A zoning change requested by developer Peter Woolford for Park Central Subdivision in south Mineola gained approval from the Mineola City Council Monday.

The 5-1 vote, with Sue Jones against, changes the zoning for 48 lots from single family to mixed use.

The city council previously considered the request on Oct. 24 but took no action when the call for a motion was met with silence.

As Woolford explained, once the zoning change is approved, he will then seek a variance from the Board of Adjustments for a minimum lot size of 40-feet wide. Mixed use requires a 50-foot minimum.

Then if that is approved, a request to replat the property with smaller lots will come back to the council for approval.

If those changes are approved, the development would see an increase from 48 homes to 80.

The public hearing and discussion on the matter lasted for more than an hour and a half.

Opposition came from Joe Moore, who questioned whether the city wanted this type of density, and from two neighboring property owners.

Among those favoring the development were Glen Thurman, a builder who said affordable housing is needed, and this developer has a proven track record. He also presented a letter from Mineola Community Bank President Jim Herlocker in support of the development.

Maggie Young, a real estate agent, said affordable housing is lacking in Mineola. There are renters wanting to buy who have few options.

Philip French with Higginbotham Brothers said the development will bring in tax revenue and agreed that housing options are limited.

Mineola Economic Development Corp. Chairman Gordon Tiner said the MEDC felt so good about the project that it agreed to invest $500,000 to help complete the street adjoining the neighborhood.

Tina Hill noted that the similar development in north Mineola, Blackmon Meadows, filled a void in the housing market and saw 30 homes sold in a year.

Brent Conway, with Conway Homes, which plans to purchase the lots and build should the changes be approved, said the recent economic situation has forced a rethinking of housing “unless we put everybody in apartments.”

He said smaller lots and homes are not what anyone is used to, but it is the reality with construction prices.

He said property restrictions will help keep the neighborhood well-maintained.

Demethrius Boyd, who serves on the city Planning and Zoning Commission, which had approved the change, said he visited similar developments in Whitehouse and Longview and did not get any negative responses.

Fire Marshal David Madsen explained that the city’s comprehensive plan calls for the area to have high-density housing, which this change would meet.

He also noted that mixed use allows for single-family homes, town homes, duplexes and non-retail commercial such as professional offices.

Woolford said that the original plan is no longer feasible, and if the changes are not granted, the project would be dead, and something like rental housing (duplexes) would have to be designed.

“There is a glut of unaffordable housing in Lindale,” he said. “New home construction is coming to a screeching halt.”

He added, “We will build a project we can all be proud of” and said that these homes will “fly off the shelf.”