Killeen Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - October 27, 2025
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Killeen Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – October 27, 2025
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a workshop at 4:30 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2025, in the Utility Collections Large Conference Room, 210 W. Avenue C, Killeen. The Commission approved a rezoning request for a historic downtown property to allow a speakeasy‑style bar, elected new officers, and updated its 2025 planning calendar.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda: Approved with an amendment to move the annual commissioner training to the end of the regular meeting. (Motion to amend passed unanimously; then the agenda as amended passed unanimously.)
- Minutes: Minutes of the October 13, 2025 regular meeting were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Citizen Comment: No members of the public signed up to speak.
Public Hearings
- PH‑1 – Rezoning 301 East Avenue D (Case Z25‑35): The Commission held a public hearing on a request by Cecilia Leon on behalf of Tong Min and Claudia Lizeth Kim to rezone a portion of Lot 1, Block 11, Killeen Original Addition, from “B‑5” (Business District) with “HOD” (Historic Overlay District) to “B‑C‑1” (General Business and Alcohol Sales District) with “HOD”. The property is at 301 East Avenue D within the historic overlay district. The applicant intends to operate a themed cocktail bar called “Secret Stop,” described as a speakeasy with a discrete entrance and vintage interior. Staff recommended approval, noting the request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s vision for a vibrant downtown. Sixty‑nine surrounding properties were notified; no responses were received. One commissioner (Khandiese Cooper) recused herself because she owns property across the street (within 150 feet). The applicant’s representative stated the rezoning is needed to sell alcohol and that she believes the bar will contribute to downtown. After closing the public hearing, the Commission voted 4‑1 to approve the rezoning. Commissioner Luvina Sabree voted against, stating she does not vote for opportunities that involve alcohol.
Discussion Items
- Staff Update: Staff reported that the City Council at its last meeting approved rezoning case KC25‑27 (42‑03 Onion Road) from B‑5 to R‑1.
- Annual Commissioner Training: Deputy City Attorney Andy Wallander conducted the annual orientation and training, covering: creation and composition of the P&Z Commission (9 members, must reside in city limits or ETJ); authorities (zoning ordinance amendments, comprehensive plan amendments, subdivision variances, etc.); conflict‑of‑interest regulations under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 171 (substantial interest in business or real property, duty to file an affidavit, prohibition on participation and discussion); and the Texas Open Meetings Act (required notice, prohibition on discussion outside meetings, penalties for violations). The training also addressed spot zoning, contract zoning, conditional zoning, and variance requirements.
- Reconsideration of Chairman and Vice Chairman: The Commission reconsidered its annual appointments (as listed on the agenda). Bear Jones was nominated for Chairman and elected by a vote of 4‑2. Andrew Giacomozzi was nominated for Vice Chairman and also elected by a vote of 4‑2. The remaining commissioners present (Khandiese Cooper, Preston Ellis, Sandra O’Brien, Cyndi Rowe, Luvina Sabree) participated; Patrick Purifoy and Scedric Moss were absent.
- Review and Approval of 2025 Planning Calendar Amendments: Staff presented a revised intake calendar reflecting a change in a December City Council meeting date. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the calendar after amending it to remove the November 24, 2025 meeting (the week of Thanksgiving) to avoid quorum concerns.
- Attendance Chart: The attendance chart was reviewed.
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning Approved (PH‑1): 4‑1 vote to rezone 301 East Avenue D from B‑5/HOD to B‑C‑1/HOD.
- New Officers Elected: Bear Jones as Chairman, Andrew Giacomozzi as Vice Chairman.
- Calendar Updated: The November 24 meeting was cancelled; the revised calendar was approved unanimously.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after completing all agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, commissioners. Tonight we have uh one case coming with 25-35. We've got a B5 with uh HOD to BC one with HOD. So we're gonna hold a public hearing and consider a request submitted by Cecilia Leon on behalf of Tong Min and Claudia Lizeth Kim, case number 25-35 to rezone part of lot one block eleven out of the clean original edition from B5 Business District with HOD Historic Overlay District to BC One General Business and Alcohol Sales District with HOD Historic Overlay District. The subject property is locally addressed as 301 East Avenue D in Clean. The property is located within the historic overlay district and therefore has a zoning overlay designation of HOD, which is the historic overlay district. So if uh the request is approved, the applicant intends to operate a bar with a concept that's similar to what we would call a speakeasy or a cocktail bar. Uh a speakeasy is a themed bar that's that was inspired by establishments during the prohibition era, and uh it typically features discrete entrances and vintage style interiors. The support the surrounding area includes predominantly commercial uses. The comprehensive plan envisions a vibrant downtown as a cultural and economic hub of the community, and staff finds that the applicant's request is consistent with the recommendations of the City of Killeen comprehensive plan and has determined that the request will not negatively impact the surrounding properties. The property is located within the in fill enhance area on the growth sector map, and it is designated as urban village on the future land use map. This gives you approximate location of the property. This is an aerial of the uh of the site. The green the pink outline shows you the building that we're talking about. The building that's the little gray one on the far right uh with the yellow sign in the window is the uh building that we're discussing here. So this is the view of the subject pro from the subject property looking south down North Gray Street. And now we're facing west down East Avenue D. And the view facing north towards Rancy. So staff did notify sixty-nine surrounding properties uh regarding this request. As of this date, we have received no responses. This is the actual zoning map for the area. Um predominantly it's all B5. Staff does recommend approval of the applicant's request to change the underlying zoning from the uh subject property from B5 with HOD to uh historic overlay district to BC one general business and alcohol sales district with HOD Historic Overlay District as presented. Do I have any questions? Can you go back and show the Hase? Right there. It's a little gray building on the corner of G in North Gray. A restaurant there before. Are you doing no? Well, something. It was just an office. Okay. Most recently it was an office, and then before that, I think there was a tattoo parlor there. A tattoo shop. Yes, ma'am. Did you say what kind of business was going in there? It's uh considered that it's called a speakeasy. It's a themed bar. Yes. So the bar has a theme. Um and it goes back to the days of prohibition where you would kind of knock on a very discrete door and they would kind of let you in and you would go back and you would have drinks. Okay. The people who were that were yes, pretty much. Okay, that's what I want to know. Thank you. Do I have any other questions? So I I had we had this originally scheduled to go on the workshop. Um as you notice, we the two of our three members are not here. Um so with your consent, I would like to move this to the end of the regular agenda. Hopefully, get time for more board uh commissioner members to be here.
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