Category: Howe News Bulletin

With the new residents moving into the Summit Hill edition, the City of Howe has released pertinent information.  The four-page document gives information on Water, Sewer, and Refuse rates as well as taxation and demographics.  Information on youth sports, parks and beautification programs are included also.  Helpful contacts for electric, tv, and other utilities are also located on the final page along with city leadership information.

The online pamphlet can be found on the home page of the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce at howechamber.com and can also be found under “Know Howe” at howetexas.org.

On Monday night, the Howe Planning & Zoning Commission voted in favor for a zoning change for a commercial property at 501 N. Collins Freeway, on US Highway 75, to multi-family to make way for a small apartment complex.  However, tonight’s city council denied the zoning request and the property will remain commercial.

A petition of 14 local neighboring property owners opposing the change was submitted to Mayor Jeff Stanley and the council during the meeting.  Bill Stambaugh, Micah Belden, Janice Akins, Rebecca Luna, and Gay Brennan spoke to oppose the zoning change.  Only property owner Phillip Shaffer and the potential purchaser of the property, Gurishkumar Patel, spoke in favor for the zoning request.

Howe’s comprehensive plan, zoning plan and economic development plan stay on course with this decision.

Howe fifth graders Jacob Campbell and Dax Foster were featured in the Winter 2016/2017 edition of the Dallas Morning News Photos of the Year Magazine.  The two youngsters took a break from cleanup and were making the best of a bad situation after the destructive tornado damage on April 26, 2016.

Despite the public showing up against a requested zoning change that would move commercially zoned US Highway 75 property to multi-family to make way for a one-acre apartment complex, the Planning & Zoning Commission of Howe voted two to one in favor to approve the request.

The location rests at 501 N. Collins Freeway along Howe’s “Ribbon of Commerce” between Star Auto Body and an apartment complex. Property owner Phillip Shaffer made the comment to the P&Z board that since there are apartments next to the property, what should circumvent this property being rezoned for multi-family use?

Two longtime Howe residents stood up and gave views that Howe should stay the course with the commercial planning on Highway 75.  One individual stated that there isn’t going to be another Highway 75 come through Howe and improperly zoning it could hurt the long term plan.

P&Z board member Dale Rideout made a motion to approve and Jerry Park made a second to the motion.  Jack Leavenworth voted against the change.

“I think, it’s my opinion to keep with the development plan and maintain the C-1 zone.” said Leavenworth.

“I would like to see a business there myself rather than apartments, but when is that going to happen?” said Jerry Park.

“We’ve got apartments to the south as well so I don’t see that part being a problem.” said Rideout.

One could make the case that if you allow apartments to be built due to an apartment complex next to it, soon could be apartment complexes along side each other all the way down US Highway 75.

No one other than Shaffer and the purchaser Gurishkumar Patel spoke in favor for the zoning change.

The zoning change will go in front of the city council tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. at the Howe Community Center at 700 W. Haning St. for final decision.  It is a public meeting.