Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

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My name is Isabella Perez, Recreation Leader for the City of Socorro. Thank you for joining today's meeting. Before the meeting begins, we would like to remind our guests to remove all hats and silence all electronic devices. No destructive behavior or outbursts will be tolerated and violators are subject to rejection and possible prosecution.

Hello, my name is Judy Rodriguez, Secretary of Planning for the City of Socorro. Thank you for participating in today's meeting. Before the meeting begins, we would like to remind our guests to please take off their hats and silence all electronic devices. No disturbing or abrupt behavior will be tolerated and the offenders will be subject to expulsion and possible processing.

Good evening, everyone. Today is Tuesday, June 16th. Time is 5.32. This is a regular scheduled meeting for planning and zoning for the city of Socorro. This meeting is called to order.

Thank you. Thank you. Item number two, establishment of quarrel. Andrew Arroyos, absent. David Estrada.

Present.

Osvaldo Reza.

Here.

YOLANDA RODRIGUEZ. HERE. RAFAEL CARRILLO. ABSENT. ISIDRO TORRES. HERE. WE HAVE QUORUM WITH FOUR COMMISSIONERS PRESENT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, OPEN FORUM. AFREDO, DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?

NOT AT THE MOMENT.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

I make a motion.

Second.

To approve? Yes, to approve.

I have a motion made by Yolanda Rodriguez to approve. Second by Isidro Torres. All those in favor of the motion?

Aye.

Any nays? Any abstain? Motion carried. Moving on to item number five. presentation and discussion of the draft review of the Unified Development Code, UDC, Ms. Camilo.

Can we go ahead and delete the item?

Move to delete. Item five.

I second. Who wants to second? I second. I have a motion made by Isidro Torres to delete item. Second by Yolanda Rodriguez. All those in favor of the motion?

Aye.

Any nays? Any abstain? Motion carried. Moving on to item six, public hearing for the proposed amendment to the City of Socorro's master plan and rezoning of block two, block one, Socorro Rehabilitation, located on South Moon Road, City of Socorro, El Paso County, Texas, from C2 General Commercial to R1 Single Family Residential to allow for construction of a residential dwelling.

Public hearing for item number six is open at 535.

We have Henry Duran.

Can you step up to the podium and state your name for the record?

I'm Henry Duran. I'm in the 171 Southland Road. It's right across the street from the land of zone change. On behalf of my neighbors, we're 100% approved. We love what's going on. We would rather have a residential or one across the street from our own lives than some commercial, modern, or natural thing happening. So we're 100% behind the zoning change. I think it's... Those are also available I guess as a seat to commercial I think they're owned by the MDV nursing center and

And I guess five or six years ago, you guys turned down a proposal for them to build a maintenance center there. And I think it would have been a good thing back then also. So all the weeds from those six acres come into our properties across the street, too. So a suggestion, maybe you should make all those our one residential, too. That would be great, man, because it's a lot better than an empty lot and just dirt blowing into our houses every day. So we're 100% for it. So thank you, guys. And another thing. I don't know who I need to ask about this. Who do we talk to in zone enforcement or code enforcement about mosquito problems at the cement plant next to us? I don't know. It's just a question. I know it's off subject, but that's a question I also have.

They have 2,000 tires there, and every time it rains, it gets full of mosquitoes, and the whole neighborhood gets full of mosquitoes.

So that's just something we'd like to also address. Other than that, thank you very much for having us. Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Udan. if you would like to stay after the meeting to get your information. Okay, thank you. We don't have anybody else.

Public speaking for item number six is closed at 537.

Moving on to item number seven, considering take action on the proposed amendment to the City of Socorro's master plan and rezoning of lot two, block one, Socorro Rehabilitation located on South Moon Road, City of Socorro, El Paso County, Texas from C2 General Commercial to R1 Single Family Residential to allow for the construction of a residential dwelling. Ms. Rodriguez?

Thank you, Yadira. Good evening, commissioner's planner with the city of Socorro. We'll continue with the next item on the agenda. Item number seven.

Bernie.

