Abilenians express concerns over potential zoning change on Buffalo Gap Road

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Buffalo Gap Road near the Wylie area is seeing more development, with new homes and businesses popping up. On Tuesday, a proposal for a mechanic shop or garage on a vacant lot went before the Planning and Zoning Commission. For this to happen, the lot would need a zoning change. However, some residents weren’t too happy about the idea and voiced their concerns.

The 660 block of Buffalo Gap Road sits in between a Taco Casa and Dollar General, which means that section is currently zoned as commercial retail. In order to have a mechanic shop, the zoning would need to be changed to industrial retail, which would allow for a wider variety of businesses, even if the owners change their minds or decide to sell the property.

Abilene resident Kent Mustoe expressed his concerns at the meeting, saying a garage may not be the best fit for the area.

“This doesn’t seem like the right fit for a garage. Retail in this area seems perfectly fine, but as a resident right behind there, I know there’s going to be extra noise pollution, which we’re very concerned about. Not to mention lighten up and just more if it’s going to be a garage,” Mustoe said.

The proposed zoning change would create what’s known as “spot zoning,” where a property’s zoning doesn’t align with the surrounding area. Resident David Sivley spoke out against the change, saying he doesn’t agree with allowing the mechanic shop to be built under the new zoning.

“This is adjacent, I think, to a very nice neighborhood, and I just don’t think the mechanics use there is appropriate and, in my opinion, not in line with the general retail zoning,” Sivley said.

The commission decided to keep the current zoning in place, but the property owners still have the option to appeal the decision to the City of Abilene. However, an appeal doesn’t guarantee that the zoning will be changed.