[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6099561,"mediaKeyId","2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e","parentId",2817377,"title","Rowlett council approves consent agenda; skips two tree items for re-notice","audioSeconds",198,"startMs",1191000,"endMs",1389000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e&start=1191&end=1389","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e/thumbnail_1191000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6099561/Texas/Rowlett-council-approves-consent-agenda-skips-two-tree-items-for-re-notice","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099561-7d59b8cb5aae25d11750f0c82ecd99b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063260&Signature=KBZHUfJAF1BMV01-R6F-Gxwj0SLiQzeWSgcbMZCq4MA6mtV6gcycIV8RDeh-Mc5wClgddxhdd4ClsJumGWaldJt4uQqNWoRaEVAnK0UrLJLblfJVRqPb0WZlFhcgYCw8OgrnPPmE-5DFxuumburVPeON3irBO6MFGIcvkvdyL6pw~1GXXdEHqIElZk7a9W4escjJ6yJOU3gzQuOPS3uRB6Dg78klZUgUENuC8v-bnkn~YPDHo1PHKvtfcfrjcgko6Fk~4YdKz7Nw8H8dSewjp-yXyIVX6WwkLHIxRbBn9QrrOCe7QIkJkix-87Kw1nyAjJH1tx6otx-m8ESsjavsJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rowlett City","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Rowlett City Council on Feb. 4, 2025 approved its consent agenda by a vote of 5–1 and later skipped two agenda items (7a and 7b) related to a different tree removal permit because the legal notice published the wrong location.

City Secretary read the consent items into the record; the list included approval of minutes, board and commission appointments, removal of an alternate commissioner, a contract for mowing services, and multiple equipment and vehicle purchases (purchase of four vehicles; purchase of an excavator; purchase of roller equipment; purchase of two motor graders; purchase of three track loaders; purchase of one loader). Councilmember Britton moved to approve the consent agenda and Councilmember Reeves seconded. The consent agenda passed 5–1.

Earlier in the meeting, the council paused items 7a and 7b (a public hearing and an action item) after staff and the city attorney confirmed the published notice contained an incorrect legal description (the property’s east/west location relative to President George Bush Turnpike was misstated). The city attorney said the items must be re-noticed with the correct legal description before action can be taken. The council therefore skipped items 7a and 7b and moved on to other business.

The consent vote and the skipped hearings were recorded in the official meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rowlett City Council Meetings\tFeb 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Rowlett City Council approved its consent agenda 5–1 on Feb. 4, 2025, covering minutes, board appointments, and multiple equipment purchases. The council also skipped two public-hearing items (7a and 7b) because of a notice error and will re-notice them.","taxTitle","Rowlett City, Texas","taxId",4116,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6099566,"Rowlett secures shared parking agreement with DART to add more than 750 downtown spaces",77,3584000,3661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e&start=3584&end=3661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e/thumbnail_3584000.jpg","/articles/6099566/Texas/Rowlett-secures-shared-parking-agreement-with-DART-to-add-more-than-750-downtown-spaces","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099566-da98244f094b282fbeeef383c5b4f8ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063260&Signature=CgWuDJ1Xc8oXV0j9CukW0vmKrf0td39TXjyHipgAnGCK2CGwGR5GryDXZCr5ah30XTL7E7WCzeyDFvr3JnwHzT5pW6vd7dUrYtAdvbqjt~ucSz3zZQ7z9Lq67dvoKPVVcrWhqCdWvceOdWcK-vE398lz4wkFarSj18r9kWTnZSonYJAhYk0-7dpSiNyKNTbusFsYe4n73pkAtMGDtUu-fn-wM8iHIwI~Aumz1QyOmffmsVJ6AMTU6jm2LemUJuMt6GIbmrEHPRGNt1R~gCH7LaHszi3FzvKL4yGs8G5bl4WIjvxCP9Qk~hin8Je840PtFWuwaqXVTM-ljWdJbLOolQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Feb. 4, 2025, the Rowlett City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a shared parking agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to allow public access to roughly 750 parking spaces at the Rowlett DART Light Rail Station.

