Zoning commission gives initial nod to South Overton student housing, headed to council

For the second time this year, Lubbock's City Council is set to consider a large student housing project proposed near the Texas Tech campus - this time in the South Overton neighborhood.

The City of Lubbock Planning & Zoning Commission voted Thursday evening in favor of a zoning change to allow for a proposed 707-bedroom student housing development east of University Avenue near 14th Street,

After nearly four hours of hearing those for and against the zone change, the board decided to grant a favorable recommendation to the city council for the zone change.

As the developer and owner — Parallel and Kenneth Abraham respectively — presented the project, the commission was initially confused by some of the facts being presented.

Zach Sawyer, chairman of the commission, shared some reservations about the traffic study that was conducted by Kimberly Horn as well as the stress the new building would place on the sewer and water system.

A video was presented by Tonja Hagy-Valdine, a South Overton resident, showing a broken water line due to backed-up sewer lines that flooded the neighborhood for two days.

Commissioner Susan Tomlinson also voiced her concern that this modern concrete glass building does not conform to the rich history and architecture of the nearby Historic South Overton Neighborhood.

Other members were confused by why this part of the neighborhood was left out for the historic designation regulation set by the city in 2012.

According to the planning department and a letter presented at Thursday's meeting, the secretary of the South Overton neighborhood association asked the then-planning director to not include the area due to the department's agreement with Abraham to develop the property in the future for student housing.

Hagy-Valdine said the letter was from the leader of a "defunct splinter group" that wrote in favor of this development when the neighborhood doesn't support it.

Proposed student housing development in South Overton going to Lubbock zoning commission

The commission heard 10 people in opposition to the student housing development, in contrast, the in-favor side only had the owner, developer, and three locals speak in favor of the project.

Most notably, Josh Stueve — senior pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church spoke on behalf of his congregation opposing the development due to the development not having enough parking spaces.

For context, the developments would provide 544 spaces — 91 spaces under the required space by the city and 163 spaces to accommodate all individuals living there.

The spokesperson for Parallel 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 concerns 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.

Even though originally having reservations about the project, the commission voted 4-3 in favor of zoning change to accommodate it.

Now, the City Council will tentatively hear the zoning change in as soon as two weeks, when they will receive the P&Z Commission's favorable recommendation and leading up to the council's final consideration.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Zoning commission recommends student housing project Lubbock council