Mission council rejects two commercial rezoning requests near Sharyland High School over safety concerns

Neighbors and business owners told the Mission City Council that commercial rezoning directly in front of Sharyland High School would worsen existing traffic and pedestrian-safety problems, and council members voted to deny both applications.

Planner Cedrantis described two two‑track rezoning applications seeking C‑2 neighborhood commercial zoning to allow a commercial plaza; staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a lower‑intensity C‑1 compromise, but petitioners in the affected area submitted signatures that raised the opposition above the 20% threshold, triggering a super‑majority requirement.

Residents who live adjacent to the school said student drop‑off and pick‑up already creates dangerous conditions. Developer-opponent testimony included specific counts: Dolly Alessondo said Sharyland High School has 'over 150 cars' in morning and afternoon pickup lines and reported there were '314 students' mentioned in the public comment (speaker cited staff counts). Neighbor Javier Perez said local developers had invested tens of millions in nearby housing and argued the commercial plaza would degrade neighborhood character.

After limited council discussion about petition thresholds and plan‑use compatibility with the comprehensive plan (staff said the comp plan calls for low‑density residential in the area), Councilmember Blatta moved to deny; the motion to deny carried unanimously 5–0 for each of the two adjacent parcels.

The denials mean the properties will not be rezoned to C‑2 at this time; staff noted that existing commercial activity already exists along Sherry Road and suggested the corridor is in gradual transition but council chose to prioritize neighborhood safety and the comprehensive‑plan guidance.

Next steps: Property owners may revise their application, seek conditions, or appeal the council decision through applicable processes.