Charles Mazerakis, assistant director of economic development, said staff pursued the agreement to address perceived parking shortages in downtown Rowlett and to support new downtown development and events. Mazerakis told council the shared agreement grants access to more than 750 spaces, including 17 ADA spaces, that are roughly 715 feet from the downtown core. Staff said there is no additional cost to the city under the current agreement and that the spaces may be marketed as public parking for downtown patrons.

Council members praised staff and DART leadership for negotiating the arrangement. Councilmember Reeves and others publicly thanked DART and the city manager’s office for facilitating the agreement; council also noted Mark Enoch’s role as the city’s DART board representative. The agreement provides 24-hour access to the spaces, though staff noted a separate city ordinance (Section 66.105) currently restricts parking in some city-owned dark lots and that the ordinance would need amendment to avoid conflicts.

The council approved the resolution 6–0. Staff said the shared parking should ease access to downtown businesses and support planned downtown events and developments without an immediate cost to the city.","The Rowlett City Council unanimously approved a shared-parking agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) that gives the city access to roughly 750 parking spaces at the downtown Rowlett DART Light Rail Station at no additional cost, intended to ease downtown parking constraints.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6099571,"Rowlett updates economic incentive policy to streamline abatements, adds grease-trap and façade grants",517,3043000,3560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e&start=3043&end=3560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e/thumbnail_3043000.jpg","/articles/6099571/Texas/Rowlett-updates-economic-incentive-policy-to-streamline-abatements-adds-grease-trap-and-façade-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099571-a9a918258ccca4be77ad634418b2d44b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063260&Signature=D2xPg-K93SncRR8LN3bjjJ2bzYxBDpLkNJ8ktGQKB0oFpb0PVFpyHXX8NGVWpuIxJz8PYd-IuJLNddkLbyiaxp3rsoPwqFn1NxdgUOkgnZoVjdI9Z3O-sgjRXp8Jh4MluVCOtlbw5KG~O7iYVLUWCkwd2YOeOdxG6ndct4atF79AXLmLVhfcTwUY8sFqdCx-vE4vPiWiOLkKfBbyZWvW99HSrbGvMSyHVOZov5T9ASwTXYdYZoyIrPA6CULqiAcE4YI8UDXj3LeiEx~rLvPuejMMiCq2c43DsI-CaxpWWUHjXKxZctNa3tzcCfPrKJHw2uTVf0qE1yhlFLJFYRhGHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Feb. 4, 2025, the Rowlett City Council approved revisions to the City of Rowlett Economic Development Incentive Policy that remove a prescriptive tax-abatement schedule, set a minimum capital investment threshold for abatements, add a grease-trap rebate, and create a downtown core façade grant.

Brittany Farr, director of economic and community engagement, told the council the policy had last been revised in November 2015 and that staff compared Rowlett’s policy with peer cities to propose updates. Major changes include replacing a detailed, dollar-based abatement schedule with a more flexible approach that requires a minimum capital investment of $1,000,000 and allows abatements not to exceed 10 years at City Council discretion. Farr said applicants must submit abatement or fee-waiver requests before construction begins and that recapture provisions would apply case by case.

The revisions also separate the grease-trap rebate from the destination retail/restaurant criteria and make it an independent, matching rebate of up to $7,500 per project with a 50% match, to encourage businesses to replace or install grease traps (including moving them outside a building footprint when required). The new Downtown Core Façade Grant is a matching grant of up to $5,000 (50% match) for businesses in the downtown core as defined by the city’s downtown strategic plan.

Councilmembers asked about maximum incentive amounts, recapture provisions, and the rationale for leaving percentage and term decisions to council discretion. Farr responded that the change aligns Rowlett with Texas Comptroller guidelines and peer-city practice; she said the packet contains both the 2015 version and the proposed draft for reference.

Councilmember Reeves and others praised the clarifications and the upfront approach to negotiating incentives before construction. The motion to approve the revisions carried 6–0.

