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Amarillo commissioners approve rezoning and specific-use permit for batching plant after contested public comments
Summary
The commission voted to rezone a property near Triangle Drive to Light Industrial with a specific-use permit for an asphalt/concrete batching plant. Staff cited industrial surroundings and a third‑party appraisal; nearby residents raised odor, health and property-value concerns; staff and applicant noted that TCEQ state permitting and monitoring would govern emissions.
The Amarillo Planning and Zoning Commission approved a rezoning to Light Industrial with a specific-use permit to allow an asphalt or concrete batching plant on Lot 2, Block 1, 66 Village Unit 2, after a staff presentation, applicant testimony, and several public comments both in favor and opposed.
Brady, planning staff, reopened the previously postponed case and said the applicant (OJD Engineering for Red Line Cattle LLC) provided a third‑party appraisal concluding the plant would not harm neighboring property values. Brady noted the site sits in an existing industrial area north of Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport and pointed to nearby industrial uses and two existing batching plants within about a mile.
Applicant representative Jesse Arredondo (OJD Engineering) summarized historical deeds and zoning records for the parcel. David Reif, a city resident who spoke in favor, said the area already contains several batching plants (naming J E Milligan, Advantage Asphalt Products and LA Fuller and Sons), described commitments to mitigate impacts — including an eight-foot solid metal fence along the west property line and limiting operations to daytime hours under the operational permit — and noted that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would review and permit emissions and conduct initial monitoring if an operating permit is issued.
Opponents included property owner Arthur Dyke (8616 Triangle Drive), who said the plant would sit close to his home and asserted concerns about odors, health risks and property values; Josh Nelson (who works across the street) and the owner of Maximum Tank Transport also opposed the rezoning citing smell and potential worker exposures. Mr. Dyke referenced OSHA materials in his comments and said he expected odors and health effects; Brady and commissioners clarified that environmental permitting and emissions enforcement fall under state agencies and that notice/protest rules apply locally. Brady noted the rezoning request triggered a more-than-20% protest threshold in the notification buffer; if the planning commission forwards the item to city council, council approval would require a three-fourths majority because of that protest.
A commissioner moved to approve the rezoning as submitted by staff; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Staff and the applicant will still need to address technical items — including a required drainage report, city engineering review, and TCEQ permitting — before a building permit or operations can begin.
Actions and next steps: The commission’s approval advances the zoning change to the city council for final action per standard procedure; given the protest threshold noted in the record, council action would require a three-fourths majority for approval.
