Along with several proclamations, Stephenville city council swore in newly elected city councilmembers and reviewed a variety of land use items.
Newly elected city councilmembers Nick Robinson and Mark McClinton elected in a special-called, unopposed election were sworn into office.
Other incumbent councilmembers along with newly elected councilmember Ricky Thurman were sworn into office at a special called city council meeting Tuesday, May 12 after canvassing the votes.
Council unanimously approved a rezone request for a piece of property location at 185 E. Park Street from retail-commercial (B-2) to integrated housing (R-2.5) to allow the construction of single-family residences.
The rezone was unanimously recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the April 15, and then forwarded to city council for action.
The request aligns with the Future Land Use designation of Complete Neighborhood according to Comprehensive Plan ‘Stephenville 2050,’ according to Development Director Steve Killen.
Both a six-inch and 16” water main as well as a sixinch sanitary sewer main are located on the property, he said.
No one spoke for or against the rezone application, and the rezone was approved.
Another rezone approval went through the same process for 195 E. Park Street and was unanimously approved. A maximum of six houses is planned for the land.
A rezoning request died on the floor after no action by council in regards to rezoning a parcel located at 610 Old Granbury Road.
The applicant, Venigno Mascorro, requested a rezone from Industrial to Integrated Housing.
The Planning and Zoning Commission convened April 15, and voted 3-4 to deny the rezoning request. Since a majority was not received to recommend denial, the item moved forward to city council without a recommendation.
Mascorro was seeking to build a single-family residence on the property, currently completely surrounded by industrial zoning.
Killen explained there was a six-inch water main located on Old Granbury Road, however, sewer is the vicinity, but private easements and a private lift station would likely be required to connect the property due to the location and topography.
A private septic system could also be an option, if approved through the city.
If the rezone was approved, it would align with the Future Land Use designation of Community Core according to the Comprehensive Plan ‘Stephenville 2050.’
During the public hearing, opposition was heard by a neighbor that owns property on three sides of the proposed rezoning.
Due to no motion being made, the rezoning was not approved. City council also approved a modification of the city’s Thoroughfare Plan in regards to the Harbin Road Extension.
At the April 15 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, by a vote of 4 to 3, the board recommended the city council reject the proposed modification of the Thoroughfare Plan. Three different developers spoke at the P&Z meeting in opposition and offered their own solutions.
During the meeting staff presented a proposed modification of the plan to better align the Harbin Road extension for future development of properties south and west of the current Harbin Road access point.
Currently, the plan has the Harbin Road extension crossing a major portion of water at Pittman Lake and a substantial portion of the flood plain.
“It can’t be built, it has to be moved,” City Manager Jason King said. He clarified that when the comp plan and everything was done, they had a line draw in the wrong spot. King clarified that there are waivers so staff can move it, but he wanted it to go through the appropriate channels since it was moving the whole thing.
The proposed move would place the extension project south of Pittman Lake.
“If we elect to revise our throughfare plan, it is not set in stone. The staff, at some point in the future, in conjunction with developers might be able to realign it to make it more compatible with future development in that area, and/or still comply and address the need to continue on in the west direction to the next properties which are going to develop when they can,” Councilmember Alan Nix asked city staff.
King clarified that at this time, this was the best solution, but as developers are spoken with and properties develop, it can be moved and still meet the goals the city needs for the throughfare.
During the public hearing, developer Malcolm Kanute of Keewaydin Homes spoke, stating he was neither for nor against approval. He just believed it was premature in light of the developments they have.
“We have already received preliminary plat approval for a 37-lot subdivision with first round of remarks from city engineering,” he said. “We are working on a significant number of potential uses for the remainder of the property,” he said. “I believe the plan does need to be amended, no question there, but I do have concerns that the amended plan put 100% of the right-of-way into the purchased property.”
Kanute asked the city to consider the year and a half they had been working on the project, and please consider possible ulterior placement.
A motion to deny the throughfare plan modification was made by Nick Robinson and died due to a lack of second.
Councilmember Gerald Cook made a motion to approve the ordinance to revise the throughfare plan and a second was made by Alan Nix. The motion passed with Councilmembers Maddie Smith and Robinson voting against. Robinson stated he would rather it go back to P&Z to workshop additional possible solutions.