[{"_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",6535513,"mediaKeyId","3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1","parentId",3395551,"title","New Rockwall mayor lays out agenda on density, roads and public safety; council names mayor pro tem and Emergency Services Corporation members","audioSeconds",1111,"startMs",669000,"endMs",1780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1&start=669&end=1780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1/thumbnail_669000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535513/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/New-Rockwall-mayor-lays-out-agenda-on-density-roads-and-public-safety-council-names-mayor-pro-tem-and-Emergency-Services-Corporation-members","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535513-8d282bb82862f243ecce1c6e0fe35857/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196623&Signature=Y~SoQQpu-CWp5k0AwY6xqWJw8q3qqU3nhGB8w13Q6FKNjnwC7Mj~u2JEmQcMpKFfcg9R0niCss9YNP6yXqg2gpvf47Rcm1iHhcRFlaPHy7QduwHcvdYHWSIjPxxz-2Lw6rCN97HnLSN4ZInFQw-0xnIJC3E~IE02GZEj7ansW5GbhhfUE99vJoIpJB1P~P067qj9BFmsseOVXFjPmaTwbNABaj56Dd4SrD8w-bGFgqQC0p~OfiLuM09q83wKCbdxUPGyVWttOMY55289I2BhgPY~IBz~uQucMjESVwp6NFythEH0p232zCAi9QVc7KPLKnatoyBR0FEaUTqkGP50Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","The newly sworn mayor at the Rockwall City Council meeting on May 19 told residents he will push to curb high-density development, accelerate road projects and move forward on a new Fire Station No. 1, and the council made two personnel appointments following executive session.

The mayor said he will seek changes to the city's comprehensive plan to \"promote family friendly neighborhoods, not developer friendly neighborhoods\" and asked staff to \"fast track\" comprehensive-plan amendments. He also said he had asked the city manager to provide a monthly briefing on all road projects and progress. On public safety, he said the council will ask staff to present a plan to buy land, design and evaluate budget options for a new Fire Station No. 1.

The statements followed an executive session. The council then moved in open session to appoint Mark Mueller as mayor pro tem and to appoint Council Member Dennis Lewis and Council Member Melba Louise Jeffress to the Emergency Services Corporation. The mayor made the motion to appoint Mueller and Dennis Lewis seconded; the motion passed unanimously. A separate motion to appoint Lewis and Jeffers to the Emergency Services Corporation also passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the mayor's stated priorities touch zoning, transportation and public-safety capital planning'areas that shape development, city budgets and resident services over multiple years.

Details of the agenda items and votes

Density and comprehensive-plan changes: The mayor said he will ask staff (including Ryan Miller, planning staff mentioned by the mayor) to prepare changes to the comprehensive plan and \"immediate measures\" to reduce what he described as developers' ability to \"manipulate our comp plan.\" He said protecting the city from additional apartment complexes will be a top priority.

Roads and project reporting: The mayor said developers have in some cases built only their portion of roads and the city neglected to finish the public portion. \"We have to bring a higher level of accountability,\" he said, and requested that the city manager begin giving the council a monthly update on all road projects.

Fire Station No. 1: The mayor said the existing station is not designed for full-time staffed operations and asked staff to present a plan to acquire land, design and evaluate funding for a new Station No. 1.

Economic development and park planning: The mayor said he will work with the Rockwall Development Corporation to protect and grow the city's taxable value and asked staff to begin planning the previously dedicated 50-acre park at Klutz Farm, saying the park had not been funded or amenitized by the developer.

Appointments and votes taken after executive session: After the executive session, the mayor moved to appoint Mark Mueller as mayor pro tem; Dennis Lewis seconded the motion. The council voted to approve the appointment unanimously. Later, by motion and second, the council appointed Council Member Dennis Lewis and Council Member Melba Louise Jeffress to the Emergency Services Corporation; that motion also passed unanimously.

What the city will do next: The mayor said residents will see proposed comprehensive-plan changes and other staff recommendations \"in the coming weeks.\" The city manager agreed to provide the monthly road-project reports requested by the mayor.

