Council Enlarges Central Business District within Downtown Forney

02-25-2013

Denise Bell
Post Managing Editor

At their February 19th meeting, the Forney City Council held a Public Hearing to discuss and consider approval of a request for rezoning a small area of downtown from Office District and Single Family Residential District to Central Business District.

A small block of predominantly private dwellings, properties located west of Bois d’Arc Street, north of Trinity Street, east of Austin Street and south of Main Street, which basically encompass the block directly behind the businesses located on the west side of Bois d’Arc, will be re-zoned for commercial business use.

Brought before the Council by City Development Director, Peter Morgan, it was explained that based upon previous discussions at joint meetings of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Council and the EDC Board of Directors, approval is requested for an extension of the Central Business District to include these properties.

The extension covers one block to the west of the current boundary including seven (7) property lots that are currently zoned in the Office District, and six (6) property lots are currently zoned within the Single Family 6 District.

Director Morgan explained, “The Future Use Map shows the property to be a future extension of the downtown area with nonresidential uses noted as being appropriate. The Central Business District will allow for light impact nonresidential uses.”

He said “Staff sent zoning notification letters to all property owners within two-hundred feet of the rezone boundary and published notice. Staff recommends approval of the rezoning because the expansion of the Central Business District is important for being able to grow the downtown area.”

Addressing Forney Economic Development Executive Director, Kim Buttram, who was seated with city staff members, Council Member, Mary Penn, asked “Kim, you have spoken with the downtown businesses and they’re all good with this?”

To which Director Buttram replied, “Yes, I spoken with them and they’re all good with it.”

With no further Council questions and with no citizen objections, the Forney City Council voted unanimously to approve the zoning change request.