Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – January 13, 2025
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Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – January 13, 2025
The Killeen Planning and Zoning Commission held its regular meeting on January 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Utility Collections Large Conference Room. The meeting included a workshop at 4:30 p.m., consent agenda, four public hearings, election of officers, and administrative items. Commissioner Pineda was absent; all other commissioners were present.
Consent Calendar
- CA-1: Approved the minutes of the December 9, 2024 regular meeting unanimously (a typo in the agenda showed 2025, corrected to 2024).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Melissa Brown (resident) commented on the proposed Thoroughfare Plan amendments, stating the presentation was too fast and images unclear, and requested that citizens be given the opportunity to review changes before the Commission votes.
- James Sills (resident) thanked the Commission for their role as citizen representatives, criticized dismissive behavior by some City Council members, and urged the Commission to listen to all sides. He referenced a previous 195-acre, 600-home request on Featherline Road that was disapproved; he noted that subsequent city reports showed road infrastructure was not adequate, water needed a 12-inch main, and drainage remains unaddressed. He emphasized that experts can be wrong.
Public Hearing PH-3 (Featherline Road rezoning):
- Garrett Nordike (TCG Engineering, applicant) presented the case, noting a 55% reduction from the original 195-acre request, that infrastructure concerns (drainage, water, sewer, roads) have been addressed with city staff and outside experts, and that the development would be built in phases over 8–10 years. He argued the rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
- Scott Cosper (property owner) added that the project meets the need for affordable housing, will extend Malmason Road westward to create another outlet, and that parkland dedication will occur during platting. He offered flexibility on lot sizes (e.g., SR1) if needed.
- Heather McNeely (resident, 2040 Plan participant) opposed the rezoning, stating it contradicts the Comprehensive Plan’s goal of diverse housing types; R1 subdivisions are not complete neighborhoods. She criticized the lack of townhomes, apartments, senior housing, and warned of creating food deserts.
- James Seals (resident) expressed concerns about concurrent construction with Featherline Road improvements (scheduled for November 2026) and the lack of a traffic management plan. He asked the Commission to consider feedback from both sides.
- Melissa Brown (resident) argued that the developer cannot guarantee highest tax revenue due to veteran exemptions, that water pressure tests were done off-peak, and that promised amenities are not guaranteed after approval. She noted the B3 commercial strip is small and that only a PUD could mix zoning types, not this straight rezoning.
- Jason Chateau (representing adjacent property owner) stated that licensed engineers have verified infrastructure adequacy and that drainage concerns about Llewellyn Estates are unrelated to this project. He called citizen objections unfounded.
- Pete Stanonick (resident) questioned water pressure testing timing (9 a.m. off-peak) and urged testing under peak demand.
- Additional speakers: A resident asked for a citizen feedback mechanism before implementing stop signs at Malmason/Featherline.
Discussion Items
- PH-1 (8058 Trimmier Road, R1 to B2): Staff presented a rezoning of 4.584 acres for a proposed psychiatric office (retaining existing home). The site is in a controlled growth area, consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. No written public comments received. Applicant confirmed no contract yet; property in estate. Approved unanimously.
- PH-2 (City-initiated, Chet Edwards Loop & Clear Creek, A to B3): Staff presented rezoning of 4.613 acres owned by the city near the airport, in neighborhood infill area. Four surrounding property owners notified, no responses. Approved unanimously.
- PH-3 (8390 Featherline Road, A to R1 and B3): Staff presented a 107.6-acre rezoning for approximately 300 single-family lots and a small commercial area. Notifications sent to 101 property owners; no written responses. Staff found consistency with Comprehensive Plan. Extensive public testimony (see above). Commission voted 4-2 to approve.
- PH-4 (Thoroughfare Plan Amendments): Staff presented updates to align road classifications with recent developments (e.g., Folly Drive, Paul Lane, Malmason alignment, Reynolds Crossing). Changes include reclassifying roads, removing unbuildable segments, and adjusting alignments for topography and floodplains. No public hearing speakers. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- PH-1: Approved unanimously to rezone 4.584 acres from R1 to B2.
