Planning and Zoning Commission approves conditional-use permit for mixed-use project in Eagle Pass

The Eagle Pass Planning and Zoning Commission on May 14 approved a conditional-use permit for a mixed-use development proposed by Ernesto Fuentes that would place a gym in front of residential units on Lots 10 and 11 in the North Hills Subdivision.

A planning staff member described the project as a gym with an apartment complex behind it and said a CUP was required because apartment buildings are not permitted in B-1 (Neighborhood Business) zoning without special approval. The staff recommendation was to approve the construction.

Staff told commissioners that the project’s required parking is provided on site and that the city’s parking standard has been revised to require two parking spaces ("2 spaces") and that the requirement does not vary by number of units; staff applied those calculations to the gym and residential component. Staff also noted local mixed-use precedents on Main Street and Louis Street.

Mister Negrete, a planning staff member, summarized public notice results, saying 27 letters were sent: one in favor, one opposed and one undeliverable. He listed applicable code chapters to be followed during permitting, including building, electrical, fire, plumbing, streets and sidewalks, landscaping/tree preservation, water and sewer, final plats and the sign and fence appendix.

When the chair closed the public hearing (no members of the public spoke), a committee member moved to approve the request "taking into consideration that planning department or the community development department is recommending to provide this project a green light." The motion was seconded and the commission approved the permit by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript.

The meeting also approved the minutes from the commission’s April 9 meeting earlier in the session and adjourned at about 5:41 p.m.

Staff will proceed with the permit and code-compliance checks noted during the presentation; no further timeline for construction was provided in the record.