Clovis commission upholds rezoning denial

CLOVIS — During Thursday’s regular Clovis city commission meeting, commissioners upheld a prior decision by the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny a request to have a parcel of property rezoned from residential to mixed development.

A motion by Commissioner Tom Martin to approve the rezoning request died for a lack of a second.

The agenda item sought commission approval of adoption of an ordinance that would involve a zoning change for a property at 821 York Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended by a 6-0 vote that the rezoning application be denied based upon opposition.

“This item was heard before the Planning and Zoning Commission at their last regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 14,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Louis Gordon said. “All of the required notices and publications were accomplished, and there is a 35 percent protest filed. Concerning the proposed rezoning, there is existing mixed development districts directly west and north of the proposed location. There is no compelling evidence there would be a threat to the public health, safety and welfare, which is unique to the proposed request. The Planning and Zoning Commission, however, did recommend to deny the application.”

Larry Kolek is the property owner who sought the zoning change, which would have cleared the way for an evening and weekend two-bed urgent care center.

“One of the things I was told is that there was some kind of impact on traffic,” he said in addressing the commission. “The traffic is on York Street, which is the main entrance, basically, to Albertson’s and that particular plaza. There is no entrance from this property on Lea Street where the residents believe there is going to be an impact on traffic. There would be very little impact on traffic. The house is not going to change in size or dimension. The need for a business like this was initiated by a lady who is a nurse at the base, and she thought this would be a needed facility. I’m not quite sure why there is a major objection to a particular resident business. I would ask you to consider this change for the betterment of the town.”

Edwina Porter resides in the 1600 block of Lea Street and urged the commission to take the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation into consideration.

“We have several objections,” she said. “It was pointed out if this property was to be re-zoned, there are many ordinances that would have to be met if that was indeed turned into an emergency medical facility, such as oxygen tanks on site. There were 24 property owners that signed a petition against rezoning. If rezoning is granted, we are concerned about what happens to the properties on Lea and York Streets. It opens the door to more commercial use and would impact our homes. We have invested thousands of dollars upgrading our homes and respectfully request you deny the rezoning request.”

Officials said based upon the lack of second for the motion, the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to deny the rezoning request stands.

In other meeting actions:

• Commission members granted approval of a new restaurant beer and wine license for Chipotle Mexican Grill at 3501 N. Prince Street.

• Commissioners also approved introduction of an ordinance prohibiting consumption of alcohol at the Clovis Municipal Airport.

• Constance Williams was selected to serve on the Commission on Older Adults while Mary Collins and Selmus Price were approved to serve on the Cultural and Ethnic Affairs Committee.