A large plot of vacant land on South Judge Ely Boulevard northeast of Craig Middle School was recommended for zoning changes Monday that will allow self-storage units and possibly retail outlets.

The land is zoned office space, but was recommended for Planned Development District zoning by the Abilene Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commission members expressed concern about how the property would look in the future and questioned how the zone change would affect control of the appearance. They also questioned whether public demand would support a retail complex at the site.

The commission recommended approval of the zoning change, with a request that the City Council address these concerns before approving the change.

A request to rezone property in the 1500 and 1600 blocks of Cottonwood Street from light industrial to RM-3 (residential) drew public comments from both sides of the issue.

Joey Kincaid, who, with his family, owns property and a business near the area, contended that the area was most suited for industrial uses and that a nearby railroad made it undesirable for homes. He believed rezoning would create hardship for his business and possibly lower its value.

Miller Talbot, who requested the zone change, countered that the industrial zoning has stunted development and led to decay. A residential zoning would allow him to do something positive with deteriorating property, he said.

Commission members also were told that when city staff members drove through the area in question, they found a number of residences already in existence.

After discussion, the commission recommended that the change to residential zoning be approved.

In other business, the commission approved six plats, including "the final piece of the puzzle," in the Stevens addition near State Highway 36. Danny Stevens had purchased a home with the intent of refurbishing it, only to find that he had to comply with numerous city regulations regarding paving a rarely-used road. The City Council granted a variance in the issue at its July 23 meeting.

The commission recommended four zone changes and the abandonment of Inwood Lane, an undeveloped right-of-way running off Dub Wright Boulevard.

A recommendation to rezone property on the north side of Independence Boulevard from agricultural open space to multifamily residential (RM-3) was approved and sent to the City Council.

Property owner Ken Musgrave plans to build duplexes on the property, matching houses already built across the street, commissioners were told.