Jorge Cardenas, director of Information Technology for the City of Brownsville, thanks the city commissioners for their support on the BTX Fiber Network ribbon-cutting and technological events. “Banks now want to go out there and educate the community on how to properly secure their accounts and how to properly do online banking,” Cardenas said. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER
The Brownsville City Commission last Tuesday approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code to address water conservation, commented on BTX Fiber network’s grand opening and discussed a proposal to build a child day care.
District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos motioned to approve the amendment, along with other consent agenda items, and District 1 Commissioner Bryan L. Martinez seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The amendment to Unified Development Code Sec. 4.4.3.D – Commercial Uses (Auto-Related Sales and Service) limits new car washes from being built within a 5-mile radius of an existing car wash. New car washes will need to install a water recycling system.
The commission also rejected three proposals, requested by the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, for a Comprehensive Tourist Map Design.
According to the agenda documents, one proposal “was deemed non-responsive, another exceeded the budget” and the third did not represent Brownsville effectively.
The bureau will aim to find a vendor capable of creating a suitable map “for both traditional and digital preferences,” according to the documents.
During the city manager’s update, City Manager Helen Ramirez reviewed the ribbon-cutting of the BTX Fiber Network, encouraging the Brownsville community to visit the Lit-Fiber BTX demo center, located at 744 E. Levee St.
“This is your space to really understand what does BTX Fiber mean. What can it mean for my kids, my family …” Ramirez said. “It’s really fiber to the home and fiber to the business.”
She said residential users and business users can now get a quote from BTX Fiber.
In other business, the commission addressed a request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a child day care on Los Ebanos Boulevard during a public hearing and first reading.
Requested by Brenda Garcia, the owner of the property, the permit was first denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission on March 7 due to insufficient space for the drop-off area, according to the slide.
The property is currently a single-family home that will be repurposed to a day care, according to the memo.
Garcia said corrective measures were made for the designated drop-off area.
District 2 Commissioner Linda C. Macias asked if the corrected measures for the drop-off area were in the new plan, to which Garcia replied yes.
Kevin Rock, a resident, said he does not think traffic and parking will be an issue.
Rock said traffic is already a problem and parking will only be for employees.
“Allowing a day care inside or near a residential neighborhood … will provide an enormous service,” he said.
Rock said families who live close by will be able to drop off their kids walking instead of driving.
Ramirez asked Planning and Zoning to look into state exemptions for the number of children in single-family homes.
Eduardo Garrido, senior planner for Planning and Redevelopment Services, clarified that the Unified Development Code makes a distinction between the number of children in a single-family home, which is six. More infants would require a specific use permit under certain districts.
City Commissioner At-Large “B” Rose Gowen motioned to remand the proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission with new information.
De los Santos seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Eduardo Garrido, senior planner for Planning and Redevelopment Services, requests approval of a Specific Use Permit in a Traditional Neighborhood (TN) zoning designation to allow a child day care in Lot C, Blocks 103-104 of Los Ebanos Properties Subdivision S during Tuesday’s city commission meeting. Garrido said it is an appeal as it was denied by the Planning And Zoning Commission for insufficient space for the drop-off area. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER
