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6 5 30.[I. Chairperson’s Opening Remarks]
ALRIGHT, TIME IS 5:30 PM PRESENT THE QUEEN PRESENT.[IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVE OF MINUTES FOR APRIL 20.[VI. NEW BUSINESS - PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS (INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION)]
PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION.SO CALL OVER YOU, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE CASE NUMBER Z 24 DASH 10.
THE PROPERTY OWNER IS MR. MEHO F SEHA.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 8 5 2 0 WILSON AVENUE, JAKE CAD, PARCEL NUMBER 8 2 2 1 8.
THE REQUEST TYPE IS A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOT, 23 TRACK SEVEN SIX SOUTH, TWO 10 OF EAST 150 FEET, LOT 11 TRACK SIX PEAK EDITION JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE TOTAL ACREAGE IS 2.861 ACRES OF LAND.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THE ABUTTING ZONING IS NORTHWEST AND EAST, ALL MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
AND THE SOUTH IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 16 DISTRICT.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM MEDIAN MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A MULTIM, A MULTIPURPOSE, EXCUSE ME, EVENT CENTER.
ON OR AROUND THE SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER, 2024, THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY CONVENED TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPURPOSE EVENT CENTER AT 8 5 2 0 WILSON AVENUE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WAS TO ASSESS COMMUNITY SENTIMENT REGARDING THE PROJECT AND DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS OPPOSITION OR SUPPORT.
DURING THE INITIAL MEETING, THE MAJORITY OF ATTENDEES EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE DEVELOPMENT SUBSEQUENT, SUBSEQUENTLY, ON THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2025, A SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD DURING WHICH THE PROPERTY OWNER PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION INCLUDING DETAILED EXPLANATIONS, DIAGRAMS, AND VISUAL RENDERINGS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
THIS MEETING ALLOWED PROPERTY OWNERS TO GAIN A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEVELOPMENT SCOPE AND IMPACT.
AS A RESULT, COMMUNITY SENTIMENTS SHIFTED WITH THE MAJORITY OF ATTENDEES EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT.
ALTHOUGH SOME OPPOSITION REMAINED, GIVEN THE OUTCOME OF THESE DECISIONS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE REQUESTS.
THESE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WERE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO SCHEDULING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH ARE SET FORTH FOR TODAY, MAY 5TH AND JUNE 3RD, 2025.
THE MEETINGS ENSURE THAT STAKEHOLDERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL WAS THOROUGHLY COMMUNICATED BEFORE ADVANCING TO THE FORMAL PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ANY CON, ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION HAVE A PROPRIETARY INTEREST IN ANY PROPERTY MAY PETITION THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A CHANGE OR AMENDMENT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THE PLANNING IS ZONING COMMISSION MAY INSTITUTE A STUDY AND PROPOSAL FOR CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST ON ITS OWN OR MOTION OR REQUEST FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH, 2025, 16.
NOTICES WERE MAILED TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER A MINIMUM OF 15 DAYS BEFORE THE PNZ PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, MAY 5TH, 2025.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE DID RECEIVE TWO LETTERS THAT I WILL READ INTO RECORD, UM, ONCE YOU OPEN IT UP.
YOU ASK, SO SHOULD WE ASK QUESTIONS FIRST OR HAVE YOU, UM, YOU ALL CAN ASK QUESTIONS FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN, UM, OPEN IT UP FOR THOSE WHO FOR ARE FOR AND AGAINST.
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MY FIRST QUESTION GROUP, HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.I NEEDED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY LETTERS THAT CAME BACK, CAME IN REGARDING YES OR NO.
THEN THE SECOND QUESTION ACTUALLY, WAS IT A QUESTION? THIS IS GONNA BE CORRECTED IN THE RECORDS DATES.
SO THE MEETING WAS RESCHEDULED AND, UM, YOU ALL HAVE THE OLD, UM, THE OLD REPORT.
