Marfa
When it comes to decision-making on rezoning a plot of east Marfa land from residential to industrial for a new AEP electric power station, the lack of details on the plan for the site played a key role in officials’ decision on whether to approve the rezoning over the course of several meetings last year. Those details were important to the public too, but a much bigger factor has been whether the proposed substation—intended for a four-acre lot at the corner of Oak and Aparejo streets—should be in Marfa at all, and whether the utility company adequately explored alternatives outside of the city.
On March 17, Marfans and officials had an opportunity to get a much more granular look at the proposal, including schematic drawings of a site plan outlining things like how many power transmission poles would be erected and where, and footprints for the substation overall, at an open house at City Hall. AEP staff and spokespeople were on hand to answer questions amidst a circle of whiteboards justifying the need for the substation. The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) then held a public hearing afterwards to hear input and discuss the plan.
AEP’s proposal involves purchasing an approximately four-acre lot at the corner of Oak and Aparejo streets and erecting a new substation—eight times larger than the existing Oak Street station near Sal Si Puedes and triple the capacity, increasing from 5 MVA to 15 MVA (megavolt-amperes)—an estimated $7 million to $10 million endeavor. The increase in capacity is cited by the company as crucial to meeting both existing and future needs for Marfa’s electricity usage. Critics said the utility did not explore options for the substation farther out of town. AEP said it looked at alternatives and none met the criteria it needed for both logistics and cost.
Since the land is zoned residential, AEP needs the rezoning to industrial to proceed with the purchase of the property to build the substation. P&Z members walked through questions about the project one by one—from everything to the types of fences and landscaping surrounding the structure to how many decibels in sound it would emit.
Some residents who live across the street from the land, as well as a majority of Marfans speaking at public hearings in the past, objected to the possible impacts of the substation—sound and appearance, for example—and setting a precedent for rezoning that didn’t fit the city’s comprehensive plan. They also questioned why AEP didn’t do a more thorough study of alternative sites. Others supported the plan, citing the need for additional electric capacity and AEP’s history of being a good neighbor.
On the last go around on the issue, the P&Z eventually recommended that the City Council not approve the rezoning last June. In October, council members—not all on the same page regarding the rezoning—unanimously voiced the need for more details and thus, requested that AEP come back with a more detailed application for a special use permit, which would allow officials to list certain mandates to the project before approving it.
“I’m ready to move this on,” said P&Z member Lee Mediano in an interview on Saturday. Mediano said the additional detail on the special use permit, the open house, and commission discussions made it unnecessary for the commission to continue endless discussions when the decision on the rezoning ultimately would be decided by the City Council. Whether “move on” means an actual recommendation by the commission is unclear. But the commission decided to hold one more public hearing on the issue on April 7. The City Council has set a public hearing on the rezoning for April 14. It could approve the special use permit at that time or continue it for further hearings.
Echoing Mediano was Commission Member Jamey Garza, who said he thought the commission was ready to send its recommendation or views to the City Council at the last meeting. “I think we’re at a point where we need to move this forward to the City Council, because that’s where the rubber hits the road. Garza said that while the city now has more detailed information, there’s still the question of whether this type of rezoning is acceptable.
Quiet on the rezoning are P&Z Chair Stephen “Chick” Rabourn, who said he would not comment now on the ongoing process, and members Lauren Meader Fowlkes and Lilliana Fields, who did not respond to a request for comment. For an in-depth look at the history of the rezoning, see bigbendsentinel.aep-rezone.