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Planning commission approves conditional rezoning for 11580 North Loop Drive
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning for 11580 North Loop Drive from A‑1 to GMU, subject to a requirement that a master zoning plan be submitted and approved before development proceeds. Staff said the change would enable mixed commercial and residential uses and the applicant pledged coordination with TxDOT and the water district.
The Socorro Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request for 11580 North Loop Drive, moving the 14‑acre site from A‑1 (agriculture) to GMU (general mixed use) with a condition that a master zoning plan (MCP) be submitted, reviewed and approved in accordance with city ordinance. Judith Rodriguez, planner with the City of Socorro, told the commission staff supports the rezoning “with condition that a master zoning plan be submitted, review, and approved in accordance with the ordinance.”
The rezoning would permit a mix of commercial and residential development; staff noted the application is conceptual and does not include final unit counts or building square footage. Myela Mejia, a business consultant representing the property owners (Plaza Real Estate / the Melendezes), said the owners have worked with staff for months and intend to coordinate with outside agencies, including TxDOT and El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1, before producing the required master plan. “We’re not here to change anything; we want to enhance and to make the community better,” Mejia said, describing the proposal as a walkable mixed‑use concept to serve nearby residents.
Commissioners raised questions about access and right‑of‑way for North Loop and about irrigation and existing water rights. A representative for the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 told the commission that the city will not approve a final plat until an irrigatable plat has been submitted to and approved by the district; that irrigatable plat must identify how existing water rights will be handled and preserve downstream flows and necessary easements. Commissioners also discussed the ordinance requirement that a master zoning plan accompany GMU rezoning applications; some members expressed discomfort approving a rezoning without a completed master plan, while others said a conditional approval allows the applicant to proceed with the next steps while ensuring final development complies with the MCP.
The applicant told the commission the conceptual plan cost $5,600 and estimated a full master zoning plan would cost substantially more, which motivated the request for conditional rezoning so they would not incur master‑plan costs until there was assurance the rezoning could advance. Commissioners emphasized that development cannot proceed to construction until the master zoning plan is approved by the planning commission and city council and until all required utility and access approvals are obtained.
A commissioner moved to approve staff recommendations with the required condition; the motion was seconded and carried. The commission’s action is a recommendation to the City Council, which retains final approval authority.
