Commission adopts PD for former Lincoln School site, removes condition tied to zoning ordinance section 4.22 and approves other rezonings

The Planning Commission on Nov. 17 approved several rezonings, including a Planned Development (PD) rezoning for property that includes the old Lincoln School at 617 East 42nd and a concurrent amendment to the PD conditions to remove a requirement tied to section 4.22 of the city's zoning ordinance and to increase permitted outdoor storage to 10%.

Ray Lineberry, lead planner, said staff recommended rezoning the properties in the Lakeview neighborhood from RS-1 to a PD with a base zoning of neighborhood commercial to allow the school-owned building to be used as a daycare (Tiny Texans) while retaining a school maintenance yard on an adjacent parcel. "They are going to use the old Lincoln School for daycare — Tiny Texans, I think — and then this is their maintenance yard and maintenance building," Lineberry said, explaining staff's reasoning for a PD rather than a straightforward neighborhood center designation.

During public comment, Russell Gulley questioned whether section 4.22 of the zoning ordinance should be applied to a school-owned maintenance yard and daycare; Gulley suggested the language was inconsistent in the written conditions. Commissioner Britney moved to remove the PD condition requiring compliance with section 4.22 and to increase outdoor storage allowance from 7.5% to 10% to provide SAISD flexibility; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

The commission also approved a rezoning (Z20-5) to expand the Central Business District boundary to include the police station at 401 East Beauregard to allow temporary portable buildings on-site. Ray Lineberry said the change aligns the station with existing downtown vision plan designations and noted building, fire and parking requirements would still apply.

Finally, the commission approved a large rezoning and comprehensive-plan amendment (Z25-24 / CP2501) for roughly 345.27 acres south of the intersection of North U.S. Highway 67 and Harriet Road (newly annexed city land) from Ranch & Estate to Light Manufacturing and Industrial on the comp plan. Austin Reed said the parcel is city-owned and largely vacant farmland; staff described the designation as appropriate for isolated industrial uses and said it could help attract industrial development, including a potential data center.

All actions were adopted by voice vote. The record shows staff will proceed with associated permit reviews and that certain items (such as alley abandonment tied to other plats) remain pending at city council.