Council tables rezone of Vaughn Street to Central Business District for further edits

Council considered an ordinance to rezone Vaughn Street between FM 243 and Henness Street from commercial to a Central Business District. Staff said the CBD would provide flexibility for downtown uses while isolating changes to that single area. Staff clarified that traditional multifamily buildings would remain prohibited under the current draft and that future amendments would be needed to allow vertical mixed-use with apartments over retail.

Council members and residents questioned whether the draft matched the mailed notice and whether short-term rentals or apartment hotels were being introduced; staff said the notice language may have implied mixed-use but that the current ordinance does not alter multifamily prohibitions. Because mailed notices for this item cost roughly $1,700, staff recommended tabling to the second April meeting to permit targeted revisions without repeating the notice process. The council voted to table the item to the second meeting in April.