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Council adopts Bel Air Makers District zoning after five amendments
Summary
Bellaire’s council unanimously adopted an ordinance replacing the Urban Village district with the Bel Air Makers District (BMD) on May 18, 2026, approving five amendments that adjusted loading rules, expanded permitted uses, removed a minimum mixed-use percentage and deleted minimum site-width/depth requirements for planned developments.
Council considered and then adopted an ordinance to establish the Bel Air Makers District (BMD), replacing the prior Urban Village rules and revising use, parking, screening and plan-development standards. Director of Development Services Travis Tanner summarized changes and noted the ordinance had been the subject of a prior public hearing. "We did have a public hearing on this agenda item and Gary gave a presentation back on April 20," Tanner said, then reviewed how the ordinance clarifies permitted and specific uses and references updated lighting rules.
Council member Gordon proposed a set of technical amendments aimed at avoiding unnecessary project barriers: permitting certain uses (art galleries, indoor amusement, athletic facilities and veterinary clinics) rather than listing them only as specific uses, adjusting curb-loading language so local warehouses retain needed loading options, removing a minimum percentage requirement to qualify as "mixed use," and deleting minimum site-width and site-depth numeric thresholds from the PD requirements. Council voted to bundle and approve the amendments and then passed the revised ordinance unanimously. Supporters said the changes will allow flexible redevelopment of the area without displacing legacy businesses.