- PH-2: Approved unanimously to rezone 4.613 acres from A to B3.
- PH-3: Approved 4-2 to rezone 107.6 acres from A to R1 and B3. Commissioners voting in favor: Giacomozzi, Wilson, Ellis, Rowe; opposed: Ploeckelmann, Sabree.
- PH-4: Approved unanimously to adopt amendments to the Thoroughfare Plan.
- Election of Officers: Louie Minor re-elected Chair (3-2 vote over Ricky Wilson); Ricky Wilson elected Vice Chair (unanimous).
- Rules and Procedures: Approved amendments (unanimous).
- 2025 Calendar: Adopted unanimously.
- Next meeting: January 27, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
I'll call the uh clean planning and zoning commission meeting to order for January 13th, 2025. Let the record show that all commissioners are present except uh Commissioner Padilla. Umst item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Commissioners, I have a oh, I'm sorry, uh, and and Sabree and Sabri, you're correct. Um the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Move to approve agenda, Chairman. I have a motion to approve the agenda. I have a second, have a second by uh Commissioner Rowe. Any discussion? All in favor. Motion passes unanimously. Uh next item is citizens' comments. If anyone would like to speak uh for citizens' comments, this is any item that is not a public hearing item. Melissa Brown, I live here in Colleen. Hello. I'm gonna keep this as short and sweet as me. Uh when it comes to the proposed stairwork changes, that was really fast, really hard to understand to keep up with uh pictures are not very clear if you're sitting in the audience. Citizens should have the right to weigh in out before P and Z votes on it, just the way we should have the right to weigh on it before council votes on it. There's no way for us to do that in an educated manner based on what we just saw, and the fact that it's not available for us to review. I'd ask that it gets put out so citizens can review it and use Hable until we have the opportunity to see it has some of those changes, are not current development that has already been put in. Some of those are based on proposed development, like one of the zoning cases today. All right, thank you. Is there any other people that signed up for citizen comments? James Sills. Um, I'm not allowed to speak about feather line, so I don't have anything to say. No, I'm joking. Um, in general, uh, I want to say thank you. Um, I say this a lot. The P and Z is the closest representation of the citizens as it gets. Your role is to simply look at the land surrounding area and impacts of what's being proposed. You don't have to think about budgets, schedules, electron elections, etc. Just simply is this request best suited for the land, the area, and the people around it. Second, I think it's disheartening that your role and the role of citizen feedback has been discredited by certain members of the city council. Sure, you aren't experts, and to be honest, sometimes experts aren't experts, but you are stewards of objectivity who have volunteered your time to provide a decision on what you feel is best for the planning and zoning of a piece of land. To me, that type of expertise is unquantifiable. Citizen feedback, especially from people who reside in the in an area, is just as critical of an information point to make any decision. And I'm sorry, you don't need a degree or certification as a resident to provide input on what you see on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the dismissive behaviors create a sense of apathy for citizens to engage the council regarding any issues. People simply no longer feel like they will be listened to, and I'm sure that will be evident for this case and other cases like it. It's honestly just sad, but also makes your role just that much more important. Back in March, a portion of land was part of a single 195-acre 600 home request. At the time, the experts from the city stood here and told you the road infrastructure was in place. Water infrastructure was adequate, and drainage was of no concern. Because of your disapproval and two brave members of the sit uh city council siding with the citizens, we have come to find that feather line is not safe or adequate, it has become the number one reconstruction priority of this city. Water was not adequate as the city is now adding a 12-inch main to service the area. And lastly, drainage on the well and going south into Mr. Costur's property still needs to be addressed by the city. So that so to say, what I'm here to tell you is sometime experts get it wrong, and to listen to all sides collectively before making a decision tonight. And to clarify, my issues are not with the developer or the landowner. My issues have been and always will be with the city, considering what the citizens have to say and how it impacts our daily lives.
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