What to watch: Midland’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Monday, Oct. 5, to consider a 207-unit apartment complex on Occidental Parkway, an expansion of the Northgate Walmart Supercenter, a horse-grazing rezoning that city staff opposes, and an 83-lot residential subdivision outside city limits that staff recommends the commission deny.

Key points:

  • Horse-grazing rezoning: An applicant is asking to rezone about nine acres near Breckenridge Drive and Woodland Park Avenue from single-family dwelling to agricultural estate to improve the surrounding neighborhood’s aesthetics and allow the property to be used for horse grazing and land cultivation.

City staff says it neither supports nor opposes the request. The city received two letters of objection, representing an 86% objection rate under its calculation. The agenda packet did not include the letters or explain the owners’ concerns.

The property’s current zoning allows for more residential development, but the applicant instead proposes keeping the land open for horse grazing and cultivation. That would avoid additional home construction and preserve the existing open views for neighboring residents under the applicant’s proposed use.

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None of the three homeowners whose properties directly border the site objected. Instead, the objections came from the owner of the surrounding vacant land and the owner of the Woodland Park clubhouse.

  • Walmart curbside expansion: The Walmart Supercenter on Midland Drive is asking to amend its planned development zoning to expand the building by about 10,000 square feet and add a curbside pickup area on the south side of the store. No letters of objection were received. Staff recommends approval.
  • Habitat for Humanity lots: Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity is asking to rezone four vacant lots at 1710 E. Illinois Ave. and 210 and 212 Donald St. from multi-family to single-family dwelling for single-family home construction. None of the four lots meet the dimensional requirements of the requested SF-3 district, so the nonprofit also filed a separate special exception application.

The city rezoned the area in 2019, staff says, a change that has created development complications for several property owners since. Staff recommends approval. No letters of objection were received.

  • Apartments on Occidental Parkway: A developer is asking to rezone about 21 acres at 1201 Occidental Parkway from multi-family dwelling to a planned development district for a 207-unit apartment complex. The site is currently vacant. Staff recommends approval. No letters of objection were received.
  • Restaurant alcohol permit: Reyna’s Mexican Restaurant, a new restaurant at 3701 W. Wall St., is seeking a specific use designation to serve alcohol on the premises from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Staff recommends approval. No letters of objection were received.
  • Zoning to match land use: An applicant is asking to rezone 308 S. Dallas St. from commercial to two-family dwelling. The property already operates as a duplex. The change would align the zoning with its existing use and facilitate the sale of the property. Staff recommends approval.
  • Development outside city limits: Staff is recommending the commission deny a preliminary plat for a proposed 83-lot residential subdivision on about 88 acres near East County Road 130 and Farm to Market Road 1213. The property lies outside city limits in Midland’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, where the city retains limited authority over how properties are divided into lots.

State law does not require cities to maintain an ETJ, and property owners may petition to have their property removed from one. The denial recommendation cites a drainage report rejected over unaddressed FEMA floodplain concerns, a county road that does not meet city standards, proposed cul-de-sac streets that exceed the maximum permitted length, and no existing wastewater infrastructure.

  • Other development: The consent agenda includes a final plat that reconfigures four lots at 2757, 2759, 2805, and 2809 Racquet Club Drive by combining two existing lots into one and adjusting the lot lines of the remaining two lots to improve overall lot configuration.

Commissioners will also consider a preliminary plat for about one acre at 10113 Younger Road, where businesses operate, so the owners can obtain a certificate of occupancy. Staff recommends approval of both.