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.
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.