The Lubbock City Council will hear a rezoning case to allow for a 707-bed South Overton Student Housing Development during its regular meeting Tuesday at Citizens Tower.
The case goes to the council for consideration after Lubbock’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-3 vote to approve a zoning change that would allow for development of the South Overton Student Housing project east of University Avenue and between 14th and 15th Street. In late July, the P&Z Commission heard hours of feedback, largely concerns from those in the neighborhood opposed to the proposal, as well as from the property owner in favor of the project.
More:Zoning commission gives initial nod to South Overton student housing, headed to council
JoshStueve, senior pastor of nearby St. John’s United Methodist Church, spoke on behalf of his congregation opposing the development due to the project not having enough parking spaces.
For context, the development would provide 544 spaces — 91 spaces fewer than the required space by the city and 163 spaces to accommodate all individuals living there.
The spokesperson for Parallel, a development company behind the project, said they would also charge students to park within the parking structure. When asked by the commission what would happen if a student didn’t want to pay for parking he replied that they could not control what they do.
Other issues shared were about the traffic the development would generate, which would be further complicated by the brick road on nearby Broadway and the drive-thru coffee shop on 14th Street and St. John’s Methodist Church on 15th Street.
The City Council will have its public hearing and first vote at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers. It will only need a simple majority to pass to a second reading and final vote later in September.
