Council approves first reading to rezone two Chestnut Street lots for neighborhood commercial use

The Lufkin City Council conducted a public hearing and approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone two parcels at 1512 and 1536 South Chestnut Street from Residential Large to Local Business, a change that also updates the future land use map from Medium Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial.

City staff described the property as two lots totaling approximately 5.2 acres just north of Card Drive and said the requested Local Business zoning would allow future commercial development along the major thoroughfare. City Planner Elena Hilton told the council that Planning and Zoning considered the request at its June 8 meeting and recommended approval; staff also reported four letters in support were received following notice of the public hearing.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After brief questions from council members about notification and nearby homeowners’ responses, a council member moved to approve the zone change on first reading; another member seconded the motion and the chair called the question. The motion carried (vote tally not specified in the transcript).

The ordinance on first reading amends both the zoning designation of the two lots and the future land use plan map to reflect a neighborhood-commercial classification. Staff framed the change as aligning the property’s land use designation with surrounding commercial and office development along South Chestnut Street.

The council did not record a roll-call vote or name the motion mover and seconder in the transcript. Next steps typically include a second reading or other follow-up required by ordinance; the transcript does not specify the schedule for subsequent readings or implementation steps.