By Samantha Smith
Debate over land rezoning of a parcel of land along Yarrington Rd. has Kyle and San Marcos residents prepared for a fight.
PGI Investment, LLC, the owner of a 47-acre tract of land off of I-35 in Kyle, has applied to the Community Development department four times for the land to be rezoned from agriculture (AG) to warehouse (W). Its motivation is to develop a commercial grade truck stop to the property.
Texas has a law against “conditional” zoning, meaning a city can’t base a rezoning request on the specific intentions of the landowner.
But overwhelming opposition to a possible truck stop from Kyle and Blanco Vista neighborhood residents influenced the January 26th Planning and Zoning Commission’s denial of PGI’s application for a warehouse (W) zone.
“We’re not opposed to land development”, Blanco Vista spokesperson Omar Baca said.
He added citizens have raised concerns such as increased traffic, crime, and environmental risks if a sizable truck stop is allowed to occupy the land.
Baca claims if PGI were to develop the land for retail purposes, citizens would “trap” their money there, while the city retains the tax benefits.
Kyle Community Development Director Howard Koontz said PGI pulled a rezoning request in October 2015 to rezone to retail services (RS). He said the reason was because the zoning didn’t allow transportation services on the property.
Koontz said there is a fail safe for concerned citizens even if PGI is granted the warehouse-rezoning request.
It could involve a development agreement between the city and PGI, which would be done only if the rezoning request is approved. The agreement would outline what PGI can and can’t do with the land.
If the developer violates the terms of the contract, the contract is breached and the developer loses the warehouse (W) zone.
Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said that he would support a decision to have the land rezoned to a warehouse district.
But he maintains his role in the situation is to mediate.
“I’m happy with the way the discussions are going right now,” Webster said.
Koontz said PGI would take one final attempt at rezoning the property for warehouse.
It’s unknown at this time when PGI plans to present its rezoning application to city council.
