A Pasadena mechanic who has spent the past five years in a legal battle with the city is now taking his case all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.
ByA Pasadena mechanic who has spent the past five years in a legal battle with the city is now taking his case all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.
It's a story ABC13 has been on top of for years now, as a fight over parking requirements and permits has kept a local business owner from operating. Settlement allows Pasadena small business owner to open as he fights parking ordinanceAzael Sepulveda, or "Oz," as everyone calls him, bought a building in 2021, but he hasn't had any customers.
"It's kind of sad, in a way, that you have something that you've built and you really can't use," he said. Oz said he didn't realize the City of Pasadena had just passed a rule requiring him to have at least 28 parking spots, a calculation based on the size of the business. After filing multiple lawsuits, Oz and his attorney said they reached a settlement with the city, allowing him to operate by adding seven parking spots.
According to his attorney, however, city officials then refused to accept construction plans with those agreed-upon spots. After more hearings, court documents show city officials won an appeal by saying there hasn't been enough time to figure out a solution. Oz called the city's argument an excuse to tie up the case in bureaucracy. He's now working by appointment in Deer Park.
"This is my city. I love my city. Sometimes, I feel kind of you know, betrayed," Oz said.
"Like, why don't you want me here? I'm just trying to work on cars in this area.
"Small business owner challenging city of Pasadena's parking ordinance: 'This is my dream right here' After that appeal, Oz and his attorney have now asked the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on when municipalities like Pasadena can delay action in these types of cases. His lawsuit also demands that the City of Pasadena pay him for lost business. He said he's still paying a mortgage, along with other costs, like electricity and insurance.
It's a last-ditch effort in a legal fight Oz said he's not dropping, especially when he thinks of his father, who died soon after he bought the building.
"The last couple of weeks and months, he was here on his knees working on it," Oz said. "I would tell him, 'Dad, please get up. Right now, we cannot fight at the moment.
' But, the fight that my dad was giving, I feel like I have to do the same thing. " City officials said they cannot comment on ongoing court cases, but court documents show they have been asked to provide information to the Texas Supreme Court.
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