December 3, 2024 – In an email received by KSST around 3pm Tuesday December 3, 2024, Tory Niewiadomski stated that the applicant for the recently approved zoning change has with drawn his application. Niewiadomski is the head of the Zoning and Planning board that approved the change during their November meeting. The Board recommended the City Council approve the change at the December 3rd meeting.
I wanted to make you aware that the applicant has withdrawn their rezoning request for the 41.909 acre property located on 7th Street from Single Family to Heavy Industrial. This item will be removed from the agenda for the City Council meeting and will not be discussed.
Please help distribute the word on Social media or other means to let the public know that it will no longer be considered for approval by City Council and that it will be removed from the agenda this evening. Thank you.
Tory
Tory Niewiadomski, AICP, CPM
Assistant City Manager/ Community Development Director
(903) 885-7541
201 North Davis Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
Here is the the original request for a zoning change taken from the November 18, 2024 Zoning meeting agenda.
Discussion/Action on a rezone (ZC-241101) request by John Heilman and Rick Scherer for 25.997 acres on Seventh Street being further described as Lot 1, Blk 76 1 (Parcel ID #5093) and 15.909 acres on Seventh St. being further described as PT. Lot 1, Blk 110 (Parcel ID #5645) to rezone from Single-Family to Heavy Industrial.
Significant pushback from residents of Sulphur Springs and the surrounding areas was generated by Zoning and Planning’s approval of the change. One online petition gathered over 417 signatures in opposition to the Zoning boards decision. See that petition here.
Some commented on the story posted on KSSTRadio.com. Some of the concerns posted are as follows:
- Why did Zoning and Planning recommended a zoning change from Single Family all the way to Heavy Industry. Some residents pointed out that such a jump is usually taken in smaller steps, with time for input for the community.
- Others pointed to the hundreds of unused acres of the ‘Thermo Mine’ property.
- Sulphur Springs has seemingly plenty of space, already zoned for heavy industry, available in the Industrial parks.
Fumes and odors from such a facility can travel upwards of 2 miles. With a north wind, those smells could reach Celebration Plaza in the heart of Sulphur Springs.
Here is a partial list of Public Spaces and Businesses within 1 mile of the Zoning Board’s recommendation.
- Melhaven Cemetery
- Christus Mother Frances Hospital Campus
- Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab (Airport Road)
- Wesley House Assisted Living (Church Street)
- Carriage House Manor (Pipeline Road)
- Redbarn Cafe
- Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport
- Fidelity Express / GSC Offices (Hwy 19)
- Sulphur Springs City Hall (Davis Street)
- Lakes Regional Community Center (Airport Road)
- Jordan’s Place Pediatrics (Hwy 19)
- Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter
- Sulphur Springs Service Center
- Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab (Jackson St)
- Hopkins County EMS Station (Airport Road)
- Sulphur Springs Public Library (Davis St)
- Sulphur Springs City Cemetery (7th Street, less than 1/4 mile)
- Travis Primary School (Main St)
- Sulphur Springs ISD Administration Building
- Hopkins County Regional Civic Center
- Sulphur Springs High School
- Buford Park
- Gerald Prim Stadium
- Central Baptist Church / Central Christian Academy (League Street)
- Fresenius Kidney Care (Medical Dr)
- Southwest Dairy Museum (Houston St)
With the application reported as withdrawn, the acreage will remain zoned single-family. The City Council meeting will convene at 7PM in City Hall.
