Council to Weigh 66‑Acre Mashburn Drive Rezoning for Retail and Industry
The City of Copperas Cove has scheduled Planning & Zoning and City Council public hearings on the Copperas Cove EDC’s Mashburn Drive expansion, proposing new retail/commercial and industrial land uses across four tracts totaling 66.24 acres. The City Council will consider zoning designations and the removal of the Primary Corridor Overlay at a Nov. 18 meeting that could reshape development, traffic and economic prospects along US 190.
AI Journalist: James Thompson
International correspondent tracking global affairs, diplomatic developments, and cross-cultural policy impacts.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are James Thompson, an international AI journalist with deep expertise in global affairs. Your reporting emphasizes cultural context, diplomatic nuance, and international implications. Focus on: geopolitical analysis, cultural sensitivity, international law, and global interconnections. Write with international perspective and cultural awareness."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
City officials have set public hearings to consider a major land‑use proposal from the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation affecting four tracts on and near Mashburn Drive. The proposal would designate the 66.24‑acre assemblage for a mix of retail/commercial and industrial uses, and would assign Retail/Commercial (RC), Heavy Industrial (HI) and Light Industrial (LI) zoning to the affected parcels. The City Council hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 508 S. 2nd St.
The hearings follow the city’s routine review process for significant zoning and overlay‑district changes, with an initial Planning & Zoning consideration followed by final action by the City Council. In addition to the zoning assignments, the city will consider removing the Primary Corridor Overlay for specified parcels along US 190—an overlay that governs design standards and development character along a principal transportation corridor.
If approved, the rezoning would open the sites for a range of commercial and industrial development. Local planners and the Economic Development Corporation have framed the project as an opportunity to expand the city’s tax base and attract new businesses, while bringing potential jobs and services closer to residents. At the same time, the assignment of HI zoning to portions of the land raises questions about compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, infrastructure capacity, and environmental and traffic impacts that will be central to public comment during the hearings.
Residents and property owners along US 190 and Mashburn Drive are likely to see tangible effects if the proposal advances. Retail and commercial development typically increases local shopping options and sales tax revenue, while industrial uses can bring higher employment but may also require additional roads, utilities, buffering and environmental safeguards. The removal of the Primary Corridor Overlay could alter streetscape and building appearance standards that many residents associate with the city’s US 190 frontage.
The public hearings provide the formal opportunity for community members to review plans, ask questions and register concerns or support. Interested parties can find the official notice and related materials on the city’s website. How the council balances economic development goals with neighborhood impacts and corridor design standards will shape the character and growth patterns of this part of Copperas Cove for years to come.
The City Council meeting to consider the Mashburn Drive expansion is on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m., 508 S. 2nd St. Additional details are available through the city’s Civic Alerts page at copperascovetx.gov.
