Commission approves 60‑unit apartment site plan on John Hayes with landscape modification

The El Paso City Plan Commission approved a detailed site development plan Jan. 29 for a 60‑unit apartment building at 2611 John Hayes and granted a modification to a previously imposed 10‑foot landscape buffer.

Planning staff presented the project under ordinance 91‑98. The proposal covers 2.5 acres and would create a single building with 60 units (34 one‑bed, 26 two‑bed) with a maximum height of 39 feet; the applicant proposed 72 parking spaces, which staff said meets code. The applicant requested a modification to an imposed condition that required a 10‑foot landscape buffer with trees every 10 feet; staff recommended approving a wider, staggered double row of trees spaced every 20 feet within a roughly 30‑foot buffer to provide more canopy and better tree growth.

Architect Angel Batayer, representing Randon Dauvin, told the commission: "We are not providing more trees than required. The only thing that we are doing there is spacing them a little bit more, so they can grow better." Commissioners asked about sidewalk widths and existing right‑of‑way standards; staff explained sidewalk and right‑of‑way requirements vary with the roadway and historic approvals may have set existing dimensions.

Earlier during the item, Commissioner Borrego raised a point of order saying it "seems illegal and unethical" for a commissioner to use a phone to contact a friend during a hearing; commissioners discussed decorum and agreed phone use during proceedings was inappropriate. After hearing from the applicant and staff, the commission approved the site plan and the landscaping modification. The commission adjourned following a motion to close the meeting.