Development, animal shelter spur zoning possibilities in Port Arthur

Published 8:00 am Monday, December 9, 2019

The Port Arthur City Council could vote on two zoning change proposals as soon as its next regular meeting Dec. 17.

No one offered public comment during Tuesday’s meeting on a possible change from single family to light commercial in the in the area of Broadway and Greenwich streets south of 11th Avenue in Sabine Pass. Adam Bell, who owns land in the area, said he had no plans to build anything there but purchased the land given the influx of business soon to come.

Port Arthur Mayor Pro Tem Harold Doucet said he would have a problem if any potential development would impose in homes that have already been built there, but wouldn’t have an issue if those who live in the area approve of any development.

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Sabine Pass School is located across the street from Bell’s property on South Gulfway Drive, or Texas Highway 87.

The city is considering establishing an animal shelter at the city’s old 19th Street water treatment facility. That zone has been proposed to change from single family to planned development district.

Two public hearings have been taken on the second proposal. No opposition was voiced.

Several citizens have been appointed to commissions in Port Arthur, including:

  • Fernando Ramirez to the Planning and Zoning Commission;
  • William Larrain, Alice Washington, Anthony Albert, Langston Adams, Beverly Raymond, John Beard and Anthony Leger to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals;
  • Rhonda Jackson to the Beautification Commission; and
  • Regina Drake, Huy Tran, Joselia Hernandez, Kalan Gardner, Kevin Thomas, Fred Hudson, Joe Tant and Farhana Swati to the Complete Count Committee in support of the 2020 U.S. Census.

In other council business:

  • The city has agreed to a contract increase with Gulf Coast, A CRH Company, of Beaumont by $182,651.86 to $1,095,941.36. The contract is for the pavement improvement of Nashville Avenue from Rev. Ransom Howard Street (West 7th Street) to Procter Street.
  • The city canceled its Dec. 31 regular meeting.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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