Compromises and Concessions????

In 2006 Weingarten Realty Investors  planned to build a Walmart Super Center on their property that is located at the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6.  In order to do so, the property had to be rezoned.  Home owners that live on the East side of Highway 6, mounted a HUGE public outcry.  After listening to almost 5 hours of  public comments, the City Council voted (4-3) to deny the rezoning request.  http://www2.cstx.gov/council%20minutes/2006/complete%20060720%20workshop%20and%20regular%20minutes.htm   

Fast forward to February 7, 2008...City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.  http://www.cstx.gov/home/index.asp?page=30  At 7 p.m. the council chambers was packed.  This time, it was with a combination of Texas A&M students that were attending as part of some course and with residents that represent the "East Side Group of Home Owner's Associations." 

As the chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) later told the A&M students, tonight's meeting was relatively boring with administrative issues.  This time there was no huge fight between the home owners and Weingarten Realty Investors.  Patricia Klien, speaking on behalf of the Eastside home owners simply told the P&Z that they wanted to work with the developers to create a plan that would be acceptable to both groups.  They hoped the two groups could agree upon something that was different than the master plan that was being submitted tonight.  

Weingarten Realty Investors, on the other hand, appears to be attempting to do something, instead of nothing, with the property.  Given the "power" of the East side home owners, they decided their best course of action would be to submit a Master Plan that could work within the property's current zoning.  (This property consists of three tracts, each with different zoning.)  They did not indicate their specific plans for the property.  Nor, were they required to do so.   

Derek Dictson, one of the Planning & Zoning Commissioners, hoped that the two groups can work together to develop something that we, as a city, can be proud of for this prime tract of land.