Clovis commissioners deny zoning request by slim margin

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission by a unusually slim margin denied a rezoning request that would clear the way for up to three new four-plexes in the Sunset Acres Subdivision.

The margin was unusual because the commission voted 5-3 in favor of the zone change. However, a 40% protest rate from adjacent property owners required the zone change meet a 75% vote for passage. In addition to the protest rate, the city’s planning and zoning commission recommended by a 4-3 to reject the zone change.

Judy Morrow spoke on behalf of the four property owners in protest. She said she and her neighbors like the current makeup of their neighborhood and had concerns about noise and traffic the new buildings would bring.

Realtor Gayla Brumfield had no connection with the project or developer Michael Gonzales, said the request presented the commission a chance to help address rental shortages. Brumfield said in prior years there were between 400 and 450 listings, but right now there are less than 70.

“We are in dire need of housing,” Brumfield said.

Voting no were Commissioners Megan Palla, Lauren Rowley and Gary Elliott. Palla and Rowley cited concerns with the protest rate, and Palla said during discussion it felt like a “round peg into a square hole” measure. Elliott said he didn’t see an overwhelming reason to overturn the planning and zoning commission vote.

In other business during the Thursday meeting:

• Commissioners approved introduction of an ordinance with four amendments to the city’s current cannabis ordinance. City Attorney Jared Morris took commissioners through the changes.

The first change waived the requirement a cannabis establishment be more than 300 feet from a residential neighborhood, with Morris noting the requirement wipes out close to 90% of the city and would lead to some costly court challenges.

The second removed restrictions on off-premises advertising, the third eliminated hours of operation requirements for producers that don’t sell to the public and the fourth allowed cannabis establishments to sell non-cannabis merchandize such as clothing outside.

Commissioner Juan Garza moved for approval, after conceding the commission might never get the ordinance 100% correct.

• Commissioners approved various fee increases at the Clovis Regional Airport, most notably a $25 increase on T-hangar rentals per month.

Airport Director James Harris said the T-hangar rental rates would vary between $100 and $150, and still be less than half of what is charged at the Lubbock airport. The measure would generate an additional $22,800 a year, which Harris said would cover T-hangar maintenance and repair.

Mayor Morris said the Civil Aviation Board has members who rent T-hangars at the airport, and felt it was important to note they voted to increase their own rental fees because they beileved in the overall benefit.

• City Finance Director LeighAnn Melancon announced the city won the Department of Finance and Administration’s 2020-21 Director’s Award.

The award, Melancon said, is a consideration of a municipality’s quality of reporting, its ability to work with other municipalities and support legislation that helps municipalities function.

Melancon said the award goes to the finance department, but is a reflection of all of the employees and the city’s elected officials.

• District 3 Commissioner Helen Casaus left the dais in the meeting’s second hour with what she later told The News was an atrial fibrillation. First responders who were at the meeting anyway checked on her in the hallway, and she was taken to Plains Regional Medical Center after the meeting concluded at about 7 p.m. Casaus said her heart returned to normal rhythm around 9 p.m., and she left the hospital a few hours later. A followup appointment will be required, but Casaus said Friday morning she feels good overall.

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Jan. 8 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.