SUBJECT
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Public hearing and recommendation of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation and initial zoning for M-1 (Light Manufacturing District) on a tract of land containing 275.67-acres, more or less, as described by metes and bounds in the attached Exhibit “A,” and known as Annexation Tract 5 (North Laredo Industrial Park Tract) located west of IH-35, north of Beltway Parkway, and south of Reuthinger Parkway.
AN-005-2025
District VII - Cm. Vanessa Perez
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
N/A
BACKGROUND
Voluntary Annexation:
Tract 5 - 275.67-acres, more or less, located at west of IH-35, north of Beltway Parkway, and south of Reuthinger Parkway.
Petitioner: Alejandro Ramos, on behalf of North Laredo Industrial Park, Ltd.
Council District: District VII - Cm. Vanessa Perez
Proposed Use: M-1 (Light Manufacturing District)
Site: The site is vacant and undeveloped.
Surrounding Land Uses: To the north and west, the area is vacant and undeveloped. To the east, is the Hachar-Reuthinger Roadway, which is currently under construction, with adjacent industrial uses and vacant land. To the southwest, the area is also vacant and undeveloped.
Comprehensive Plan: The Future Land Use Map identifies this tract as Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, and High Density Residential.
https://www.openlaredo.com/planning/2017_Comprehensive_Plan-Viva_Laredo.pdf#page=39
Transportation Plan: The Future Transportation Plan identifies the future Hachar-Reuthinger Parkway as expressway.
https://www.cityoflaredo.com/home/showpublisheddocument/21421/638941324987500000
Letters sent to surrounding property owners: (9) In Favor: (0) Opposed: (0)
STAFF COMMENTS:
Property owners have 180 days following the effective date of an annexation to request a zone change without a fee charged.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The P&Z Commission, in a _ to _ vote, recommended ____ for the proposed annexation.
The P&Z Commission, in a _ to _ vote, recommended ____ for the proposed initial zoning.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff supports the proposed annexation.
Staff does not support the initial zoning of M-1 (Light Manufacturing District). However, Staff recommends an initial zoning of B-3 (Community Business District) for a 300-foot wide strip along the eastern boundary of the subject tract, specifically the area adjacent to the Hachar-Reuthinger Roadway (State Highway 84), and R-1 (Single Family Residential District) for the remainder of the tract. B-3 and R-1 zoning aligns with the Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map, which designates the area primarily as Low Density Residential, with portions identified for Medium and High-Density Residential uses.
The Hachar-Reuthinger Roadway, currently under construction, will serve as a substantial buffer between the existing industrial uses to the east. Locating B-3 along this corridor provides an appropriate transition in land use intensity, where commercial uses front a major mobility corridor and R-1 zoning is applied to the interior.
In addition, the roadway network will allow direct access to Interstate 35 and FM 1472. This ensures that residential areas will not be dependent on industrial access routes, supporting safe and functional circulation. Furthermore, this area contains a significant employment concentration due to warehousing and logistics operations, but lacks housing and neighborhood-serving commercial services for workers. Establishing R-1 and B-3 zoning supports a more balanced jobs-to-housing ratio and provides needed commercial amenities, reducing commute distances, and supports long-term workforce stability in the region.
Overall, the surrounding area to the north, east, and south remains largely vacant and undeveloped. Establishing R-1 and B-3 as the initial zoning will provide a compatible and orderly transition of land uses, supports needed housing and commercial services, and align with the Comprehensive Plan’s long-range growth vision for this area.
IMPACT ANALYSIS
M-1 (Light Manufacturing District):
The purpose of the M-1 Light Manufacturing District is to encourage the development of manufacturing and wholesale business establishments, which are clean quiet, and free of hazardous or objectionable elements, such as noise, odor, dust, smoke or glare. Research activities are encouraged. This district is further designed to act as a transitional use between industrial uses and other less intense and residential uses.
B-3 (Community Business District)
The purpose of the B-3 District (Community Business District) is to provide for those businesses and services serving a trade area larger than a neighborhood, but smaller than the entire City and located primarily along minor or principal arterial streets, as classified in the Transportation Plan of the City of Laredo. It is intended for this zoning classification to exist primarily abutting minor or principal arterial streets while preserving established residential neighborhoods along such streets.
R-1 (Single Family Residential District)
The purpose of the R-1 (Single Family Residential District) is to provide an area for residential uses and those public and semi-public uses normally considered and integral part of the residential neighborhood they serve.
Is this change contrary to the established land pattern?
No. The surrounding land pattern is largely vacant and undeveloped, with the exception of industrial uses to the east and AG zoning to the south.
Would this change create an isolated zoning district unrelated to surrounding districts?
No. The subject tract is adjacent to existing M-1 zoning to the east and AG zoning to the south, and vacant, undeveloped to the west and north.
Will this change adversely influence living condition in the neighborhood?
No. There are no residential neighborhoods in the area.
Are there substantial reasons why the property cannot be used in accordance with existing zoning?
N/A
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