[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6568667,"mediaKeyId","3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266","parentId",3193984,"title","Votes at a glance: Rockwall council approves zoning, tree-mitigation settlement, parking rule and other items","audioSeconds",1325,"startMs",5649000,"endMs",4324000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266&start=5649&end=4324","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266/thumbnail_5649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568667/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Rockwall-council-approves-zoning-tree-mitigation-settlement-parking-rule-and-other-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568667-88e43a8f903a2efb15f841f2c04928c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183129&Signature=k1wfLkMBnLv0GJqDYZT8fHrOoxi2SiN0bclPM22NYJUkJ7-y0vhAbmThHDqJv7C8B5s2JBWF1gX3jFH1ceCQKv1nWZ9oLzNfFIeNgQBir7gItkp7Tjq-9tNQ7OeUI2IgcbHctiP5oUzaEvdWd4I0sIjsSp4hwMgwfYo9-MjEBQyEz7uaFo802pqrXvnFixAHbS2au8krGP5qjmWp-nEwjnknBySuuIAA2vcnCh-4lx55jSu9DSnpuKuAadtfRV0BXACbxdrAwkvQDhRZJu-iELGWUMP3fSg9mvVzJpatdYoCVgn5iBRtlMcdOPKefQu9-i-kMuKOmv0Qh5P1Q4K6qQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","Rockwall City Council on May 5 voted on a package of land‑use and administrative items, approving a mix of specific-use permits, a planned-development plan, an alternative tree-mitigation settlement and changes to harbor parking rules. Key votes are summarized below.

Specific items and outcomes

- Z2025‑012 (Specific‑use permit for residential infill) — 614 East Boydston Avenue: Council approved the SUP for residential infill to allow construction of a single‑family home on a 0.17‑acre parcel identified as Lot 3, Block A, Gomez Addition. The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval 4–1. At council the ordinance passed 5 in favor, 2 opposed. The applicant (represented in council by Susan Gomez) said the parcel had been replatted and that the project conforms to the South Side Residential Neighborhood overlay; neighbors raised design and scale concerns and asked the city to consider a future code review of the overlay.

- Z2025‑011 (PD development plan for seven townhomes) — Harbor Hills: Council approved a development plan for seven townhomes on a 0.871‑acre parcel within Plan Development District 32. The second reading was placed on the action agenda because the vote was not unanimous; the ordinance passed 4 in favor, 3 against.

- MIS2025‑008 (Alternative tree‑mitigation settlement) — Southside Hills (PD‑99): Council approved an alternative tree mitigation settlement for the 264.51‑acre Southside Hills development, which will contain 384 lots and approximately 52.9 acres of open space. Staff reported the development would remove roughly 17,552.7 caliper inches of protected trees; after a 20% preservation credit and the planned landscape plan, the remaining mitigation obligation was about 6,574.16 caliper inches. The mitigation fee option alone would have totaled $280,843. The developer proposed additional public park enhancements — widening a hike‑and‑bike trail from 6 to 8 feet, a lake overlook and a rock‑skipping feature — with an estimated additional cost of $750,000; combined with required PD improvements the park expenditure would total approximately $1,250,000, an amount staff said exceeds the mitigation obligation by about $92,584. Planning & Zoning recommended approval 5–0; council approved the settlement unanimously.

- Overnight parking in harbor public lots (municipal code amendment): Council amended city code to prohibit overnight parking of oversized vehicles in Harbor public parking lots; the ordinance included a penalty fine not to exceed $200 per offense and passed unanimously.

Other procedural items

- Consent agenda: Council approved consent agenda items 1–7 on a single vote.

- Councilmember absence: Council granted Councilmember Anna Campbell an approved absence for upcoming meetings; the motion passed with six in favor and one abstention (Campbell).

Why it matters: The votes affect downtown housing supply and design, neighborhood character in the South Side overlay, and park amenities tied to a large new subdivision. The tree‑mitigation agreement uses in‑kind park improvements to satisfy a remaining mitigation obligation; staff and the developer said the park enhancements exceed the tree mitigation obligation in dollar value and that the developer will provide receipts documenting expenditures.

Sources and notable details: Planning staff (Ryan Miller) presented the zoning and tree‑mitigation reports. The applicant for the Boydston SUP noted that earlier replatting and a floodplain survey delayed the process. Opponents across the street asked council to consider a city‑initiated review of the South Side Residential Overlay District to evaluate whether current standards reflect the recent pattern of larger infill homes; staff noted the city must follow state law regarding certain building‑material restrictions.

