Planning commission recommends rezoning near Drew Street to industrial despite resident objections
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Summary
The Lubbock Planning & Zoning Commission voted 7–0 Feb. 5 to recommend rezoning multiple parcels near Drew Street from low-density single-family to General Industrial, citing rail and highway access; nearby residents urged denial, citing property-value, water and quality-of-life concerns.
The Lubbock Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 5 to recommend that City Council rezone several parcels east of Avenue P and south of Drew Street from low-density single-family (SF-2) to General Industrial (GI).
Staff presentation and applicant case: Staff described the request as Zone Case 3552 (applicant: Hugo Reed & Associates for Lubbock Economic Development Alliance) and said the future land-use map designates the area for industrial use. Terry Holman of Hugo Reed & Associates told the commission the three-track request includes a 375-acre tract and argued GI is appropriate because the site has rail frontage, nearby highway access and proximity to the airport; Holman said GI "does not give us a carte blanche to just go build anything we want" and listed several intense uses that would still require special approval.
Residents’ objections: Multiple nearby residents urged denial. Kyla Whitworth (602 Drew Street) said rezoning "will only intensify the impact and make our area less livable, less desirable, and less safe for families," arguing the change would depress property values and harm schools and community character. William Whitworth, Steven Sanders and Ted Adams also opposed the request, raising concerns about lighting, dust, truck traffic, potential chemical risks to limited water supplies and loss of small-family property investments. Adams, who operates a vineyard in the area, said agricultural operations there already experience herbicide drift from nearby facilities.
Staff response and next steps: Staff and the applicant noted that some intense uses (including landfills, permanent concrete batch plants and certain resource extraction) are not permitted without further approvals, that the comp plan and zoning map analysis support industrial uses at this location, and that the application had received 51 mailed notices with 10 in favor and 2 opposed. The commission recommended approval by a voice vote, 7–0, and the item is scheduled for City Council consideration Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m.
The commission’s action is a recommendation; any final zoning change requires action by the City Council.