And this is a rezoning request for the property located at South Moon Road. We'll proceed with the general information beginning with an overview of the property We proceed beginning with an overview of the property. The property is located along Salmon Road. The legal description is Lot 2, Block 1, Socorro Rehabilitation Subdivision. The property owner and representative is Jesus Cortes. Lot size is 1.056 acres. The zoning, it's a C2 general commercial. Current land use is vacant, and the future land use is mixed use, MU. Summary request, request is for approval of rezoning of a property from C2 general commercial to our one single family residential to allow for construction of a residential dwelling, and staff recommends approval for this rezoning request. Next is the zoning map where the subject property is outlined in white. The red shading represents a C2 general commercial zoning district. The surrounding area contains a mix of zoning district including R1 single family residential zone in yellow, A1 agriculture industrial in purple, and RM24 mobile home districts. This is the official land use map from the Socorro 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Shows the subject property outline in white and designated as mixed use, MU. The surrounding area is mainly rural residential, shown in beige, and suburban residential in yellow. This is the original subdivision plat. This is Socorro Rehabilitation Subdivision. This plat was recorded in September 2017 and consists of three C2 general commercial lots. Lot 2 and Lot 3 are vacant lots while Lot 1 has been developed. The subject property is outlined in yellow and it's located on Lot 2. This aerial image shows the property outlined in white. The site is currently vacant and is located near the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Moon Road, and South Moon Road. The surrounding area includes residential development to the south and west, commercial development along Alameda Avenue, and industrial uses near the vicinity. Now we have some photos. The top photo is the front view of the property from South Moon Road. And the bottom photo is the rear view of the property toward South Moon Road. This is the public notice map highlighting the area within 200 feet of the property that was notified as required by law regarding the proposed rezoning. Followed by the public notice letters that were mailed in both English and Spanish to property owners within those 200 feet around of the subject property. And no support or opposition has been received in person by mail, by phone, or by email until now here in the public hearing. This is the conceptual plan submitted by the applicant. This conceptual site plan shows the proposed development on lot two. The applicant is proposing a 7,083 square foot residential dwelling with access from Moon Road, and the proposed plan appears to provide the adequate setbacks from the property lines. If approved, The development will be required to meet the R1 zoning standards during the permitting process. And once again, summary request. Requests for approval of rezoning a property from C2 General Commercial to R1 single family residential to allow for a construction of a residential dwelling. And at this time, staff is available to answer any question you might have. Thank you.

I don't have any questions.

So the Futureland use map, has it showing mixed use? Can you define that for us?

For mixed use, we consider residential and commercial.

Okay, does that mean that it needs to be residential and commercial on the same parcel?

It could be both on the same parcel. Could be? Yes.

But it's not required?

No, it's not.

Okay, and then you said the home was 7,000 square feet?

Correct, 7,083 square feet.

And then on one of the photos it had a for sale sign is... Is the property under contract right now? Is it under contract? Is it for sale? Because it's a for sale sign, so that's what I'm asking.

Unfortunately, I didn't have that information with me. That information was provided.

The homeowner is not, or the owner is not present, or the representative is not present. Good. I'm just not sure on this one yet. Any comments? Anybody?

Make a motion to approve.

I second.

I have a motion made by Isidro Torres to approve. Second by Yolanda Rodriguez. All those in favor of the motion?

Aye. Abstain.

And Nines? Any abstain? Abstain. Thank you.

motion carried moving on to item number eight planning and zoning commissioners report commissioners so i have a question so coming down on nuevo hueco on the logistics centers the warehouses that are on your right hand side the first warehouse is that a data center Because it sure looks like it. There's a lot of generators, a lot of compressors, a lot of water coolers. And I haven't seen anything or know of anybody that has brought up that that might be a data center. So when I look it up, it says AI technologies. So do we know if that is a data center? Lorraine?

It's a little difficult to hear. You asked me a question, or if somebody is speaking, it's really difficult to hear. I could tell that it was Ms. Rodriguez.

