Zoning commission defeats modular housing project; cigar bar to open downtown on Nort

I recently came across this headline from a West Texas newspaper. It sums up the attitudes of many US communities. Affordable modular housing? Not in my backyard....but a cigar bar? Hey partner, that's alright!

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A proposed 93-unit housing development met a storm of opposition Monday and was rejected by the Midland Planning & Zoning Commission by a unanimous 6-0 vote.Neighbors Sarah Andre, Sharon Humphreys, Richard Brantley and Laura Robinett gave a variety of reasons why they opposed ST Ventures' "Hillcrest Acres" project north of Midland Drive between Princeton and Cuthbert avenues with Robinett saying, "I don't know how you can sugarcoat a trailer park, but that's pretty much what this is."

With some 60 spectators watching at City Hall, Brantley presented a petition he said had the signatures of 135 Midlanders who did not want the project's 20 acres changed from one and multiple family dwelling districts to "Planned District for a Housing Development."

Commissioner Galen Gatten said before moving to deny the application that he disliked the population density the plan entailed. Royce Watkins was absent.

Round Rock developer Don Tardy said the modular homes project would have been largely financed with federal tax credits.

In other business, the panel approved Joe Dunham's application for a special use permit to sell beer and wine in his "Cigar Frogs" bar at 216 N. Main St.

90 units on 20 acres...and he disliked the population density the plan entailed!