Lower Valley residents against proposal to build nearly 60 homes in vacant lot

The City Plan Commission voted Thursday to postpone the rezoning of a 10 acre lot in El Paso’s Lower Valley after residents complained about possible congestion problems.

Residents who live in the neighborhood near James and Craddock told the commission they are against 59 homes being built in the vacant lot.

The property is owned by the Catholic Properties of El Paso, which is looking to sell it to developer Carefree Homes.

Residents said the proposal to “cram” 59 homes into nearly 10 acres would cause too much congestion and disrupt the flow of traffic in their community.

“(The proposal) does not support a walkable community,” said an area resident.

Another resident told the commission the “street is too small and we don’t have room for this many houses.”

Sal Masoud, a representative with Carefree Homes, said “the rezoning we proposed is compatible with the zoning for that area.”

Masoud further stated the plan is will attract more families to the area. “It is actually good for that area because the school is actually losing students,” Masoud said.

The proposal will be brought back to the City Plan Commission in three weeks. Until then, the parties involved will be working on some sort of compromise.