Proposed property changes go before Council
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

The possibility of additional West Loop retail development and a proposed housing start on the city's southeast side will go before City Council Monday after receiving the blessings of Planning & Zoning Commissioners Jan. 16.

Wal-Mart was requesting a 1.23 acre subdivide of its West Loop property for an unspecified building development.

The proposed lot fronts the West Loop and is just south of the land formerly used by a service station.

Also before Council is a proposed zoning change at 1019 Divide. The Elloyd Canales family wants to build a home there, but the property is currently zoned C-2, or General Commercial, which prohibits residential use.

The Canales family was requesting the 3.78 acres of land be changed to C-1, or Light Commercial, to allow for a home loan.

In July 2007, El Campo City Council narrowly approved a similar Divide Street request.

The El Campo City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in chambers, 315 E. Jackson. The meeting is open to the public with time designated for citizen comments.

During the months of January and February City Council meetings are being held on Mondays to accommodate Mayor Phillip Spenrath's high school coaching schedule.

Other items before Council include:

• With a pending request from the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture to sublease its East Jackson building, the city is anticipating an executive, or closed, session to determine the future of the municipally-owned building.

Although the Chamber has been a tenant for decades, there is apparently no formal lease of the building.

State law allows City Council to go behind closed doors to discuss the lease, sale, purchase or exchange of property, although any decisions can only be made once municipal leaders return to open session.

At the last Council meeting, Councilwoman Gloria Harris called for the sale of the building.

The Chamber wants to lease it for an additional 10 years for $1 and sublease a section of the building for a minimum of $400 per month with the revenue going into Chamber coffers.