Commerce — The City Council on Oct. 15 voted to approve on first reading a request to rezone a 16.659-acre property in the northeastern part of Commerce from industrial district to R-7 single-family dwelling district.

The request, filed for Property ID 21898 (legal description: A 0109 Bridal W, tract 26, 16.659 acres), was presented by the director of community development. He said the proposed concept matches a plan that had been brought to the city previously by a different developer; that earlier partnership dissolved and the new applicant purchased the land.

Why it matters: Planning & Zoning recommended approval with conditions including a landscaping and screening plan to the west to buffer adjacent Legacy Homes and a development schedule showing anticipated planning milestones. City staff said the proposed R-7 zoning requires a minimum dwelling size of 1,100 square feet, and the current concept shows about 63 lots though final lot counts will be verified during platting.

An applicant representative told the council the owner — described as the representative’s father-in-law — purchased the property and that their goal is to develop starter homes that meet local demand. The representative said planning and rezoning work will proceed as quickly as the city’s review process allows.

The council held a public hearing; no members of the public raised objections, and the council moved and approved the rezoning on first reading.

What’s next: Because this was the first reading, subsequent planning steps remain: final platting, landscaping/screening plan approval and the development schedule milestones referenced by P&Z. Staff will verify lot counts and measurements during engineering and plat review.