WE DID CORRECT IT FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO I DID MENTION IT FOR THE RECORD.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO, IN THIS, SO BEFORE THAT GO.
COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? UH, COULD YOU, I THINK YOURS OKAY.
YOU WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN? YEAH, I'M SO SORRY.
UM, IN THIS SECTION WE'LL ASK THE PUBLIC MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT, OR IF ANYONE'S PRESENT, WHO WISH TO SPEAK, UH, FOR THE ITEM, UH, OR AGAINST, YOU'LL NEED TO STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND ADDRESS PLEASE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT LET'S FIRST HEAR THE LETTERS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.
SO FOR THOSE SPEAKING, FOUR, I'LL READ THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PO BOX 10 89, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 7 7 4 4 1 DASH 10 89.
MARCH 28TH, 2025 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN REGARDING 20 Z 24 DASH 10 A ZONE CHANGE REQUEST.
I AM A OCTAVIA SANDERS PROPERTY OWNER AT 8 3 3 8 WILSON AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 7 7 6 4 OH.
RESPONDING TO YOUR LETTER REGARDING Z 24 DASH 10 ZONE CHANGE REQUESTED FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 85 20 WILSON AVENUE.
DUE TO ILLNESS, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I AM 100% IN FAVOR TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR MEDIAN DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIPURPOSE EVENT CENTER AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 8 5 2 0 WILSON AVENUE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT ME EITHER BY MAIL OR PHONE NUMBER AT (409) 543-3642.
SINCERELY, PROPERTY OWNER OCTAVIA SANDERS AND THAT'S FOUR.
OH NO, JUST WE'LL GET THE OTHERS WHO WANNA SPEAK FOR FOUR.
SO IF ANYONE HERE WHO'S PRESENT WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK? 4 4 4 4 4 FOR THE ITEM? YES.
WHO'S IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM? HI, HOW YOU DOING? FINE.
I'M THE, THE ONE ADDRESS, UH, WHAT YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'RE LIVING YOUR ADDRESS? YEAH.
WHAT'S YOU'RE WORKING ADDRESS? OH, WHERE I'M LIVING.
IT'S, UM, SIX 20, UH, SPRING MIRROR, UH, LAND PORT ARTHUR 7 7 6 42.
WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR A COMMUNITY OVER THERE.
UH, SOMETHING LIKE, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MAKE IT LIKE WEDDINGS, UH, SPECIAL, LIKE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE A FUNERAL AND THEY WANT TO DO AFTER THAT, THEY WANT TO DO LIKE A PUT ALL THE FAMILY TOGETHER.
AND NOW I WANNA MAKE ANOTHER THING LIKE A PATIO WITH, UH, WITH, WITH RESTROOMS AND, UH, TO, UH, LIKE A, THE KIDS THAT I CAN PLAY RIGHT THERE.
SO I WANNA MAKE SOMETHING FOR THE, FOR THE KIDS TOO.
AND, UM, I HOPE THAT I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN MY, IN MY, IN MY MIND IN THE FUTURE.
Y'ALL CAN MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.
COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE CARRIED A COMMENT AT THIS POINT OR WAIT UNTIL OTHER, A QUESTION ABOUT THE VIEW FRONT AND BACK OF THE BUILDING THAT YOU ARE INTENDING TO BUILD.
IS THIS THE TRUE COPY OF WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING? YEAH, I HAVE IT.
I HAVE IT LIKE SOME, UH, PAPER RIGHT HERE.
WHAT I, THE PLANS I HAVE IN MY MIND, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT.
IS THE ONE, UH, IS MY PLAN IN MY, IN MY FUTURE.
SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD THIS PLAN DRAWN UP YET WITH ARCHITECT? UH, WELL IT'S A, OH, IT'S A FRIEND OF MINE OR FAMILY.
THEY, THEY DO THAT THING, BUT WHAT I WANT
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TO DO THE FIRST TIME I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS, I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA GIVE SOMEBODY SPECIAL TO MAKE IT ONE OF THOSE.YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO, SIR.
UM, SIR, MR. SEHA, IF YOUR PLAN IS APPROVED, WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO START CONSTRUCTION? OKAY, SOON.
UH, THE APPROVE, UH, I WANT, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS LIKE A, UH, PERSONAL STORIES TO PUT, UH, PERSONAL STUFF, WHAT I CAN STUDY, YOU KNOW, WORK RIGHT THERE.
SOON I FINISH THE, THE, THE, THE PERSONAL, UH, STORIES I'M GONNA STUDY WITH, WITH THE PATIO FIRST OR SECOND.
SO THE, THE, THE OTHER ONE I WANTED LEAVE FROM THE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE FUTURE TO TRY TO MAKE IT GET THE MONEY TO STUDY, YOU KNOW, BUILD THE OTHER, THE OTHER STUFF.
I WANT TO REALLY, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE, FOR THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW? YES.
YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE REALLY SOME PEOPLE IN ONE OF THESE MEETING THEY ASKING IF Y'ALL WANT TO DO LIKE A NIGHTCLUB.
I SAY NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO LIKE A NIGHTCLUB.
I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR, FOR FAMILY, YOU KNOW.
I I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE APPRECIATION THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE FOR OR AGAINST THE PROJECT.
AND UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE IF I READ IT CORRECTLY, HEARD CORRECTLY, THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET INPUT ON HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME TO, TO TAKE THAT EFFORT TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WISH TO SPEAK FOR THE ITEM OR, OR IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK FOR
MY NAME IS ENRIQUE ALVAREZ, 24 11 ANGIO DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 7 7 6 4 2.
I MEAN, I'M FORWARD WITH 'EM, YOU KNOW, WELL I CAME, YOU KNOW, TO, HOW CAN I SAY IT? LIKE I'M SHY OF SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
UH, I'M, I'M FORWARD FOR IT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE OTHER COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE.
THEY SAY THEY BRING MORE STUFF OR SOME, IF THEY START BUILDING NOW, THEN OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO BUILD OTHER STUFF.
THIS DOES OPEN UP A HUGE CHANGE FOR THE COMMUNITY BY TURNING IT INTO A PLAN DEVELOPMENT VERSUS MOTI RESIDENTIAL.
IF WE MAKE THIS A CHANGE FOR YOU GUYS, IT CHANGES EVERYTHING OUT THERE SO OTHERS WHO MAY OWN LAND AROUND THERE MAY WANT TO ADD TO WHATEVER HE'S DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT DOES CHANGE THE ZONING AND CAN'T GO BACK.
TO MULTI, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THAT COMMUNITY IS HAPPY WITH THIS BEING BUILT THERE BECAUSE ONCE WE AGREE AND WE VOTE ON IT FOR OR AGAINST, EITHER WAY IT GOES TO COUNCIL AND THEY MAKE A FINAL DECISION.
BUT I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IF THE COMMUNITY IS HAPPY WE CAN'T STOP PROGRESS.
YEAH, WE GOTTA BRING IT UP TO AREA.
OKAY, NOW WE'LL GO TO ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FOR THE ITEM.
ALRIGHT, NOW LET'S MOVE TO THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ITEM.
WE RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER FROM WILLIE THOMAS ESTATES AT 8 3 3 3 ALABAMA AVENUE IN REGARDS TO ZONING CASE NUMBER Z 24 DASH 10 PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF 85 20 WILSON AVENUE ZONE REQUEST.
DEAR SERVES AND MADAM, MY SIBLINGS AND I OPPOSE THE REZONING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THIS ZONING RECLASSIFICATION WILL HARM THE SAFETY AND SERENITY OF THE MONTROSE HARLEM COMMUNITY.
WE OPPOSE THE REZONING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
THE COMMUNITY SAFETY, SAFETY WILL DECREASE FOR RESIDENTS WHO OFTEN WALK, RIDE, OR RUN ALONG HALL STREET AS IT INTERSECTS WITH TEXAS STREET, WILSON AND DAVIS AVENUES.
