As promised last month, City Council members attempted to reach some decision on how to re-zone the cleared lot that was once the site of the Canadian Apartments at 203 Birch St. for commercial use.

The former owners of the apartment complex defaulted on payment of property taxes, fines, and legal fees owed against the property. The property was offered twice in a sheriff’s sale on the courthouse steps, and drew no bidders.

At that point, its ownership defaulted to all five Hemphill County taxing entities—the city of Canadian, Hemphill County, Canadian ISD, Hemphill County Hospital District, and Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District—which now share ownership of the property.

Representatives of each entity have made it clear they want the property sold so that it can be returned to the tax rolls. As they prepare to return it to the real estate market, the council is considering whether they should first designate how it is zoned, in order to establish some parameters for the land’s future use.

The property is currently zoned R-G (General Residential), reflecting the fact that it was used for residential housing. With the demolition of the apartment complex, however, the zoning can now be changed to a variety of other categories.

The property is surrounded by primarily commercial zones along the main corridor, US 60/83. The majority of other zoning categories are C-G (General Commercial, in yellow); C-A/R (Automotive, in orange); and I-H (Heavy Industrial in blue/violet). There is also one R-2 (Single Family Residential, in green/ turquoise) along the corridor.

City Manager Joe Jarosek provided the council with brief descriptions of the three main zoning categories in that area, as follows:

C-G: General Commercial, which is designed for the conduct of personal and business services, and the general retail trade of the community.

C-C: Convenience Commercial, which encompasses 25 different permitted uses, from A to V, ranging from artists’ supplies and bakery shop to tailor shop, theatre, toy store and variety store, with a smattering of laundry, pharmacy shoe repair, delicatessen and jewelry store thrown in.

C-A/R: Automotive Commercial and Commercial Recreation District, which would establish a district in which the principal land use is for establishments offering accommodations; supplies of services to motorists; and allowing certain specialized uses such as retail outlets and extensive commercial amusement and service establishments, which serve the entire community, but do not and should not necessarily locate in the central business district.

The ensuing council discussion boiled down to three questions, regarding whether the city should designate specific zoning for the property before offering it for sale, or after it is purchased:

•What would an investor like to build in that location?

•What would the community like to see in that location?

•What would the representatives of Hemphill County’s other taxing entities prefer to see happen in that location?

Those questions were asked, but left unanswered as the council adjourned. They would like to hear from the community.

If you have some thoughts about the property’s future, please share them, by emailing editor@canadianrecord.com, or by calling Laurie Ezzell Brown at The Canadian Record, 806.323.6461. Please include your name and phone number (not for publication) along with your comments, which will be turned over to the City Council at their next meeting on Monday, March 21, at 5:30 pm.

Disposition of the property at 203 Birch St. will be on the agenda.