District 7 Zone Changes

Deer Creek Residents!

Your Voice is Needed Now!

The owners of the vacant lots in front of your community are seeking a zone change for their properties. Please prepare to give your feedback and encourage your neighbors to do the same.  

The owners are looking to change the zone from a b-3 to a b-4. The use indicated is “commercial parking lot of trucks/heavy equipment” and “truck/heavy equipment/recreational vehicle repair.”  

One of the owners tried making this change last year stating “a/c mechanic shop” as the intended use, and your community spoke AGAINST the request, and it was denied.

Many of the residents have expressed concern with the storage of machinery, shipping containers, and old appliances that exists on the properties now.  They are also concerned with the parking of trailers on these dirt lots.  

The intended use is to do repair work to tractor trucks under an open roof.  Many are concerned with the noise, dirt, and unsightliness of this use.  The other lot will be used as a truck parking lot. The industrial traffic will be using Game Creek, the only entrance and exit to your neighborhood, to enter and exit these businesses.

The property owners are not entitled to a zone change.  They are requesting one, but residents have an opportunity to give their input.  Your city council will have the final say in the matter.

It has been brought to my attention that people went door to door asking for support for this zone change.  This zone change request was not desired the last time it was requested.  

We will be going to your door this week to discuss this with you also to make sure and get your feedback.

Did you receive a postcard in the mail?

Ready to comment?

Please fill this form out and reference both ZC-073-2023 and ZC-074-2023 in the subject field:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdflWIk3ofLpsQr6SK0auCW_BuMsWX765nsssApg1cG5B9Q/viewform

Need more information? 
Please email me at
district7@ci.laredo.tx.us

More information on the Zoning Allowances

What is allowed in a B 3?

Section 24.65.14 B-3 – COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT 

(1) Trade or Business School: Provided that machinery which is used for instruction does not create noise, fumes, smoke, odor, vibration or does not involve welding or the use of heavy equipment outdoors. 

(2) Where the primary business is retail sale of hardware and remodeling supplies such as lumber, concrete, electrical fixtures, plumbing, heating or air-conditioning shops, wiring, masonry or tile, a free- standing structure shall not exceed 35,000 square feet in gross floor area. 

(3) Sign painting shops shall be located in wholly enclosed buildings.
(4) Monument sales and service shops shall be located in enclosed buildings if adjacent to an R-District. 

(5) Funeral homes and Chapels: shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from any Residential District; must be screened from all adjacent less intensive uses; and must be located within three hundred (300) feet of a principal arterial street. 

(6) Small animal veterinary clinics which include treatment, display, grooming, or boarding of small animals or pet shall be located not less than fifty (50) feet from any Residential District, 

(7) Interior decorating, painting and paper hanging shops, furniture upholstering which do not include contractor yards and cabinetry fabrication. 

(8) Recycling centers provided however that no recycling center shall be located within 100 feet of any residential district. 

(9) Retail sale of used clothing and merchandise stores is permitted. 

(10) Unless otherwise provided, all business, service or processing shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building; the sale of automobile fuel, lubricants and fluids at service stations, is specifically permitted. 

(11) Production for Retail on Premises Only: All products produced on the premises shall be primarily sold at retail on the premises where produced, except for the work of skilled craftsmen or artisans. 

(12) Any nationalization/”nacionalizacion” of vehicles enterprise must be located in a B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2 or MXD district, and must also obtain a Special Use Permit (SUP) prior to commencing operations, and it is a violation of this subsection for any such enterprise to be located in other than one of those five districts; provided, however, any such enterprise operating in a zoning district other than a B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, or MXD prior to May 1, 2004, will be permitted to continue to operate for a period not to exceed one (1) year from the date. 

What is allowed in a B 4?

Section 24.65.15 B-4 – HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT 

(1) Any nonresidential use permitted in the B-3 District: is permitted in the B-4 district without floor area square footage limitation. 

(2) Agricultural sales and services is permitted, including heavy machinery; sale from premises of feed, grain, fertilizers, pesticides and similar goods as well as incidental storage thereof, provided however that no storage handling or transfer of pesticides, fertilizer or chemicals shall be located within 200 feet of any residential district. 

(3) Heavy automotive sales and service is permitted along the freeway and State Aid Primary Roads only; includes truck stops maintenance and sales of heavy machinery provided that storage of equipment and vehicles adjoining any Residential or other Commercial District be screened from view. 