Yes. Yeah, so I was asking if coming down on Nuevo Hueco, in the logistics center area, the new warehouses, the first warehouse coming down from East Lake down to Nuevo Hueco on the right-hand side. I'm concerned that that is a data center. Is that a data center?

So if you're familiar and remember back when the We Win, a company had their And the city has a press conference. It was stated that it was a data manufacturing and testing center. So they're making parts for data centers. It's the we win. And it's those first two buildings that you're describing. That's why they had to buy the additional area that you saw before you as the, what do you call it? The Mesa spur drain. where they bought that additional property to make the additional parking for the staff that was needed for the manufacturing center.

Okay, yes, I do remember that city council and there were several people that did a walkthrough and I do recall that it was going to be a manufacturing center.

But there are manufacturing parts for data centers.

Wow, okay. Okay, so they're manufacturing parts for a data center, but it is not a data center. Because they sure have a lot of equipment out there that looks like it's for a data center, not just making parts.

Yes, they have chillers, again, data center manufacturing and testing. So imagine there's some activity that needs to be conducted. conducted for that, but I am not... That's the information that I have and understand.

Okay, okay, I'll just reach out to City Council then. Thank you.

Yeah, interesting. I think that's interesting, but well, my... I guess my curiosity is the position that everyone has on data centers coming to or being built within the city limits of Socorro. If anybody would like to share their comments on these data centers. Not at the moment, but we'll see if we can open. And so, yeah, you know, I keep asking different people and there's pros and cons, but on top of that, if anybody is using the AI platforms, it's, I mean, it is really, really big. It is something that is here to stay and it is super advanced. And so data centers I think are necessary but the concerns are at what cost, right? Mostly water and electricity consumption. But if anybody is committed, can you tell us what the city's position is or what your outlook is? And this is just general discussion. I'm just curious.

I don't think so.

Ms. Camito, did you hear my question? No.

No, go ahead. Can you repeat your question?

Yeah, I'm curious as to what the position is from the Planning and Zoning Department and the city in general, what their position is on data centers being built or coming to the city of Socorro.

Or is there a- Did you get a chance to look over the ordinance that the city passed regarding data centers several months ago? I have not. So that was approved by city council and will be included in the new UDC. And during that first presentation on the data center ordinance, a couple of people from the public spoke and we're going over that to make sure that we captured all of those comments and they are data centers are required to do additional um research and provide additional information about the impacts that they're going to be having in the area so i would i can present on that next week um if you would like okay or not sorry not next week but the next meeting

Okay, and that's fine. I think it's a discussion. I think we're gonna be talking a lot about it, just like warehousing. So any light that you can shed our way. And I know it's out there. I understand what you're saying that's already been passed, but if we can discuss it in another meeting, it'd be great.

Thank you, commissioners. Moving on to item number nine, planning and zoning department report. Ms. Guimero.

Thank you, Yadira. I just have one item to report on, and that is the Border Highway East Extension stakeholder meeting. So the stakeholders, cities, agencies in the area that would be impacted by the extension of Border Highway East were invited to a meeting at TxDOT this past Friday. I wasn't able to attend in person, but I was able to catch most of the meeting and listen to staff talk about the technically preferred alternative. There were different people in the audience who spoke and commented on the feasibility of the proposed route and expressed their concerns. The other item that was commented on was the public meeting. So that meeting Friday was for the government agencies and the next one will be for the public and that will be in August. It hasn't been set yet, but we'll definitely share that with everyone so that you can all provide your feedback on the project to extend the border highway east to Fabens. There are a lot of positive aspects of that and of course some environmental impacts that need to be weighed as we consider what impact that would have for the community and invite the public to speak on that when the opportunity presents itself again, which will be August, but they have not set a final meeting yet. And that's all I have for today.

Thank you, Ms. Camilo. Moving on to item number 10, considering to take action on the adjournment of this meeting. Do I have a motion?

Motion to adjourn.

I have a motion made by David Estrada to adjourn, second by Osvaldo Reza. All those in favor of the motion? Aye. Any nays? any of same motion carried meeting adjourned at 5 56. thank you all for coming