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Planning commission approves nine small homes for Community Services League amid neighborhood pushback
Summary
The Planning Commission approved CSL's plan for nine small, service‑enriched homes adjacent to CSL’s Nolan Road campus (case 26810‑01). CSL said the homes would serve crew employees and be supported with onsite case management and security; nearby residents and the adjacent church expressed safety and property‑value concerns.
The commission approved a preliminary development plan (case 26810‑01) to place nine small single‑person homes on land adjacent to the Community Services League’s Nolan Road campus.
Staff presented the layout — nine small units clustered on the parcel with parking accommodated on CSL’s lot — and recommended approval. Doug Cowan, CSL’s president and CEO, spoke about CSL’s regional homelessness outreach and workforce programs and said the units are intended primarily to house crew members who already work from the CSL campus and to pair housing with case management. Cowan said CSL administers HUD‑funded programs and operates a drop‑in center and that the proposed homes would complement existing services.
Neighbors and Second Baptist Church raised objections, citing prior encampments, public‑safety incidents around the bus transfer station next door, and concerns about trash, syringes and property damage. The pastor of Second Baptist said repeated incidents on church property have escalated concerns about response times and safety near the church. CSL acknowledged the problems on adjacent blocks, said it already spends funds on private security, and pledged a 30‑hour‑a‑week social‑service worker, cameras, some security sweeps and a 10‑hour‑a‑week property manager to oversee the tiny‑home site.
Commissioners discussed outreach to neighbors and the need to coordinate on security and property maintenance. The commission voted 4–2 (with one recusal) to approve the preliminary plan and move it forward for final steps; staff and CSL said they will continue neighbor coordination and finalize leases and operational policies.
