SUBJECT
title
Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 1, Block 796, Eastern Division, located at 1401 Guatemozin Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District).
ZC-083-2025
District II
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
None.
BACKGROUND
Initiated by: B and M Establishment Group Inc, Owner and Laura M. Valdez De La Garza, Applicant
Council District: II - Ricardo Richie Rangel,Jr.
Proposed Use: The proposed use is Commercial. The applicant did not specify the specific proposed use.
- The applicant was advised about applying for a conditional use permit (CUP), and decided to attempt the zone change instead of applying for the CUP.
Site: The site is currently occupied by No Limit Signs & Graphics
Citations, Warnings and/or Complaints:
1. On November 2025, a concerned citizen called about the proposed commercial use stating traffic is horrible in the area ,and the zone change will disrupt the peaceful neighborhood.
2. On July 18, 2018, a concerned citizen filed a complaint due to the property having two businesses in the same building with work trucks being parked throughout the neighborhood. A warning was issued for running a business without a Certificate of Occupancy.
Surrounding Land Uses: To the north of the site is Guatemozin Street, Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas, Market Street Tennis Courts, Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapel, Sweet Loring Frozen Yogurt, Champion Care Inc., single family residential uses, manufactured homes, and multi-family residential uses. To the east of the site is Seymour Avenue, vacant land, and single family residential use. To the south of the site is Aldama Street, single family residential uses, vacant land, and train tracks. To the west of the site is Loring Avenue, single family residential uses, vacant building, W W Cabello Canales CO. (Customs Broker), and Splash Party Zone.
Comprehensive Plan: The Future Land Use Map recognizes this area as High Density Residential.
https://www.openlaredo.com/planning/
2017_Comprehensive_Plan-Viva_Laredo.pdf#page=39
Transportation Plan: The Long Range Thoroughfare Plan identifies Guatemozin Street as a Local Street and Loring Avenue as a Local Street.
https://www.cityoflaredo.com/home/showpublisheddocument
/17680/638703100333370000
Letters sent to surrounding property owners: 23 In Favor: 0 Opposed: 0
Staff does not support the proposed zone change for the following reasons:
1. The proposed zone change is not in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan’s designation as high density residential (R-3, R-2, B-1R, B-1, R-O), which does not include B-3.
2. The proposed zone change does not meet the Laredo Land Development Code location requirement, stating that B-3 zoning districts should be located along minor or principal arterial streets. Guatemozin Street and Loring Avenue are identified as Local Streets in the Thoroughfare Plan.
3. The proposed site abuts R-3 zoning districts to the north, east, south, and west.
Notice to the owner/applicant:
1. The approval of the zone change does not guarantee the issuance of a building permit and requires full compliance with all applicable permanent codes and regulations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Planning & Zoning Commission in a ___ to ___ vote recommended ___ of the zone change.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
IMPACT ANALYSIS
B-3. 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.
Is this change contrary to the established land use pattern?
The proposed site is abutting residential uses; however, there are some commercial uses north of the site like Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels and Sweet Loring Frozen Yogurt.
Would this change create an isolated zoning district unrelated to surrounding districts?
Yes, there proposed site is abutting R-3 zoning districts.
Will change adversely influence living conditions in the neighborhoods?
Possibly, the applicant did not identify the specific commercial use.
Are there substantial reasons why the property cannot be used in accordance with existing zoning?
The applicant did not specify the specific intended use.
end