This roundup lists final council outcomes; for each ordinance the council record includes the staff report, Planning & Zoning recommendation, motions, and recorded votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall - City Council - May 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Rockwall City Council on May 5 approved several land‑use and administrative items, including a residential infill specific‑use permit, a planned‑development plan for townhomes, and a tree‑mitigation settlement for the large Southside Hills subdivision.","taxTitle","Rockwall City, Rockwall County, Texas","taxId",54915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568672,"Rockwall council authorizes purchase of historic downtown church using hotel-occupancy-tax funds",89,2928000,3017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266&start=2928&end=3017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266/thumbnail_2928000.jpg","/articles/6568672/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-council-authorizes-purchase-of-historic-downtown-church-using-hotel-occupancy-tax-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568672-1a1109ea8bdb21d60f47528d6c5dd98e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183129&Signature=nZHpX98a8iQ0sDVpfreAHuLHLgULMax2usRCJmpwahQuyCegPqrrqjLaHUC~Gv~lqwCJsTEBoovtaOUwRV2F3Vi0pveRu6GtpdI2z06neBYvp5s8ZE6PKfRTODciUJ128mE55Ycb8-Zegfw6O7zfHgpicfJxGk2J8bN9zprXIi4h9Xkxp9w3ymKV3CRx-e2fG3rQZ3~HaOeKuvdcudpIBxaz4cdeBku7803aKMoylxXYnJatfjzGuR8pjH9ASCGTZ~BkyzltidhOzHcclifgaWbDTnH0weo62PrIhF0bhHEEbR7--KCvbSbe1R~9kKr0Jaeiwrqy2KbWVPNQtfVGvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rockwall City Council on May 5 authorized the city manager to finalize negotiations and execute all documents to purchase a historic church in downtown Rockwall, using primarily hotel-occupancy-tax funds.

The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Clarence L. Joriff and seconded by Councilmember Anna Campbell; the motion passed unanimously. Joriff described the property as an “historic church right here at the corner” and said the city negotiated a purchase using hotel-occupancy-tax funds, not sales tax revenue. He said the building “potentially [could be] to be used as a fine arts center” and added that acquiring the site would “also free up that parking” downtown.

City staff indicated the purchase agreement was negotiated following items discussed in executive session. Council did not disclose additional purchase terms at the public meeting; the motion authorized the city manager to finalize negotiations and sign documents. Staff and council said the funding source would be hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds rather than general sales tax receipts or the city’s general fund.

Why it matters: Downtown property acquisitions funded with HOT receipts typically must meet state and local rules governing tourism or events spending; council members framed the purchase as an enhancement to downtown amenities and parking rather than a general capital purchase. Council emphasized the transaction uses HOT funds and highlighted potential reuse as an arts venue and added parking capacity.

Council members did not read a purchase price into the public record during the vote and did not identify an immediate timetable for any adaptive reuse, public access or formal programing. City staff said they would finalize documents under the motion and return any necessary implementation details to council as required by city procedures.

Actions taken: The council made a formal, recorded motion to authorize the city manager to finalize negotiations and execute documents for the downtown property purchase; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

The council did not take additional, specific implementation votes at the meeting (for example, to approve a redevelopment program, rental policy, or a budget amendment tied to the purchase).","Rockwall City Council unanimously authorized the city manager to finalize and execute documents to buy a historic downtown church using primarily hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds; council members said the property could become a fine-arts venue and free downtown parking.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568662,"Resident says new trash contract blindsided neighbors; council, staff point to posting and approval process",161,2394000,2555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266&start=2394&end=2555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193984-efaeee4b6a94863a5eee1a4b4115c266/thumbnail_2394000.jpg","/articles/6568662/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Resident-says-new-trash-contract-blindsided-neighbors-council-staff-point-to-posting-and-approval-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568662-7c3b996e0ef481ade7d6933a6e24d704/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183129&Signature=oIhvv2zg~Zp0DNdPFBKPlICDHpPxiTbFViz5S0JQJjpOZkNUQCksyDWlMRsDAa43eX1TrmjENoPwNILmPcrthhcarJ6-o8rpS8RuML1AJY~FezAvBEqWcn85qd29EeAswLc4f6Ri8LbIH47fF8BCw44eTm55783M9h5k19itWcs-K2vDkPDB0KJwZuHuE2BubLXCVXIiv5ypLzos1vnYZA1oksSzVnR3RYXwGM-a-v41IAxqo9UxBK89BaEt8Pzv58jnh7qB4YulFiUybkbWSXKZ2trRLp0KLsw4pHDmSZ3CJuZfHFu8mix2pIZPl1l4EFjh3KmEsAVge1zd9FTkww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 5 open forum, resident Jeffrey Baron of 2324 Saddle Brook Lane told the council he and his neighbors feel they were blindsided by a new trash contract the city approved earlier this year.

Baron said he had expected more time for public awareness and that several changes — a 17% rate increase, reduced bulk pickup, and a new sticker system for additional trash — were announced without clear outreach. “I think if you were to negotiate a car, you wouldn't do that,” Baron said, describing the sequence of events and his inability to find vote records while researching how the decision occurred.

Council and staff responded that meeting minutes are not posted until formally approved by the council and that video of the meetings is posted and available. Staff noted the contract’s effective date was planned for January, giving the city and residents time to prepare. Council members said staff would ensure adequate public outreach ahead of the contract’s start.

Why it matters: Changes to municipal solid‑waste contracts affect household budgets and curbside services. Residents asked for clearer, proactive communication about service changes and the timetable for implementation.

No formal council action was taken in response to the comment beyond staff assurances to publicize the forthcoming service changes and to post required documents on the city’s public portal.
","A Rockwall resident told council the city's new trash contract reduces service and raises rates by about 17% and said citizens were not properly notified; city staff and council members responded that minutes and video are posted per procedure and the contract's start date is January.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Rockwall council approves zoning, tree-mitigation settlement, parking rule and other items

Rockwall council authorizes purchase of historic downtown church using hotel-occupancy-tax funds

Resident says new trash contract blindsided neighbors; council, staff point to posting and approval process