Clovis Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – May 13, 2026
Clovis Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – May 13, 2026
At 3:00 PM, the Clovis Planning and Zoning Commission met with Chairman Klein presiding. Roll call was conducted with all members present except Member London (absent). The agenda and minutes from April 8, 2026, were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approved zone change from residential single-family to residential multifamily for West Clovis Block 11 Lot 6 (duplex proposal).
- Approved conditional use for 2604 Gidding Street to operate a group child care home for up to 12 children (currently operates as a family child care home for six).
- Approved replat of Wheeler Height, 2200 Mitchell Street (lot separation for lending requirements).
- Approved replat of Rearson Block 3 Lot 14, 1200 Rearson Street (split one lot into two for individual sale).
- Approved replat of Rain Tree Unit 15, 3708 Ethan Street (combine two lots into one for veteran tax benefit).
Public Comments & Testimony
- A citizen (son of property owner on Grand Street) expressed concern about the proposed duplex in the zone change item, specifically regarding property lines and the potential for neighbors' property being taken. Staff clarified the duplex would be two single apartments and that the citizen's mother's property (on Grant Street) remains commercial and unaffected.
Discussion Items
- UDO Interpretation Appeal – Group Home Definition: The commission considered an appeal of Building Safety Director Perkins' interpretation that a sober living facility at 1820 Colonial Parkway qualifies as a "group home" under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). City Attorney Sherman explained that the UDO allows group homes for up to eight persons with disabilities. Pecos Valley Counseling operates the facility for individuals recovering from substance abuse; residents are drug-tested and receive outpatient treatment but have no live-in staff. The Fair Housing Act (42 USC 3604(f)(3)) defines disability as including recovery from addiction if not currently using. Sherman argued that rejecting this interpretation could lead to legal liability for discrimination. Several commissioners expressed discomfort equating addiction recovery with disability, citing safety concerns and the absence of supervision. Commissioner Gurke questioned whether the facility could instead be considered a "protective care facility" (court-ordered), but staff confirmed residents are not under court jurisdiction. Sherman noted that the residents could live together without any city permit, so the interpretation essentially confirms no action is needed. Commissioner Moore moved to ratify Perkins' interpretation; Commissioner Gurke seconded.
Key Outcomes
- UDO Interpretation Vote: Motion to ratify the interpretation that the sober living facility qualifies as a group home passed 5-1-1 (Chairman Klein, Members Moore, Gurke, Sowell, Lennon in favor; Commissioner Garza abstained; Commissioner London absent). The decision allows the facility to continue operating as a group home. Staff noted that any future changes (e.g., residents using drugs) could remove disability status, but the city would have limited enforcement options. Commissioner London was absent.
- Next regular meeting scheduled for June 10, 2026, at 3:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right, let's get started. It's three PM. Mr. Uh Howalt, can you please do the roll call? Uh Chairman Klein. Here. Vice Chair Martin. Member Moore. Here. Member Gurke. Here. Commissioner Garza. Here. Member Sol. Here. Member London. We have a corn. All right. Next order is the uh approval of the agenda. We have the agenda in front of us. Does anybody have any deletions, additions, changes? Move to approve. Second. Motion for approval by Commissioner Moore, second by Commissioner Garza. All those in favor? Post? Motion passes. Next order of business approval of minutes from April eighth, two thousand twenty-six. Request for approval for zone changes from residential single family to residential multifamily of West Clovis Block Eleven lot six. No, come up podium. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Uh do you swear affirm that your testimony will be truthful? Yes, sir. Okay. Go ahead. Um, I guess the only questions that we have was um that my my mother and I had was um just about the apartments in the back, um, whether they were um single story, double, uh you know, double, and really just how what the process and the time was on the whole project, I guess you could say. Um because my mother was worried um, because I guess some of her neighbors down the street said that some of I guess they thought they had more property, I guess, than they than they initially did. So she's worried that somebody's gonna come take her property. As I explained to her mom, they can't do that to you, you know what I mean. Just come take your property off of Grand Street. That's where hers is at. Um, but um that was the only question I really necessarily had, you know. Um more concerns about what the apartment, I don't know if you guys even have those answers of what that would look like, and then um what does what the process was on start to kind of end that? Uh the whole completion of the whole subdivision that they're trying to do. Sir Mr. Wilt. Yes. Uh what we have here is they're wanting to change the zone because it's a single family zone right now. Change it to a multifamily zone, and they're proposing to put a duplex.
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