EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A proposal to loosen zoning rules for backyard casitas and reduce parking requirements in Central El Paso neighborhoods will not move forward, at least for now.
The El Paso City Council deleted the items from the agenda on Tuesday, Aug. 19 before a final vote could be taken.
The proposal would have allowed casitas — or small backyard homes — on any single-family lot, removed the requirement for homeowners to live on-site, and eliminate certain off-street parking mandates in Downtown, Uptown and nearby neighborhoods.
Supporters, including District 8 Rep. Chris Canales, argued the changes were needed to address the City’s housing shortage.
“More than 100,000 people sit on the waitlist for the housing authority. These aren’t just statistics. They represent thousands of families, seniors and young people who cannot find a place to live in their own community,” Canales said during the meeting. “The scale of the crisis makes it irresponsible to keep outdated rules on the books that drive up costs and make it harder to build housing.”
But the opposition was strong. Dozens of residents spoke up against the plan, citing concerns about increased traffic, limited parking, and outside investors buying up property in historic neighborhoods.
“I’m very concerned about allowing nonresidents, including corporations, to buy properties in our neighborhoods. They don’t have a stake or a heart in this community,” one resident told council members.
Before council could vote, District 5 Rep. Ivan Niño moved to delete the item altogether. Reps. Alejandra Chavez and Lily Limón also voiced opposition.
“I heard from 16 people that said no, and only two that said yes,” Limón said. “And as a frequent watcher of ‘Shark Tank,’ I’m out.”
This is not the first time the issue has come before City Council. A similar proposal was brought forward in 2024 but never passed.
City officials say the discussion will continue, and the item could return for consideration at a later date.
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