Divided Bryan city council delays action on a rezoning request by a non profit agency

This podcast contains comments from the March 10, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.More than one hour was spent at the March regular meeting of Bryan city council on a rezoning request.In June 2022, a Bryan non profit agency received a conditional use permit to operate a professional office east of downtown Bryan for counseling services.Made Well Ministries later expanded services on adjacent property that is inside Bryan's eastside historic district. Currently offered among other things are counseling, medical, and child care services and fitness classes.In the summer of 2025, the city received concerns from homeowners in the historic district that Made Well was operating inside the district without proper zoning.That led Made Well in October of 2025 to file a rezoning request to combine both properties into one planned development district (PDD).In February 2026, the planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the PDD to the city council by a six to two margin.And the council at its March regular meeting, tabled action until the April meeting on the P&Z recommendation by a 4-3 margin.Making the motion to postpone, Marca Ewers-Shurtleff was among councilmembers who wanted supporters and opponents to work out their differences. She also expected the delay to result in the language of the zoning change will be exceeding clear to those who acquire the property in the future.Seconding the motion, Jared Salvato attempted to balance the competing interests.Also voting to delay action were Ray Arrington and Kevin Boriskie.Voting against the delay were mayor Bobby Gutierrez and councilmen Paul Torres and James Edge.Made Well owner Kasey Van Norman told the council that they are under contract to acquire a former law office where some services will be moved.Van Norman also said contributing factors to increased noise and traffic congestion in the area are medians on Texas Avenue and East 29th, the enrollment at St. Joseph's school almost doubling in the last five years, and First Methodist Church acquiring a private academy.If the council would deny the request, development services director Martin Zimmerman said they would be talking with the city manager about enforcement since Made Well would be out of compliance with zoning regulations.Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan.Click HERE to read and download the staff report regarding Made Well's rezoning request.Click HERE to read and download documents from rezoning opponents provided by the city of Bryan.Click HERE to read and download documents provided by the city of Bryan from rezoning supporters.