San Angelo council approves rezoning of 345‑acre tract for light manufacturing after hours of public comment

Summary

After a lengthy public hearing focused on water, noise and transparency, the San Angelo City Council voted 6–1 on Jan. 13 to rezone 345.27 acres near US‑67 to Light Manufacturing, a move planners say prepares the site for heavy industrial users — including interest from a large data‑center prospect — while triggering later site‑plan safeguards.

The San Angelo City Council on Jan. 13 approved a rezoning and comprehensive‑plan amendment for a 345.27‑acre city‑owned tract near US Highway 67 and Harriet Road, clearing the way for light‑manufacturing uses by a 6–1 vote after more than three hours of public comment and council questions.

Mayor Tom Thompson moved to approve the ordinance, and the motion carried following roll‑call votes. Council members and staff emphasized that the vote changes only the property’s zoning designation; future permits, site plans and required reviews would still be needed before any building could begin.

Why it matters: City planning staff said the site’s proximity to an AEP substation, transmission lines and industrial corridor makes it a logical location for industrial development, and staff recommended Light Manufacturing because it offers regulatory tools — for noise, buffering, visible emissions and site design — that planners said will protect neighboring properties. The rezoning also aligns with an ongoing Northeast master plan for the area, staff said.

Public concerns and technical clarifications: More than a dozen residents urged caution. Heather Wiley, who gave her address to the council, said she had read media and city material suggesting the developer…

San Angelo council approves rezoning of 345‑acre tract for light manufacturing after hours of public comment

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading