Pharr planning panel recommends alcohol permit, two rezonings and preliminary plat to city commission

The Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously at its meeting to recommend approval of several land-use decisions that will go to the City Commission on Jan. 5, 2026.

Planner Joanna Villareal presented a conditional-use permit application from Veil, LLC, doing business as Siete Madres, to allow on-premise sale of alcoholic beverages at 1401 Jackson Road, suites 3 and 4. Villareal said building, fire and health inspections are pending and staff mailed 27 notices to surrounding property owners and published a legal notice on Dec. 3, 2025. Commissioners asked about hours of operation; staff said operations would not run past midnight. After brief discussion and with no registered public opposition, the commission moved, seconded and approved the recommendation to grant the conditional-use permit, subject to compliance with all city ordinances and department requirements.

The commission also recommended approval of two rezoning requests presented as separate items. The first, by Half Associates Inc. on behalf of Capote Farms LPD, would rezone about 36.97 acres at 501 West Highline Road from Agricultural/Open Space (AO) to Heavy Industrial (HI) to allow a warehouse. Villareal said staff mailed 19 notices within 200 feet and recommended approval, noting the request aligns with the land-use plan. An attendee who said he was representing the property owner confirmed receipt of the mailed notice; no objections were recorded. The commission voted to recommend the rezoning.

Planner Theo Perez presented a separate but similar rezoning application for a parcel listed at 400 West Military Highway, also proposed to change from Agricultural/Open Space (AO) to Heavy Industrial (HI). Perez said staff again mailed 19 notices and published the legal notice, and recommended approval. The commission closed the public hearing, had no board discussion, and voted to recommend the rezoning.

On a third substantive item, Planner Eduardo Martinez presented a preliminary plat for Espino Construction LLC for a 0.636-acre portion of Lots 38 and 39 in Lehi Development East Subdivision, on the 100 block of North Linden Street. The site is currently zoned RMF-HD (residential multifamily high density); staff recommended preliminary approval subject to the listed conditions. The commission moved, seconded and approved the preliminary plat recommendation.

Procedural items earlier in the meeting included a motion to excuse absent members and an amendment to the minutes of the Dec. 4, 2025 meeting to reflect that Javier Gutierrez had been present. There were no announcements; the commission adjourned following a motion.

Votes at a glance
- Conditional-use permit, Veil LLC d/b/a Siete Madres (1401 Jackson Road): motion to recommend approval — voice vote; chair declared motion carried.
- Rezoning recommendation, Capote Farms LPD (501 West Highline Road): motion to recommend approval — voice vote; chair declared motion carried.
- Rezoning recommendation (listed at 400 West Military Highway): motion to recommend approval — voice vote; chair declared motion carried.
- Preliminary plat approval, Espino Construction LLC (North Linden Street): motion to recommend preliminary approval — voice vote; chair declared motion carried.

What happens next
All four items were recommended to the City Commission and are scheduled for consideration at the Jan. 5, 2026, 4:00 p.m. City Commission meeting, at which the commission will take final action.