Public hearing on town‑initiated rezoning (Case 25‑ZCA3) continued to Dec. 9 after resident opposition and notice timing concern

Nathan, a town planning staff member, presented Case 25‑ZCA3, a town‑initiated rezoning that would change undeveloped rural residential parcels larger than 20 acres (and adjacent tracts under common ownership that collectively exceed 20 acres) to the AG (agricultural) zoning district as a base or holding zone. Nathan said the purpose is to further the comprehensive plan's rural reserve objective to preserve larger lots and open space and to provide an interim zoning category until infrastructure or development readiness warrants rezoning. "The idea is that this would become the base zoning for that rural reserve place type identified in the comprehensive plan," Nathan said.

Staff also flagged a mailing timing issue: some notices were mailed on Saturday but not marked by the post office until the following Monday; staff said they believe the notices meet state law but recommended, out of an abundance of caution, that the commission continue the hearing to Dec. 9 so the commission would not act tonight if there were concerns.

Resident Rena Hardiman spoke during the public hearing and opposed the AG zoning. "We did not want an ag zoning district because we actually have a, an authentic, ag operation," Hardiman said, adding she believes the AG ordinance "did nothing for us as true ag people" and asserted the change would deny private property rights. She cited prior rezoning for Pecan Square and argued the town favored a developer in that earlier action.

After discussion about whether to close or continue the hearing, Commissioner 5 moved to continue Case 25‑ZCA00003A to Dec. 9; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The item will return to the commission on Dec. 9 and then be scheduled for Town Council consideration on Dec. 11.