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Council approves contentious rezoning to allow 5,500-sq-ft salon after neighbors object
Summary
By a 5–2 vote, the council approved changing zoning for a Wayne Avenue parcel from office to neighborhood commercial to accommodate a 5,500-square-foot salon, despite Planning & Zoning denial and neighborhood opposition raising spot-zoning, traffic and late-hours concerns; the property owner offered to record deed restrictions to limit future non-service uses.
The Lubbock City Council narrowly approved a contested rezoning May 12, changing a lot at 10909 Wayne Avenue from office to neighborhood commercial to allow a proposed 5,500-square-foot personal-services salon.
Planning staff said the request does not fully align with the future land use map but found it appropriate at the location; the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended denial after neighbors said they were told the area would remain garden-office. Architect Jeremy Baman and the applicant argued the salon is service-oriented, not retail, and would be tucked into the back of the Epic North development.
Property owner Thomas Payne, who said he owns the surrounding office park, told council he would be willing to record deed restrictions limiting permitted uses — a step he said would “alleviate anyone’s concern about the ancillary uses listed in neighborhood commercial.” Payne said prior plats and zoning changes left a split zoning pattern that he planned to correct as the office park finished platting and development.
Neighbors strongly opposed the rezoning during the public hearing. Kelly Moore (4904 109th Street) said the cul-de-sac neighborhood is quiet and expressed concern about increased traffic, light and noise and late-night appointments. "We have a very quiet neighborhood... I am opposed to the change," Moore said. Brenda Whitten (4908 109th Street) and Tom Tenner (4909 109th Place) echoed worries about precedence and described the request as a "slippery slope" that could convert office sites adjacent to homes into commercial corridors.
Council debate split on two themes: property-rights/market arguments that owners should be allowed flexibility to use land consistent with market demand, and neighborhood-protection concerns about spot zoning and precedent. Councilmember Collins said he favored deferring to property owners, while others warned against changing a single lot’s zoning that could invite further conversions.
Dr. Jennifer Wilson, who said office and service traffic are functionally similar, supported approval and commended the applicants. After discussion and the property owner's offer to record deed restrictions to limit the range of neighborhood-commercial uses, the council approved the rezoning 5–2.
Next steps: the applicant will proceed with site design and permitting under the neighborhood-commercial standard, and staff will track any deed restriction filings the owner records to limit ancillary uses.