(4) Building Material and Equipment Sales: includes retail lumber yards, and retail and wholesale sales of other building material such as concrete, masonry, plumbing and heating units provided that no construction, assembly, concrete missing or block manufacturing occurs on premise. 

(5) Business or Trade School.
(6) Communications Services such as mobile and cellular telephone services are permitted. 

(7) Construction Services: including fabrication of cabinetry and related millwork and carpentry is permitted, but no steel or metal fabrication. 

(8) Night clubs, bars, saloons, cantinas, billiard parlors, or carnivals when located 300 feet or more from an R District are permitted. 

(9) Theaters, bingo parlors, bowling alleys, and similar enterprises when located 75 feet or more from an R-District. 

(10) Exterminating Services are permitted, provided that chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides shall not be stored, processed, or transferred within two hundred (200) feet of a Residential District. 

(11) Storage of equipment owned or rented by building contractors is permitted, but not of raw materials, including sand, caliche, road-building aggregate or lumber. 

  1. (12)  Beverage Bottling or Distribution Stations: shall not exceed 15,000 square feet floor space. 
  2. (13)  Welding Shops and Custom Manufacturing Shops: on- site production of goods by hand (i.e. 

involving only the use of hand tools or mechanical equipment not exceeding two horsepower or a single kiln not exceeding 8KW). 

(14) Facade – exterior surface, (excluding doors, windows and openings for ventilation) which fronts on a street shall be eighty percent (80%) masonry and/or glass. 

  1. (15)  Residential uses are prohibited unless specifically permitted 
  2. (16)  An Amusement Redemption Machine Establishment, as defined in Appendix A, shall be permitted 

providing the proposed establishment meets the following requirements: 

  1. (a)  It shall not be located within three hundred (300) feet of: 

(1) any residential structure;
(2) the boundary of any district zoned AG, R-S, R-1, R-1A, R-1-MH, RSM, R-2, or R-3; (3) a church;
(4) a public or private park;
(5) a public or private elementary or secondary school[.];
(6) a hospital. 

  1. (b)  For the purposes of subsection (a), measurement shall be made along the property lines of the street fronts and from front door to front door, or to zoning district, church, park or school, as applicable, and direct lines across intersections. 
  2. (c) The hours of operation for amusement redemption machine establishments shall be limited to the following hours: 

(1) Monday through Thursday, open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 11:00 p.m. (2) Friday through Sunday, open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 12:00 a.m. 

  1. (d)  It shall prominently post signs reading as follows: 

(1) “If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700.
Si usted o alguien que usted conoce tiene un problema de adicción al juego, llame al 1-800-522-4700”. 

  1. (e)  Amusement redemption machine establishments shall be restricted to the permitted sign dimensions prescribed for B-1 zoned properties. 
  2. (f)  The Board of Adjustment shall have no authority to grant any variance to any requirement regarding amusement redemption machine establishments as stated in Laredo Land Development Code Section 24.65.14.16. 

(17) Halfway Houses (Criminal) are permitted provided such facility or facilities are located a distance of more than five hundred (500’) feet from the nearest boundary line of the nearest residential district.  

Past Requests

There is a zone change request that will affect your home.  The vacant lot owners around the area are looking to develop their land.  You have an opportunity to have a say in what happens around your home.  I wasn’t able to influence past development approvals before I became your representative, but I am able to help with what happens during the time I am your City Councilmember for District 7.  

Regarding this zone change request,  the Planning and Zoning department with the City of Laredo is not in favor of this change.  As your representative, I am not in favor of this change.  Are you in favor or against this change?

If you wish to give your input to help the rest of the City Councilmembers make their decision, here’s what to do:

  1. Send an email to planner@ci.laredo.tx.us

Hello, my name is ______________ and I live at _______________.  I am against the zone change request ZC-046-2022.

Or you can say you are for the zone change request.

You can also call and let them know Monday June 6 from 8am-4pm.  (956) 794-1613

If you wish to speak in person at the City Council meeting, it will be held on Monday June 6 at 5:30pm.  Sign up here: https://citysearch.cityoflaredo.com/DocuWare/Forms/witness-registration-v2-100721?orgID=f776ca86-040b-4650-86a5-d1d1ce7a4e8b

If you can’t make it, you can leave a public comment online.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBEVIpSk5Ob4PIBr8k24cGGcdMHg_xHtmLsB_kFaJLte9KBQ/viewform

Learn more here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/15513z3r0mh3huu/AAAuYzxYgHaCLR4NF9uOoHLNa/ZC-046-2022?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

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