Property owners respond to rezoning efforts

The Navasota Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) held a Regular Meeting Thursday, July 25, and received substantial feedback from property owners regarding proposed rezoning of properties in the A/O,Agriculture/Open Space Districts in the southwest quadrant of the city.

During a public hearing on eight properties totaling 294.88 acres west of SH 6, between Washington Avenue and Spur 515, property owners Nancy Perry and Faber McMullen said they didn’t receive written notice of the public hearing and requested consideration of their property be tabled until they had the opportunity to “contemplate the repercussions” of rezoning. Perry and McMullen jointly own 71.464 acres and McMullen owns 202.482 acres in the northwest corner of Spur 515 at SH 6.

Perry and McMullen’s “vision” differed from the recommendations of P&Z to rezone a portion of both properties closest to SH 6 at Spur 515 as B-1, General Business District and the western portions as R-1A and R-1B, Single Dwelling Unit, Residential District.

Perry said, “At some point in the future we plan on developing the property with city streets and doing some kind of high-end development over there.”

Perry continued, “When the time comes to do the development, we want to be free to submit a proposal to the city that would put the highest and best use of the property based on the potential for building streets, potentially from Manley to the feeder…possibly Judson to the feeder. We’ve done some pretty serious studying on what it should grow up to be someday but if you rezone it now and you put that back section into residential, when the time comes to actually develop we’d have to get all the property owners within 200 feet of that property to agree or to not object, and that could throw a lot of roadblocks up to develop in the proper way.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Phillip Cox, a resident of Milroy Terrace Subdivision, responded by saying, “The residents in Milroy Terrace that I have spoken to would like to preserve that addition as is without the ability of any through streets through the addition which are W. Mliroy, E. Milroy, Gibbs Street and the like. If it is rezoned, we have some concerns about drainage…that could create flooding. We also ask you that if you do rezone that the perimeter of Milroy Terrace be left as green space.”

Milroy Terrace resident David Stevens added his concern about flooding and removal of the foliage that provides a buffer to highway noise.

McMullen suggested leaving their properties as is and “see what offers come our way. With 249 coming in, I think we’re going to see some plays for this property, and then the city can see what fits into an overall plan.”

Chairman pro Tem Dr. John Walla clarified that the purpose of rezoning the A/O districts was to streamline the process for developers by removing the rezoning step.

At the close of the hearing, commissioners approved rezoning 9.09 acres south of Washington Avenue to R-1A, High Density, Single Family Residential District, making no change to 11.85 acres occupied by telecommunications facilities and tabled action on Perry and McMullen’s 273.94 acres.

Workshop feedback

Property owners were invited to provide feedback during a workshop about 13 properties under consideration for rezoning from A/O to B-1 General Business, M-1 Light Industrial or R-1 Residential District. The properties are west of S. Bus. 6 and wrap around the Industrial Park.

There may have been a misconception by property owners that action was being taken at the meeting, but landowners Leonard Espinoza and Robert Fojtik did speak about rezoning, flooding, personal property rights, the previous annexation, poor internet service and city services.

Commissioner James Harris said, “We want people to come tell us what they want to do with their

property. If they don’t

show up, we do what we

think is best. But when

you come and tell us, we

take it seriously.”

Before adjourning,

commissioners approved

the Minutes of the July

11 meeting.

Commissioners present were Dia Copeland,

James Harris, Carolyn

Katkoski, Patty Tokoly and Dr. John Walla.

Chairman Randy Peters

and Sarah Korpita were

absent. Representing the

City of Navasota were

Community Development Director Lupe

Diosdado, Community

Relations Specialist Kris

Gruver, and city council

liaison Grant Holt.