A new multi-family development got a nod of approval with its zoning change at the Tuesday, Dec. 3 Stephenville City Council meeting.
Council considered a zoning change for a parcel of land located at 957 Frey. The zoning change approval made the land multifamily (R-3) zoning instead of single-family residential (R1).
Summer Moon Equity is looking to build a “townhome style, energy efficient housing” six-unit building, each unit having three bedrooms.
Development Director Steve Killen explained the new zoning would be an appropriate use for the new future land use 2050 plan for a complete neighborhood.
At the Nov. 19 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, the board unanimously recommended denying the zoning change.
Though no public comments at P&Z were received, Councilmember Gerald Cook stated that some of the concerns voiced by the P&Z board included parking on Frey Street.
City Manager Jason King said the city can enact further parking restrictions if needed.
“Are there adequate utilities provided there on Frey?” asked Councilmember Alan Nix.
Killen affirmed that there were and added there were no concerns brought up by emergency management.
The development director also provided a map of the area for council, which included R-3 zoning surrounding the development to the north, east and west, along with several tracts nearby that have been zoned R 2.5 (Integrated housing). However, R-1 is the most prevalent in the immediate area.
During the public hearing, Zach Maxwell who resides on Frey spoke against the zoning change because of the area already being very busy and concerns about the area becoming more and more filled with multi-family instead of single-family housing.
Lee Bristow, representing the project, assured councilmembers there would be adequate parking with a spot for each bedroom, along with two additional spots for guests parking to help minimize parking on Frey.
Bristow said they are local and have 60 years of being in Stephenville. He also reassured council that they do not build to sell and will retain management of the townhomes.
Currently, the property has a 100-year-old home that is being rented and three other dilapidated buildings. They are in the process of trying to move the 100-year-old home.
Bryan Durant also spoke in favor of the development and was extremely complimentary of Bristow and his family’s upkeep of rental properties as a previous tenant.
Ultimately, council approved the rezone and the project will move ahead.
Council also unanimously approved assigning industrial zoning to recently annexed property. The parcel was voluntarily annexed on Aug. 5 and applicant Earl Ingram represented South Texas Cement, LLC. requested the zoning classification as industrial.
During the Nov. 19 P&Z meeting the commission unanimously recommended council assign industrial zoning.
No one spoke during the council’s public hearing. With the assignment of the zoning, the ETJ will be extended and there will be a revision to the Stephenville 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Several new volunteers were interviewed at the council meeting and appointed to serve on boards and commissions including: Bryan Durant for Planning and Zoning, Michael Beach and Justin Skinner for Tourism and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board and Walter Latham for Board of Adjustments.
Council officially awards the bid for the Lillian 1.5 MG Ground Storage Tank project to DN Tanks at a cost of $3.1 million.
The council also approved financing for the project using debt service over five years in the amount of $658,863.71 with an interest rate of 4.911%. The first payment is due at signing and then annually for the next four years.
B&L Construction Company of Hico was also awarded a project to complete the second step after a sinkhole opened in the northern Rec Hall parking lot adjacent to Long Street after the collapse of a 21-inch clay sanitary sewer line in 2024. That line has been relocated and that step of the project was completed on Sept. 2, 2025.
The project awarded to B & L includes filling the failed pipe and sinkhole cavity with compressed low strength grout material, reconstructing the sewer manhole and installing about 80 feet of 15-inch sewer pipe. Though not budgeted due to it being an emergency situation, the project is costing $126,670 coming out of capital funds and reserves.
Then the rec hall parking lot paving can be completed.