Corpus Christi faces backlash as the city becomes the center of a heated debate over a proposal to rezone 7 acres near the Hillcrest neighborhood for industrial use. Currently designated for neighborhood commercial and multifamily development, the land could soon shift to light industrial zoning if the City Council approves the Planning Commission’s recent recommendation.
This move, initiated by the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, is part of a broader effort to consolidate approximately 40 acres of property for cargo storage and operations. However, nearby residents say the expansion threatens to further erode what remains of their long-standing community.
Residents Push Back: “They’re eating us up bit by bit.”
On April 30, nearly 30 residents gathered at City Hall to voice their opposition during the Planning Commission’s public hearing. Many of them were from Hillcrest and the broader Washington-Coles area, arguing that rezoning the land for industrial purposes would accelerate the encroachment of industry into residential zones.
Lamont Taylor, representing the Hillcrest Residents Association, described the situation as slow but steady displacement.
Taylor said, “In essence, the situation has closed me in.” “It’s an encroachment on my left side, and it’s an encroachment on my right side. The city is eating us up bit by bit by allowing zoning changes.
Others echoed his concerns, including longtime resident Monna Lytle. “Put yourself in our place,” she said. “We’re going to get hit again.”
A Legacy of Disruption: The Harbor Bridge Impact
Corpus Christi faces backlash as controversy grows over the area’s industrial rezoning, deeply rooted in its complex history. The Port previously acquired many of the parcels through a voluntary relocation program connected to the Harbor Bridge project—a development that disproportionately impacted communities of color in Northside neighborhoods and sparked a civil rights complaint.
A city staff report states that the rezoning would help the Port regain operational space lost during the bridge’s construction. Sam Esquivel, the Port’s director of real estate, underscored the urgency of the project:
“We’re trying to make up for what we lost and improve overall cargo efficiency in and out of the port.”
The planned laydown yard would store large items such as wind turbine blades and military cargo. While some officials claim nearby parks could offer the public a unique view of these operations, nearby residents find little reassurance in that notion.
Legal Concerns Over Property Rights
Although city and port officials have stated they do not intend to use eminent domain, residents, and attorneys, worry about what they see as a workaround.
Attorney Matt Manning described the rezoning as “a subterfuge” to achieve the same outcome effectively.
“You will create a situation that functions as eminent domain,” he said, “even if it isn’t legally defined as such.”
Maps indicate that the proposed yard sits less than a quarter mile from some homes and churches. Many residents believe the city’s 200-foot notification policy is inadequate and fails to consider the project’s broader impact.
A Compromise in Zoning: Light vs. Heavy Industry
Initially, the Port requested heavy industry zoning, which would have allowed more intense manufacturing operations. However, the Planning Commission rejected that request and recommended a compromise: light industrial zoning.
Andrew Dimas, the city’s Planning Manager, clarified the differences.
“Light industry allows for open storage and equipment cleaning, but not heavy manufacturing like hydrogen plants,” Dimas said.
Esquivel also reassured the commission that the Port does not plan to store crude oil at the site.
Commissioners Michael Miller and Cynthia Salazar Garza stressed balancing economic development and community preservation.
“We need to do our best for the benefit of Corpus Christi, as well as residents’ safety,” Garza said.
What Happens Next?
Ultimately, the Corpus Christi City Council has the final say. The City Council expects to hold a vote in June. While the Port’s scaled-back request may seem like a compromise, residents remain skeptical about how far industrial development will extend into their neighborhoods.
This rezoning decision may shape Corpus Christi’s growth strategy while addressing the concerns of communities long impacted by displacement.