NUMBER TWO, TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DENSITY.
THIS REZONING AND PROJECT WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DENSITY ALONG HALL STREET, WILSON, DAVIS AND TEXAS AVENUES.
TRAFFIC OVERFLOW, THE TRAFFIC WILL OVERFLOW ONTO GISELLE STREET, ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI AVENUES HAMPERING
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NEARBY AND OTHER RESIDENTS MOBILITY TO AND FROM THEIR RESIDENCE AND THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD AND HIGHWAY 365 STUDENT SAFETY.A TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DENSITY INCREASE STUDENT SAFETY WILL DECREASE ENDANGERING STUDENTS WALKING TO AND FROM THEIR DESIGNATED BUS STOPS ALONG HALL STREET, WILSON AND TEXAS AVENUES.
THE INCREASE OF SOUND VOLUME IN THIS LIMITED AREA IN THE MONTROSE HARLEM COMMUNITY WILL DISTURB NEARBY AND OTHER RESIDENTS PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS.
THE INCREASES IN TAXES FOR HOME AND LANDOWNERS ON TIGHT BUDGETS AND AND LIMITED INCOME WITHOUT A BENEFIT FROM THIS, WELL BENEFIT FROM THIS POSSIBLE REZONING WILL PRODUCE AN OVERALL NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THE MONTROSE AND HARLEM COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE WE IMPLORE THE PLANNING DIVISION TO RECONSIDER Z 24 DASH 10 REZONING REQUEST.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, WE REALIZE THIS REZONING PROPOSAL FROM THE MDR TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS NOT PRACTICAL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING OUR GROUNDS FOR OPPOSING THIS REZONE.
DINA THOMAS AND SHALANDA BECKETT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM AND THIRD CALL? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM? UH, ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S, SO NOW WE MOVE THE CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES SIR.
ALRIGHT, IF WE HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE MOTION TO VOTE.
SO COMMISSIONERS, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ITEM? ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE? WELL, I GUESS THE FACT THAT A MAJORITY OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE NOW SAYING THEY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
DID YOU SAY THAT MS. METHING? DR.
ME AND ACT, ME AND LARRY ACTUALLY ATTENDED ALL PUBLIC, ALL THE MEETINGS.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO OBSERVE AND ALSO I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THEY DID HAVE A PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING, SO THEY DID MEET WITH THE RESPECTIVE DIVISION DIVISIONS, UM, AND THEY MADE THEM AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DO TO GET THEIR PROJECT UP AND GOING.
AND IF THEY HAD ANY CONCERNS IT WAS ADDRESSED.
WELL WITH THAT INFORMATION GIVEN I WOULD, UH, MOVE THAT WE SUPPORT THE, UM, THE PROJECT OR THE REZONING.
UH, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE WRITEUP.
I DO APPRECIATE THE THOROUGHNESS AND HOW YOU ALL WROTE THIS UP? YES SIR.
VERY CLEAR THROUGH THE PROPOSAL? YES SIR.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[VII. NEW BUSINESS - NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS]
SIR.IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR NO, SIR? WELL WE, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM THAT WILL BE, UM, A PUBLIC HEARING REQUEST THAT WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL ON TOMORROW, UM, FOR THIS, UM, ZONE CHANGE.
SO WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING AND IT WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 3RD IF IT IS APPROVED.
AND WE WILL HAVE A PLANNING, ZONING AND COMMISSION MEETING ON MAY 19TH, ONLY TWO ITEMS. UM, ANOTHER ZONE CHANGE REQUEST, DOUBLE CHECK.
SO I'LL BE SENDING YOU THAT EMAIL JUST TO SEE IF YOU ALL WILL BE AVAILABLE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE WE CLOSE? ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT, I'D LIKE THE MOTION THAT WE END THIS MEETING.
ALRIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO WE'LL CLOSE AT 5:48 PM THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.