Residents raised their concerns Tuesday during the city council meeting about the rezoning of a lot, which is located adjacent to a neighborhood, for commercial use. Councilmembers approved the ordinance.
The rezoning was requested by Melden and Hunt, Inc., who represent Julian Hernandez, the property owner.
Hernandez owns several businesses in Edinburg, such as The Party Taco Run, located on 1324 North Closner Blvd.
Hernandez is planning to build a football field in the empty lot of 8.5 acres behind the business.
Julio Vazquez and Belinda Garcia live adjacent to the lot. They expressed why they are against the rezoning of the district during the public hearing.
Noise and lighting pollution during late hours and the sale of alcohol are some of the concerns the neighboring residents have.
Jesus R. Saenz, director of Planning and Zoning, told the council that even though it is a commercial general district, they must still abide by city regulations.
“If the city starts to receive complaints about noise pollution, lighting pollution or any of those things, we would definitely follow up with the code enforcement department and with the police department as well,” Saenz said.
The rezoning request was approved with a 2-to-1 vote, in which Councilmember Gilbert Enriquez casted a “nay” vote. Councilmember Homer Jasso Jr. was not present for the council meeting.
“We don’t think it’s right to have, not only our house, but there is in essence a football field in everyone’s backyard,” Garcia told The Rider after the item was approved.
Vazquez told The Rider that the football field will be built with standards for University Interscholastic League, and he does not intend to sell alcohol at the location. He also said that he plans to close the football field at 10 p.m.
During the public comment period, Enriquez spoke.
Omar Ochoa, city attorney, explained that public comments portion of the meeting is intended for residents to address the governing body.
Enriquez explained “this has nothing to do with anything on the agenda.” He said he researched if he is allowed to participate in public comments, and he believes that he is able to do so.
“I’m not going to say anything negative,” Enriquez said. “All I’m going to do is say a thank you publicly to the people that I wanted to say to yesterday when I was removed from the [Edinburg Economic Development Corp.], but I wasn’t allowed to.”
Enriquez then left his seat and walked to the podium to voice his comment.
After introducing himself to the council, he thanked Nelda Ramirez, EEDC director of finance and contracts administrator, and Joey Trevino, EEDC executive director, for their cooperation and guidance under his 16-month term as the director for EEDC.
Before wishing “good luck” to Sonia Enriquez, new director of EEDC, he clarified that they are not related.
“I want to wish her good luck and hopefully, that she does the right thing,” Gilbert Enriquez said. “She is an independent thinker, she has questions and most of all, that she is transparent. So, I know that she will do well.”
Sonia Enriquez was appointed as the new EEDC director by councilmembers during Monday’s special council meeting.
In other business, the council authorized City Manager Juan G. Guerra to negotiate and enter into job task orders for RFQ 2019-004, which is related to Proposition C and was approved by voters in November. Proposition C allows the city to issue $20 million in general obligation bonds for drainage improvements, as reported by The Rider on Nov. 7.
Councilmember Jorge Salinas motioned to negotiate the job task orders with the following geotechnical engineers:
— Doolittle and Sugar detention pond projects to Millennium Engineers;
— and Schunior and South Veterans detention pond projects to Raba Kistner Consultants.
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