City Council to Debate New Zoning Rights for San Angelo Schools

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS -- San Angelo's city council is convening again tomorrow morning to discuss several new agenda items. One of these items could grant San Angelo elementary and middle schools zoning rights in residential areas. 

Recently, the Planning Division has reviewed the current requirements within the Zoning Ordinance for the development and/or expansion of schools within the City.

Prior to 2000, the Zoning Ordinance allowed “public, private or parochial schools having a curriculum equivalent to a public elementary or high school” in all residential zoning districts, but not in any of the commercial or industrial Zoning Districts, except for the Central Business District (CBD). Then in January of 2000, the Zoning Ordinance was changed. The new ordinance now required schools defined as “public and private schools providing a basic curriculum equivalent to an elementary or secondary school” to obtain a Conditional Use form form the Planning Commission to reside in residential districts.

City staff now wishes to amend the Zoning Ordinance again, and is proposing that all schools be allowed in non-residential zoning districts by right, elementary and middle schools to be allowed in residential areas by right, and ninth grade and high schools to be allowed in residential areas by right, with either Special Use or Conditional Use approval. As part of the specific design standards, issues such as pedestrian access, lighting, traffic, parking, and landscaping have been addressed.

Tomorrow, city council will hear the first reading of the amended ordinance. If the city council members move to approve the amendment, San Angelo's school district may see an expansion in the near future.

Other interesting issues council will discuss are as follows: 

• An amendment to the City's  Animal Control ordinance which would allow a broader range of authorized employees to issue citations. 
• New Changes to "Off-Street Parking Standards."
• An update to the City's Fleet data monitoring and GPS System. Click here for more information on the Fleet data monitoring and GPS system 

City Council begins at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning at the McNease Convention Center. This meeting is free and open to the public.