[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6614174,"mediaKeyId","2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365","parentId",2864594,"title","Victoria Council approves first reading of Unified Development Ordinance amendments addressing cluster homes, cottage lots and data centers","audioSeconds",381,"startMs",1426000,"endMs",1807000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365&start=1426&end=1807","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365/thumbnail_1426000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6614174/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Victoria-Council-approves-first-reading-of-Unified-Development-Ordinance-amendments-addressing-cluster-homes-cottage-lots-and-data-centers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614174-d28b8fd593cd61151bea74dfe8a42e21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188252&Signature=jaKday8VmkhjZQo0VMzcZwfg~6yED1XbzQpYjBSWlz7vP2pCZVHXVjHFPMsWiZfkOBHbxguqVq83a0kb3GIo6DHojcd~SyQlk6Mi07B324bzDIPcacb7xfvehsJiyiRqYGDUuFwbpulGAyxhXkcj9-c3xFZmpYBqRy1ehOuGdHC13I-0aifdzTD~VZoNXUkNigBVfIdhAilcL4pGGnERkb0WtUI-21O6gBMubnMDTHoAmvQjiInVQVsKH-OsO~73gg3mXqjvTZKeUdBDl4tjYfF61tJlTRyFKPr95inqvoi~LDM3-8BheIggkOm5qiewavvNM8VlE54r3GTmeIgXXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-03T18:24:33.657Z","article","Victoria City Council on first reading adopted amendments to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that change minimum lot-area rules for cluster-home developments, reintroduce cottage-lot standards within historic districts and add specific use standards for data centers and crypto-mining farms.

City planner Jennifer Fulbin told council the package is largely housekeeping with several substantive clarifications. “I promise you they’re pretty painless,” Fulbin said as she outlined the changes, which also address site-plan thresholds, notice distances for variances and several new definitions.

The amendments correct an error in the recently adopted UDO by changing the minimum lot-area requirement for cluster-home development from an inadvertently listed 4,000 square feet per lot to 12,000 square feet per development (the intent was 4,000 square feet per dwelling unit in a different section). The revision also restores a cottage-lot standard limited to historic districts: cottage lots would be allowed on lots of 4,000 square feet in historic districts provided the homes include an entry-level front porch covering at least half of the facade and meeting a minimum depth of 5 feet.

The package adds data centers and crypto-mining farms to the infrastructure use table and creates specific use standards. According to the amendment text Fulbin read, any data center or crypto-mining farm must not produce more than 55 decibels of noise at any time; crypto-mining farms must be set back at least 500 feet from any residential use. Fulbin said the 55-decibel threshold was chosen because peer-city complaints about such facilities typically relate to cooling and ventilation equipment producing noise above a city’s nuisance threshold.

The amendments also expand the original town-site historic district so it no longer stops at Water Street, realigning the district with the city’s historic platting and acknowledging the limited redevelopment potential in some floodplain lots. Other changes align site-plan and landscaping triggers (reducing conflicts where one rule applied without the other), clarify relief and notification procedures (notice distances will match any specific separation standard that applies), and add missing definitions including accessory use, cottage home, data center and crypto-mining farm.

Mayor Duane Crocker opened and closed the public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke. Councilwoman Scott moved to adopt the ordinance on first reading; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. City staff said the changes were intended to tidy drafting errors and add standards the city needs now that the UDO has been in effect for over a year.

If adopted on subsequent readings, the new standards would govern future development permits, site plans and use-variance notifications. City staff said cottage-lot rules would apply only within designated historic districts and that the 500-foot separation for crypto-mining farms was proposed because those operations, particularly in other communities, have been the source of residential nuisance complaints.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Victoria City Council Meeting - 4/1/25","oneSentenceSummary","Victoria City Council on first reading adopted amendments to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance to change minimum lot-area rules for cluster homes, restore a cottage-lot standard in historic districts and add use standards for data centers and crypto-mining farms.","taxTitle","Victoria City, Victoria County, Texas","taxId",9266,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6614159,"Votes at a glance: Victoria Council approves consent items, community-center budget amendment and other routine measures",662,1858000,2520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365&start=1858&end=2520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365/thumbnail_1858000.jpg","/articles/6614159/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Victoria-Council-approves-consent-items-community-center-budget-amendment-and-other-routine-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614159-b74c81b889aeb9c3a76ea8b44d5a3128/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188252&Signature=gJmfVNR-cKscuKBppbQFv-BJcnNHqDC1UidzkuEHErENXcVrHaEk2dJqtbwLEDPu5lYpoT4sekYaznJIJXhDbKxOcqNq-ofFKgIN2u4NypNlPuvNoID3~IzDgOoV0yMtwCcBaSHb0MNm7wlvhxKPvO3rZDg~CkHTu6iEEImkMbGBoXpYfEh5tR9ql-w4oCBQ8-XRzELSt~k84vvlKiUenuXiL5km88hpuK~usvKph-QsEMHw93xczowltViawWmiokFtmtydFD~TWFUP~nEkCMwaP~8CFKcpaLj1fLB3vOBcxowyFtH8HfXRvNHFeUWFR6uSg5y~~Zskb595Zlx57Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Victoria City Council approved a slate of routine and consent items and adopted a budget amendment to the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation to fund part of the city’s community-center and fairgrounds project.

