Planning Commission says yes to South Congress VMU rezoning

The Planning Commission has recommended Vertical Mixed Use zoning for a vacant 0.87-acre piece of land at 6424 S. Congress Ave. If City Council approves the rezoning, developer JCI Residential plans up to 95 residential units atop 1,000 square feet of ground floor retail. The VMU designation eases building restrictions in exchange for requiring 10 percent of units to be affordable for those making 80 percent of the median family income. The case had been postponed twice at the request of Mario Cantú, chair of the South Congress Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team, who is opposed to the rezoning. Because Cantú could not make the Feb. 8 meeting, he requested a third postponement over the objection of Alice Glasco, agent for the applicant. “We believe we’ve been in the process long enough,” Glasco said, pointing out that delays in approval can increase the cost of building housing. The case was originally scheduled for December. Ultimately, commissioners decided to hear the case and voted 10-0-2 in favor of VMU zoning, with commissioners Grayson Cox and Carmen Llanes Pulido abstaining.