Zoning request sparks debate at meeting

CLOVIS — Some requests were approved without a hitch at the City of Clovis Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Wednesday.

Another was met with some controversy.

The commission recommended three requests for approval, which will be presented for final approval to the city commission on Feb. 16.

The first was for a zone change from a residential multi-family district to a neighborhood conservation manufactured home district on the 100 block of Calhoun Street.

Clovis resident Desiree Parraz requested the change, which was met with no protest.

Parraz said she bought the land in 2013 and wanted to save money by purchasing a single-wide trailer for the property.

Prior to the meeting, Parraz said she was informed by Planning and Zoning Administrator Louis Gordon she would need to purchase a double-wide trailer since it was a multi-family district.

The second approval was for a replat of the Pheasant Run Subdivision.

Edward Romero, with Lighting Engineers and Surveyors, spoke about the replat at the meeting.

“What the plan is on the replat is taking an existing retention area for pheasant run unit one, filling that in and turning it into two lots,” said Romero.

The planning phase includes using a storm sewer drainage system running parallel with Wilhite Road. Romero said plans include putting a drop-in to connect water generated by the subdivision, bring it into a pipe and carry it out to the retention site.

The final recommendation was for a zone change from a residential single-family district to a mixed development district.

The addresses for the zone change are the 500 blocks of Ash Street and Hickory Street.

Damian Houfek, with Zia Holding Corporation, said the zone change was requested for a building, previously owned by ENMRSH, Inc., to be used for commercial purposes.

The building was built in the early 1980s, but no proper zone change was made at the time, according to City Attorney David Richards.

Clovis resident Kevin Fisher was one of three residents speaking against the change.

He questioned the 15 percent protest, adding he and other concerned residents would not be properly represented by the protest vote since the percentage includes a majority of the lots owned by ENMRSH in the area.

Clovis resident Phyllis Cornejo said keeping the zone as a single-family district would promote the development of family housing.

Resident Mario Cornejo agreed, adding traffic would increase in the area. He also said it wouldn’t be known if the owners would sell the building and what other commercial organizations would move into it.

If the area were rezoned, no requirements would be put in place for the building to be torn down but it could not be used for commercial purposes, Richards said.

Vice Chairman Marcus Smith said the building could only be used for single residents without the zone change. Commissioner Don David added a new organization would not be able to move into the building.

Commissioner Juan Garza said the building would be neglected and deteriorate over time, with the residential property values around the area potentially decreasing as well.