Consent agenda: Council approved minutes from March meetings and a series of ordinances and resolutions on second and third readings, procurement and interlocal agreements. Items approved under the consent calendar included:

- D1: Adoption of minutes for the special meeting of 03/14/2025 and regular meeting of 03/18/2025.
- D2: Ordinance amending Chapter 24 (parks and recreation) and fees for the Fire and Police departments (second and third readings).
- D3: Ordinance designating a reinvestment zone for approximately 67.57 acres at Lone Tree Industrial Park, Part 2 (second and third readings).
- D4: Resolution approving a vendor agreement for the city fireworks with Adventure Fireworks in the amount of $75,348.
- D5: Resolution approving an interlocal agreement with Calhoun County for use of the City of Victoria public-safety radio system.
- D6: Resolution designating the city manager as authorized official to accept a governor’s Office award for the Operation Lone Star program (FY26) in the amount of $756,271.71.
- D7: Resolution authorizing the city manager to accept the FY26 Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant (MVCPA) and designate program and financial officers.
- D8: Resolution approving the annual purchase of uniforms for the Victoria Fire Department from For Gales, Inc., not to exceed $90,000.
- D9: Resolution approving purchase of Motorola APX Next radios for public-safety departments, not to exceed $431,286.50.

The consent agenda passed on a voice vote with no public comment.

Community-center budget amendment: Council also approved item E2, a budget amendment moving $3,000,000 in the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation FY24–25 budget for the community-center and fairgrounds project. City staff explained the $3 million is part of the targeted contributions from the Sales Tax Development Corporation toward a $35 million community-center project; staff said the amendment is inclusive of — not additive to — the project’s total budget and is intended so the city can proceed with an architect contract if the venue tax effort succeeds. The Sales Tax Development Corporation had approved the change at a recent meeting prior to the council action.

All items on the consent agenda and the E2 budget amendment passed by voice votes with no recorded opposition.","Council unanimously approved the consent agenda (minutes, fee changes, reinvestment-zone designation, fireworks procurement, public-safety radio interlocal, grant-authorizations, and purchasing) and voted to amend the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation budget to allocate $3,000,000 toward the community-center and fairgrounds project.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6614165,"Council authorizes $105,389 engineering agreement for Riverside Park boat-ramp and kayak takeout improvements",343,2547000,2890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365&start=2547&end=2890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365/thumbnail_2547000.jpg","/articles/6614165/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Council-authorizes-105389-engineering-agreement-for-Riverside-Park-boat-ramp-and-kayak-takeout-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614165-0a926f86fcb3515e663cbe9adcf6276b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188252&Signature=UYFSxC1bMz3W16CRBSKBOdAGrAVZw42dcLEKWmri3J0uF6p~zQoBdx8zM21JMboyQueUsJvwlS5fOezkT6fhqY2VnYewNnbWgOvYpjkY9LuVGv85hNsfdeD~GZWt57iapqvviOAsVbZWXF2Pu5XPBNrtAczu5H~p9iNZkWKvKA9qvjtL27nRgeCCJTWx2XFYitkWZn5ItsbWDO50JCJW2WpTmBlQ55E1z~uxA6d~WX4dbBeWOrZwuBX3l31iF--lVjmc8zEKCUObtzNdqBFs~ojVHUEcAAhh2ba7ZNkbpgLZAOcJlCFkvJyUBoOm2BUCS0VnZFl6kpRqFi4~9uk-0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Victoria City Council authorized the city manager to execute a professional-services agreement with Victoria Engineering Inc., doing business as Urban Engineering, for engineering and planning services for improvements to the Riverside Park boat ramp and kayak takeout point.

Parks project manager (presenter) Katie Connolly briefed council on the grant-funded two-phase project, which received a planning-phase award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (passed through Texas Parks & Wildlife Department). Connolly said the planning-phase award was $84,500 and TPWD covers 75 percent of that award; the city’s share of the planning phase is 25 percent. The engineering contract approved by council is for $105,389; Connolly noted the final contract sum could change if additional scope is required, and that construction funding will be pursued in a separate application after planning is complete.

