it's funny. All right. So, we get started here. All right. Notice of a public meeting of the planning and zoning commission of the city of Brownsville pursuant to chapter 551 title five of the Texas government code the Texas Open Meetings Act. Notice is hereby given that the planning and zoning commission of the city of Brownsville, Texas has scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, September 18th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chambers on the second floor of the Brownsville City Hall, Old Federal Building located at 101 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas 78520. Pledge of

18:48 – 19:00•0

Allegiance. United States.

19:11 – 19:29•0

Roll call. Daniel Alen, present. Amalia Benson present. David Bettincourt present. Ida Rodriguez present. Updates and comments.

19:24 – 21:24•0

We do not have any updates or comments. Public hearing and action on ordinance number 235-2025-901-PD to establish a planned development district in a regional center zoning designation to allow an increase in building height, reduce parking requirements, and to allow associated amenities to site design for 4.43 acres out of block 11, subdivision 8, the Haren Terrace subdivision, Cameron County, Texas, located on Springar Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78526. Uh good evening commissioners. Uh thank you for being here for the special meeting. So this evening we're presenting a request for a plan development district. Uh as mentioned to allow a proposed maximum height or uh an added elevation to equal 95 ft. Uh allow the reduction of required parking ratio to 0.75 spaces per guest room and allow the incorporation of resort style pools with associated amenities within the site design. The current zoning of this property is regional center and just uh to add some context the the base zoning will not change. This item is not meant to change the zoning of the property. It's just meant to uh provide accommodations and certain uh parameters that the district has which in this case would be mainly the elevation and the parking. Uh the area of the property is 4.43 acres. Uh the proposed use is a full service hotel which in this case will be Embassy Suites and that the property is fronting Spring Springart Boulevard. This is a 200 foot buffer map. There were 17 mailouts and zero red opposition and as you can see in the aerial image everything surrounding is primarily commercial. There's also some hotels uh to the east I'm sorry to the west of the property.

21:24 – 23:15•0

This is a zoning map. Uh what predominates in the entire area as regional center and this is just an image of the site plan that is being proposed. Uh it will have a maximum elevation of seven stories or equivalent to 95 ft. Uh there will be 100 168 uh guest rooms which based on the proposed parking calculation uh would equal 126 parking spaces uh at minimum just for the guest room portion. Now they would still have to comply with uh the UDC requirement of having one parking space for every eight seats of the convention center component. This is an image of the elevation and again it would it would be a maximum of 95 ft or equivalent to seven stories. This is just a render uh so you have an idea as to how it would look like um within the the environment. Um, this view is basically coming off of Pablo Kisel. This is a lateral view which would be coming from um from Springark Boulevard. And this one is also coming from Springmart Boulevard

23:21 – 25:04•0

and as mentioned the current zoning requirements for regional center the m maximum designation uh I'm sorry the maximum height for this designation is 45 ft. Uh the parking requirements for a hotel use is one parking space per guest room plus one for every eight seats uh for meeting rooms and restaurants or in this case the convention center. There's 160 parking spaces because what they're proposing is 168 uh guest rooms and again one per eight seats for meeting rooms and restaurants approximately 65 based on what they're proposing. And so that would under the current code that would give you an approximate amount of 233 spaces. Uh the proposed uh parameters uh again 95 ft for elevation for the parking it would be 75 parking spaces per unit which would give you 126 parking spaces plus uh those that are required for the convention center. If you add them up 126 plus 65 that will give you a total of approximately 191 parking spaces. And so this uh request is consistent with the current comprehensive plan and future land use plan. Staff does recommend the approval uh to establish this plan development district in regional center. And uh this evening we we do have a representative for the project. Um like say a few words.

25:02 – 25:19•0

Hello. I'm Bryce Horniki with Alam System Industries. We're the general contractor. I'm here representing the owner. Um, we appreciate you guys meeting us today. Um, but if you guys have any questions for me or anything on the project, I'm here to answer

25:22 – 25:48•0

any questions. Do you have a plan like when when there is a big conference and then you have your hotel is to capacity because I know uh I've had conferences on the island hosted we've hosted conf conferences on the island and we've had the unfortunate situation where cars get towed away because they're parked close to the area but they're not supposed to be parked there.

25:46 – 26:51•0

So what is the plan for when you do have a a big conference going on and you're at capacity as far as hotel? So most of this parking on this side right here on the looking at the convention side is going to be mostly for the convention. There is a future to do some parking on the north side of it. Uh right next to the Spring Hill that's going to be combined parking for both hotels. Um that's kind of uh we're at on the parking Any other questions? Does anyone want to make a motion to close public hearing? If there's no more questions,

26:52 – 27:37•0

I'll motion to close public hearing. Second. With that, I guess what are the wishes of the commission? I Martin, can you clarify one thing on um if we do the the plan development district that only impacts this property? That is correct. Yes.

27:33 – 27:58•0

Okay. I just wanted to clarify. Then I'm in favor of of a motion to approve. Second. in. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. All those against. Motion carries.

28:04•0

Motion to adjurnn.

28:07 – 29:04•0

I'll second. Okay. We're adjourned. Meeting adjourned. Sounds good. Thank you. [Music]

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.