English. "Some elderly folks…don't know how to read English," Lopez said, and he urged the council to consider an R-2A alternative that would allow manufactured homes while keeping other density limits.
After public comment, Councilmember [name not specified in transcript] moved to accept Plan & Zoning’s recommendation to retain R-2 zoning; the motion received a second and, after discussion, was called for a vote. Two councilmembers voted in favor, one member abstained. The city attorney advised that chapter 171 of the Texas Local Government Code governs conflicts of interest and disclosure; two members who had filed disclosures stepped away from the dais earlier in the item.
Council discussion touched on creating a new R-2A zoning category and on the timeline to establish such a zone. The city attorney estimated that creating a new R-2A zone and running it through Plan & Zoning and council would take about two to two-and-a-half months and involves public notices and hearings. One councilmember asked staff to prepare a firm timeline.
The motion to keep R-2 passed after the mayor ruled the motion carried. The council did not adopt any ordinance to create an R-2A at this meeting; staff said the process could be initiated through Plan & Zoning and return to council for formal action.
Next steps: staff will prepare follow-up materials on the potential R-2A zone and a timeline for consideration by Plan & Zoning and council.