The adopted policy now gives the council more discretion on abatement percentages and term lengths while adding targeted, smaller-scale grants intended to spur downtown redevelopment and environmental compliance from food-service businesses.","The Rowlett City Council on Feb. 4, 2025 approved revisions to the city's Economic Development Incentive Policy, removing a prescriptive tax-abatement schedule, adding a grease-trap rebate and a downtown façade grant, and clarifying application timing and recapture provisions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6099575,"Rowlett council waives mitigation fee, replacement-tree requirement for Cornerstone Church after construction damage",1603,1422000,3025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e&start=1422&end=3025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2817377-106bc82d6b5f73355dfcad2dfc19031e/thumbnail_1422000.jpg","/articles/6099575/Texas/Rowlett-council-waives-mitigation-fee-replacement-tree-requirement-for-Cornerstone-Church-after-construction-damage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099575-ccf4f4791c105c80d07d18f6b8c47499/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063260&Signature=oZDrOc9XDAmtfU1fZGxrDYmX9k~5KawKVy5uqcE7prdBQ7ufq9YO3UdEk8yWgVBqy-p7HpsAY0BuxPVun7EsAvSrENvOpWd1cRK14nO1cNsPcURM66X7OQ0d7Zscz60jLrTZqVcznAYNFGUtSQkwFSCqudfNb4Ffu~oBf5jSm9pzyB8eZo1T6ZieBVCpfgCPnmNolNCEayWyswa1ditfauPYYCGH4E79oMMdPlb8go7bB4cDpYqB30nx9E54Tg8IB6pRBR3RHBk4kI3XVZVxaL50Lt3wMdd3zUC2sz1isCa9jGr~G3h-kN-5Ga5XWXNyQ~xCUvZO-Q8Rcswu1ffYRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Feb. 4, 2025, the Rowlett City Council approved a tree removal permit for Cornerstone Assembly of God and waived the mitigation fee and required replacement trees after construction activity damaged three trees that had previously been designated for preservation.

City staff told the council the request concerned three preserved trees that were damaged during grading and later removed; the three trees totaled 63 caliper inches. Staff said the code allows mitigation when construction causes damage and gives the council authority to waive mitigation fees; the applicant asked the council to waive both the fee and the replacement requirement.

Cory Rumi, director of community development, told council that the site previously received development approvals and a 2022 tree removal permit, and that some trees designated for preservation were damaged during construction. Rumi said the planning commission had voted 7–0 to approve the removal permit but had expressly opposed waiving either the planting requirement or the fee in lieu of planting. Rumi also said the code requires replacement at a 1-to-1 caliper-inch ratio, with a 4-inch minimum for replacement trees, and that council can waive mitigation fees though the code contains no clear delegation to waive planting itself.

Applicant Brian Hyatt, pastor and registered agent for Cornerstone Church, said the trees were exposed and damaged during grading, that consultants concluded the trees could not be saved, and that replanting the equivalent caliper inches would cost more than the mitigation fee. Hyatt said his group previously preserved roughly 130 trees on site and that the project still retained “over 1,200 caliper inches” credited as saved trees under the prior plan.

Council members discussed alternatives and the project's history. Councilmember Schoop said the damage appeared clear and described the situation as a “common-sense” case; Britton moved to adopt the resolution as presented, and the motion was seconded. The motion approved the tree removal permit and waived the mitigation fee and replacement-tree requirement. The motion carried by a vote of 5–1.

City staff and the applicant both noted the permit area also will be required to meet separate parking-lot island planting requirements under code; the applicant said they plan to bring the planter island up to code. Rumi said there had been discussion earlier in the project's approvals about alternative landscape plans and a Board of Adjustment variance that was denied.

The council's action resolved the immediate permit and fee question but does not change how prior credits for “saved” trees were calculated; staff explained there is some difference in interpretation about what constituted a saved tree when the original plan was reviewed. The council did not adopt any additional conditions beyond the resolution language.

The council's resolution and the underlying staff report record the 63 caliper inches involved and list the mitigation-fee amount that the applicant appealed.","On Feb. 4, 2025, the Rowlett City Council approved a tree removal permit and waived both the mitigation fee and the required replacement trees for Cornerstone Assembly of God after construction activity damaged three preserved trees on the church site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rowlett council approves consent agenda; skips two tree items for re-notice

Rowlett secures shared parking agreement with DART to add more than 750 downtown spaces

Rowlett updates economic incentive policy to streamline abatements, adds grease-trap and façade grants

Rowlett council waives mitigation fee, replacement-tree requirement for Cornerstone Church after construction damage