The Brownsville City Commission voted last Tuesday against rezoning the Carlton Subdivision to allow construction of a restaurant and duplex after residents spoke against the plan and city staff recommended denying the request.
George Garcia, owner of the lots on Carlton Drive for the last 11 years, said his restaurant would benefit the community and petitioned the city to build his business.
However, some who live in the subdivision argued that a business on the street would only add to the growing traffic problem that the area has experienced in the last couple of months due to the road construction on Boca Chica Boulevard.
Garcia’s request to construct a duplex and restaurant were on the agenda as items 1 and 2 of the public hearing section.
The Garcia family applied to “amend the zoning map from residential single family to commercial corridor for Lot 1, Carlton Subdivision, Cameron County, Texas, located at 1 Carlton Drive,” according to agenda documents.
During the public comment period, one resident referenced the killing of a pedestrian due to traffic in the area as another reason to deny the item, arguing that the area is becoming more dangerous.
Six residents pleaded individually with the commission to reject the rezoning request.
The consensus of the residents who spoke was that those who live on Carlton Drive are predominantly retired educators and veterans, with some up to 92 years old, who do not appreciate their neighborhood becoming more congested.
Each individual who approached the lectern expressed sentiments of disapproval for the building of the restaurant due to traffic and existing drainage problems, which they believe will worsen with the business.
Alejandra Yañez/The Rider
Glenda Garcia, daughter of George Garcia, also spoke before the commission and referenced a petition that she created to support the building of her father’s restaurant.
However, when asked by Mayor Trey Mendez if any of the signatures were from the residents of Carlton, Glenda Garcia replied none were.
Martin and Angelita Leal, retired educators of Brownsville Independent School District, live directly across from the two lots and attended the hearing in opposition to Garcia’s rezoning request.
The couple have resided on Carlton Drive since the 1960s and said when Garcia first approached them 11 years ago he had the intention of building a home for his children. Later, they said he wanted a car wash and when that did not come to fruition, he decided on a duplex and restaurant.
“[Garcia] lives in a quiet neighborhood,” Angelita Leal said. “If you want that business that bad, buy your neighbors out and put it in front of your home, not in front of ours. We don’t want it in ours.”
After hearing the recommendation from city staff to deny the request, the commission voted against it.
District 1 Commissioner Nurith Galonsky Pizana made a motion to deny the item and District 2 Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa seconded it. District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos abstained from voting.
Asked why she voted against the rezoning, Galonsky replied, “I doubt that [the Texas Department of Transportation] is going to give them the OK. The area is more residential.”
She said TxDOT plans to create a median on Boca Chica Boulevard, from Minnesota Avenue to the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, causing traffic on Carlton Drive and Boca Chica to detour.
The commissioner said another reason why she is against the construction is that Garcia’s plan does not factor in space for restaurant parking since he will be using the second lot as a duplex.
“We are very happy that they took the side of the actual residents,” Angelita Leal said.
When items 1 and 2 under the public hearing section were first introduced, Tetreau said she was aware of the traffic problem and is strongly against the building of a restaurant because it will take away space from the neighborhood children who “play on the sidewalk.”
In an interview with The Rider after the meeting, Glenda Garcia said, “Commissioner Tetreau said there are children playing on the sidewalks, [but] there are no sidewalks in that neighborhood. So, I don’t know if she’s misinformed or why she even mentioned that because that is not true.”
The Garcias said they are disappointed with the commission’s decision and are not sure if they will request to have the items reconsidered.
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