KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – Killeen residents left tonight’s council meeting indignant after learning they would not be allowed to comment publicly on a proposed rezoning of Featherline Road, an area that has sparked significant controversy .

Up to 300 homes could be built along the road, but residents are concerned about increased traffic on a street that already needs widening.

Citizens said there were two notices regarding the public hearing for Featherline Road. However, one of the notices included the date of the next council meeting.

Since there have been two separate public hearings on this issue, the council allowed residents to speak this evening during citizen comments, but decided to move public comments and voting to December 3.

Some residents said that although their speaking time was limited, they were not going to hold back.

As Featherline Road becomes more congested, residents are increasingly concerned about plans to build about 300 new homes along the street.

Killeen resident James Sills said he has seen many accidents on the road. So he gathered more than 530 signatures for a petition to stop the rezoning.

“What people want is to first have the infrastructure in place, then approve the zoning and build the houses. This is what we are fighting for,” he said.

Residents came ready to voice their concerns to the council.

However, they expressed frustration after being told they couldn’t speak during public comments, like Heather McNeely.

“And I changed my flight to get here at my own expense, at my own expense of $100. Do you know where I will be on December 3rd now? Where I was supposed to be today,” she said.

“It’s unfortunate. I just think they should allow citizens to speak at public hearings and just not vote. I don’t understand what problem this is going to cause,” Sills said.

Residents were allowed to speak during the citizen comments period, even though their time was limited, they still expressed their concerns clearly.

One resident shared a personal experience: “I could tell you about the time I twisted my ankle the one time I tried to walk along Featherline. It’s in a rut. There’s no sidewalk, no paved shoulder, nothing. And we have kids trying to go to school.

Sills emphasized the importance of research in promoting change in the community.

“There are currently 1,500 houses under construction in this area. But there will be more than 4,000 homes between Turbo Ranch and Thousand Oaks, which are less than a mile away. The rezoning is not consistent with the overall plan. It does not meet the requirements of a complete district. It doesn’t address mobility and connectivity with the city,” Sills said.

However, Mayor Debbie Nash-King maintains that Featherline Road is the city’s top priority and she is confident that experts have developed a workable plan.

“I have so much faith in the staff that they would not approve something that would harm the city and strain the resources we have. This is not an opinion, we have experts in this field,” Nash-King said.

Once again, public comments and discussions on the proposed rezoning of the area will take place at the next council meeting on December 3.

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