The Brownwood City Council on Tuesday, February 9, unanimously approved an ordinance on second and third/final reading for a request to change the zoning classification at  2409 Austin Avenue from R-1 Single-Family Residential District to R-3 Multifamily Residential District.

At the Council meeting on Jan. 26, the Council heard protests to the zoning change from members of the public. Upon hearing from the residents and the developer, the Council voted to approve the zoning change on first reading in order to give the residents the chance to meet and visit with the developer about the proposed project. This meeting took place on Feb. 4.

The Planning and Zoning Commission met on Jan. 7 in the Council Chambers of City Hall to discuss and vote on Arcaya Properties request to rezone property known as Coggin Park Addition, Block 3, Lot 3, located at 2409 Austin Avenue from R-1 Single Family Residential District to R-3 Multifamily Residential District. Arcaya Properties made the request in order to be in compliance with City Ordinance in building a 12 unit apartment complex. There were no opposition letters received nor anyone present at the hearing in opposition of the zoning change. The Commission voted unanimously in favor of the zoning change request.

A concern regarding the construction of the new apartments was a lack of parking. However, the property at 2407 Austin is now under contract to Arcaya Properties to expand the layout and alleviate any potential parking concerns, Director of the Development Services Tim Murray reported during Tuesday’s meeting.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, a phone call was received from Bethany Sharp, new owner of the property at 2415 Austin Avenue, who opposed the project due to a potential decrease in property value. Sharp was advised of the Feb. 4 meeting and did not attend.

Councilman Walker Willey did attend the Feb. 4 meeting and reported two other people were in attendance.

“There was a good video presentation, the property manager walked through one of the units and walked through one of the complexes in Leander, and talked about the average tenure of a resident being over five years,” Willey said. “The units were very nice looking both the exterior finishing and interior finishing. I appreciate the transparency to come back here and just put some minds at ease. I’m torn about the new protest because they were aware of this potential development and still closed on the house.”

Willey added that the new apartments will be a gated community.

Also Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a future public hearing regarding the potential name change from Houston Avenue to Hoosegow Avenue, proposed by Tel and Kourtney Williams. The Williams have petitioned the city for the name change as they own the property that was the former Brown County Law Enforcement Center. The Williams have obtained signatures from the adjoining landowner in support of the change, which meets the 75 percent requirement of the application.

Houston Avenue was platted as a 60-foot easement and has been used as a public roadway for the past 40 years. By prescriptive rights, it became a city street after the annexation in 2001.

Regarding the renaming of streets within the Brownwood city limits, City Manager Emily Crawford spoke of “two allowable reasons for street name change are one, to honor a Brownwood resident whose made a significant and lasting contribution to the community, and two, to enhance a neighborhood through association of a street name with its location area characteristics and history with a direct and unique connection to Brownwood.

Crawford continued, “It was staff interpretation that the hoosegow name would not comply with one or two, but the Williams believe it does comply with number two, that’s why need the Council’s interpretation as to whether or not, even from the resolution, that the request fulfills the requirements.”

Tel Williams said, “As far as the uniqueness of the name, that’s the first modern county jail that was built in the county. Hoosegow, meaning old jail, we thought that made it unique to the building, to that part of town.”

Ward 2 Councilman Ed McMillian, where Houston Ave. is located, stated his opposition to changing the name of the street to Hoosegow, but voted with the rest of the Council members for the public hearing.

“My stance on it is, since this is where I represent, I don’t like the name,” McMillian said. “There’s a lot of people that I represent in north Brownwood that have a stigma and they have fought to overcome problems they’ve had earlier in their lives. They’ve cleaned up north Brownwood, brought in some new mobile homes, even built homes. Hoosegow, to me, is a slap in my face. I will not be in support of it. I spoke to my constituents about it, and naming a city street Hoosegow, I’m out.”

Also Tuesday, the City Council approved Hendrick Medical Center-Brownwood to participate in the drug discount program established under Section 340B of the Public Health Services Act. In order to participate in the 340B Program, Hendrick has to enter into an agreement with the City of Brownwood to commit to provide health care services to the indigent, uninsured or under-insured in the community.

Hendrick-Brownwood already serves this population, and by entering the 340B Program, they are eligible for discounts. Only non-profit hospitals are eligible to be in the 340B Program. There is no financial or reporting obligation to the City of Brownwood. The City of Abilene has already entered into this agreement with Hendrick.