WACO, TEXAS — Overlay planners are hoping to reassure property owners on La Salle Avenue that they are being heard in plans for a new corridor overlay.
“It’s very clear that this whole proposal is very community-oriented,” said overlay advocate Jillian Ohriner. “The existing community has been the focus of it.”
Nearly 10 years ago, an idea was conceived by the late president of the Centex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Joe Rodriguez. The idea resurfaced, last year, by a pair of La Salle business owners.
That renewed idea was taken to nonprofit City Center Waco. As planning began, other property owners on La Salle were shocked at the news of the overlay. The initial proposal including over 30 “prohibited uses.”
With streets lined with history, the overlay plans were met with some opposition from property owners on the avenue. Some local businesses have been rooted on La Salle for decades. The “prohibited uses” limited growth and opportunities for select business.
Dennis Smith, a property owner against the initial proposal said, "As American citizens, we're not really good when somebody comes in and starts telling us what we're gonna do especially with a piece of property that we own."
After La Salle neighbors and corridor developers came together for meetings, planners took note of community concerns.
On Thursday, the property owners and overlay planners will meet to discuss a revised proposal of the overlay.
Developers hope to ease minds as they review revisions to the proposal tonight. After collecting further input, they hope to move the proposal to the planning and zoning commission at the end of the month.
If approved, the proposal will go to the city council for a final vote in May.
