Council denies rezoning request for 508 East Cornerview after residents oppose spot zoning

The Gonzales Mayor and City Council voted to deny a rezoning request for property at 508 East Cornerview Street, a move the council said honors the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation.

The application, filed by applicant Trey Cline to rezone lots comprising part of square 10 of the Wibble Subdivision (parcel number 3049600, section 28 T9S-R3E) from R8 single-family residential to B1 limited business to allow a professional law office, drew sustained opposition from neighbors and the planning commission. The council took the final vote to deny the request after public comment.

Residents who spoke at the hearing argued the change would violate the city's master plan and constitute spot zoning. "Please consider the long-term effects of changing the zoning," said Monica Landry, a resident whose family property is adjacent to the parcel. Maria Rowland, another nearby resident, pointed to the master plan and to the B1 table of uses, saying the zoning category allows higher-noise and higher-traffic businesses: "This is spot zoning. It doesn't follow the city's master plan," she said.

Applicant Trey Cline told the council he and the property owner were seeking a professional office and were willing to accept conditions on hours and access if that would help. "We're asking for a business office here, not a Chick-fil-A," Cline said, and asked the council to consider conditional or expedited special-use options since the process has taken nearly a year.

Planning Director Scott Hughes confirmed the Zoning Commission voted 4–0 to recommend denial on April 6, 2026. Several speakers urged the council to respect the commission's recommendation and the master plan; longtime resident Vernon Gautreaux (spelled in some transcript lines as "Gotro") described the neighborhood as one of Gonzales' earliest subdivisions and urged preservation.

After discussion the council moved to honor the planning commission's denial. Councilman John Boudreaux moved to deny; Councilman Williams seconded. A roll-call vote was held and the motion to deny passed.

The denial preserves the parcel's residential zoning and maintains the status quo while the neighborhood remains under the city's single-family designation. No administrative or legal appeal was recorded during the meeting. The council concluded the agenda item and moved on to subsequent items.

What happens next: The council's denial keeps 508 East Cornerview in R8 zoning; any future proposal would require a new application or a different process such as a conditional-use or special-use permit if pursued.