Commission rezones 5-acre Creekside Reserve parcel to neighborhood commercial, resident urges drainage review

The Innis City Commission voted May 19 to rezone a 5.058-acre parcel known as part of Creekside Reserve from Agriculture A to Neighborhood Commercial C, after Planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the change.

Planning staff described the site and said the city’s future land-use plan designates the area as regional commercial. The applicant is Carroll Consulting Group; staff said notification to adjoining property owners produced one letter of support and no formal protests to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

During the public hearing, Doug Stokes, a resident at 304 Liska Road, said the tract contains Cummins Creek and is in a flood-prone area. “My main concern is that creek…Cummins Creek that runs through there…if they clear trees and stuff, the water can’t move and it just keeps backing up,” Stokes said, asking that drainage be addressed to avoid flooding to neighboring properties.

Planning staff and commissioners acknowledged the drainage concern and said the creek and the nearby bridge are being evaluated; staff noted engineering and re‑engineering work may be required and that any development will be subject to standard drainage and engineering review. Commissioner comments reiterated that if the project proceeds, detailed design must address creek conveyance and bridge conditions.

The commission moved and approved the ordinance to rezone the parcel by voice vote. Commissioners who spoke said they supported the rezoning while emphasizing that plan-level approval does not remove the city’s obligation to require on-site drainage solutions and infrastructure engineering before permitting construction.

The commission also approved a separate ordinance reclassifying a 13.877-acre portion of the same larger tract from Agriculture A to Single-Family R7 after a brief public hearing with no speakers.