BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — In May, KENS 5 reported on a freightliner company planning to relocate to a property they own that lines a neighborhood in East Bexar County.
Doggett Freightliner was working to rezone the 35-acre property near 1-10 east and 1604, despite pushback from several homeowners in the Paloma Neighborhood.
In June, the zoning commission denied its request. But now the rezoning application will be taken up in a city council meeting on September 5.
Within the past month, homeowners were sent a letter by an attorney representing the company about their plans moving forward if they do not get that approval.
“They’re just trying to bully us,” Homeowner Claudia Ayers said.
The letter states if the city denies the rezoning application for the plot of land, it will instead build on another plot of land it already owns that is also located nearby the neighborhood. That piece of land is already zoned for commercial use.
However, the company claims it is not large enough for their new location. So, they state they will use the other, 35-acre property to store equipment, and it won’t require any rezoning.
Meaning, Doggett will be utilizing two properties surrounding the Paloma Neighborhood.
“It’s a new area, so we can make this area whatever we want it to be and that’s not what we want it to be,” Homeowner Jo Most said.
Both Most and Ayers have been working to fight back against Doggett’s plans. They cite traffic concerns, safety concerns and are worried it will become an industrial area.
“We need a grocery store, we need a CVS,” Ayers said. “We do not need another Doggett.”
They also believe it will bring down the value of their homes. However, Doggett representatives hosted several meetings to address these concerns. The company said the new location would bring 150 new jobs to the area.
KENS 5 reached out to the attorney representing the company on Friday and have not heard back.
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez's released a statement reading:
“Our office places a high priority on community support for all zoning projects. As negotiations between the two parties are underway, we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached that will benefit the community.”