Connolly described the planned changes: relocation of the kayak takeout to a less steep, cleared portion of riverbank (near the rose garden), a flood-resistant floating dock with ADA accommodations, parking and lighting improvements, and an upgraded concrete boat ramp and wooden dock. She said the existing takeout is steep, overgrown and presents safety issues. “It will be a huge improvement over the current site because the current site is pretty dangerous and steep,” Connolly said.

The planning contract term runs through June 30, 2027, to allow completion of the environmental assessment, permitting and design work before applying for construction funding. Connolly said the permit work will be substantial because the new takeout point is on previously undisturbed riverbank. Councilmembers asked whether the existing takeout would be removed; Connolly said deconstruction or removal was not included in the current budget and would be a parks department matter if needed.

Council approved the contract by voice vote following a motion and second. City staff said the overall project is grant-dependent and that the city has budgeted for the entire project in anticipation of future construction-phase funding.","The council approved a professional services agreement with Urban Engineering (Victoria Engineering Inc.) to design improvements at Riverside Park, including a new floating ADA dock, upgraded boat ramp and improved kayak takeout; the project is grant-funded with TPWD covering 75% of the planning-phase cost.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6614170,"Victoria Council backs county bid for countywide hotel-occupancy tax to fund airport improvements",390,2015000,2405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365&start=2015&end=2405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2864594-94a4c2bd83f6cd60d150d12a8b0fe365/thumbnail_2015000.jpg","/articles/6614170/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Victoria-Council-backs-county-bid-for-countywide-hotel-occupancy-tax-to-fund-airport-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614170-68a35a65695aa8a00af765542a7ddac0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188252&Signature=AbocyY4dh0ka65~FUfin3vHhMKIBYV3aIHV4AY1L~Ap-7TFkXiNAyNTTwIng2qodqRK~Y3NuOn-e0akOBcHBRyM~WomOjGGhKw1a0w4F7pVWmbaEm2pYuDkWvAz6IEcPM4zmZdIm2IUU6X~j-nm~L8Z~G6GVfFC5X3b6f~IEOONuRzara71Dn75yv8emnh6X7KNwQtX4GcHDL0JggioNFOv23xQ5ADGVuQt3iL4AsP2noAkia8nEN0cb4gbNx11gOrQMOGDBWXR-aqNCT5CIwhLy6hELP5H~AnnGLJ32CRv10d49F7fl0~I2wC9W6aRLbhdLKv0RnBZl43dah9Uqmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Victoria City Council voted to support Victoria County’s legislative effort to authorize a countywide hotel-occupancy tax and to permit county use of the revenue for airport repairs and improvements.

Victoria County Judge Tim Zeller (presenting) and county officials told council the county currently can levy a hotel-occupancy tax outside city limits but needs special enabling legislation to collect and apply a uniform tax inside city limits. Judge Zeller described House Bill 4222 as the enabling legislation the county seeks and said it would authorize a countywide hotel-occupancy tax of up to 2% and add airport repairs and improvements as an eligible use.

“Victoria County currently has the ability to implement this outside the city limits, but to do so within the city limits would require special enabling legislation,” Judge Zeller told council. He said the county’s intent is to use the new revenue primarily for capital projects at Victoria Regional Airport to support tourism and business travel and to help sustain the airport’s economic impact.

The county also offered a community pledge: if the legislation passes and the county implements the tax, the county plans to contribute $100,000 per year from the hotel-occupancy-tax revenue toward the city’s community-center expansion project. Judge Zeller and county staff noted letters or resolutions of support from the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Victoria Economic Development Corporation and the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association.

Councilman Warren moved adoption of the city resolution supporting HB 4222; the motion received a second and passed on a voice vote with no public opposition. Mayor Duane Crocker and councilmembers voiced general support during the discussion.

Judge Zeller cited a county study estimating roughly $40 million in economic activity generated by the airport and reported recent record enplanements in March. County and city officials said the measure is intended to bolster airport infrastructure and help regional economic development if the Legislature approves the enabling bill this session.

The resolution directs the city to express support for the Legislature’s passage of HB 4222 and encourages local representatives to advance the measure in the Texas House and Senate.","Victoria City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Victoria County's push for House Bill 4222 to allow a countywide hotel-occupancy tax of up to 2% and permit use for county airport improvements; the county pledged $100,000 annually of the revenue toward the city’s community center expansion if enacted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Victoria Council approves first reading of Unified Development Ordinance amendments addressing cluster homes, cottage lots and data centers

Votes at a glance: Victoria Council approves consent items, community-center budget amendment and other routine measures

Council authorizes $105,389 engineering agreement for Riverside Park boat-ramp and kayak takeout improvements

Victoria Council backs county bid for countywide hotel-occupancy tax to fund airport improvements