Who spoke (selected): The mayor (sworn in at this meeting), Mark Mueller (council member; appointed mayor pro tem), Dennis Lewis (council member), Melba Louise Jeffress (council member), Mary (city manager).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall - City Council - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The newly sworn mayor at the Rockwall City Council meeting on May 19 told residents he will push to curb high-density development, accelerate road projects and move forward on a new Fire Station No. 1, and the council made two personnel appointments following executive session.","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},6535503,"Council directs staff to draft school-hour parking restrictions on Kyle Drive after near-collision",270,4211000,4481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1&start=4211&end=4481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1/thumbnail_4211000.jpg","/articles/6535503/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Council-directs-staff-to-draft-school-hour-parking-restrictions-on-Kyle-Drive-after-near-collision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535503-aa9106364bb5a827493c60f27ea8bfe5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196623&Signature=dKxCKkoxOFIL-LtH5aopSGMYHLpwNb2-hmlMuMjte7AnViVTl7Uq-gd4fvUeuRUkCFKl5ZbosTePFB0bfHhpJpwwWpZRvL1McPxRL2pTW~h-K7nyPqqzZ7HiSndBEHrQr4r5Rt2CVMPf8NhxWtX8nqIJUZQxYZQ9Mn9dJpoGrMAVCUjIoN~Jf7CT53ovv4mom0QfB4LEFmRMF0Njr6qddiupp9cM7nBSNqfZF5Jo~QiQA4ZL96Hj-yLwnMjQdDLTi2fhFl3WNyv37wmDuFJTcNAlzWp1eigEEqirZFUm8p3NmjCdtO6VNfmd3ZJfAIYlbUFrlRfStSRdQ-6S~nyrJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rockwall City Council members directed staff on May 19 to draft an ordinance to restrict or manage parking on Kyle Drive during Rockwall High School hours after council member Anna Campbell and school staff described hazardous conditions.

Campbell said parked cars along Kyle Drive, the street between Rockwall High School and adjacent apartments, frequently reduce the roadway to a single lane during school hours and block bus and emergency access. Assistant principal Dustin Gunner told the council a May 12 collision sent a student and a parent to the hospital; both were reported to be OK. Gunner said buses use Kyle Drive multiple times a day, not just at the start and end of school, because students are transported to other programs during the day.

Council members discussed hours, enforcement and the need to accommodate apartment residents and after-hours events. Campbell asked that the restriction cover school days and suggested a window of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to cover arrivals, dismissals and midday bus activity; city staff suggested an ordinance could use peak windows (for example, 7:30'9:30 a.m. and 2:30'4:30 p.m.) but the council gave direction for a school-day restriction running roughly 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. City staff said initial implementation would emphasize education and warnings and that citations would be a later enforcement step.

Why it matters: the proposed restriction aims to improve emergency-vehicle access and reduce the risk of collisions at a location the school and police described as having poor sight lines and recurring parked-car congestion during school periods.

Next steps: city staff will draft an ordinance reflecting the council's direction and place it on a future agenda for formal adoption. The city manager and Rockwall High School staff indicated they would work on implementation and education before citations or towing would be used.

Speakers quoted or summarized: Council Member Anna Campbell (sponsor), Dustin Gunner (assistant principal, Rockwall High School), Mary (city manager), and police/fire representatives who discussed enforcement procedures.","Councilmember Anna Campbell requested action to restrict parking on Kyle Drive during school hours citing blocked lanes, obstructed bus and emergency access and a May 12 collision that sent a student and parent to the hospital. The council directed staff to prepare an ordinance limiting parking during school hours.",{"_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},6535507,"Rockwall council approves several zoning and development requests, denies an infill request; consent changes parking rules at harbor",1845,1891000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1&start=1891&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395551-6639f3386f6f385c48ef2cf97d07eef1/thumbnail_1891000.jpg","/articles/6535507/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-council-approves-several-zoning-and-development-requests-denies-an-infill-request-consent-changes-parking-rules-at-harbor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535507-9fbe1f6f6866b32d49e44cd504d50480/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196623&Signature=SFmaJrAA4Aj22P6PIbXiAAZdnqFQjK7LDWFaJ3aTQ1YWMHL8I1yfOW00-Z1KDH6lB~puuQmJma5pF8Rm7DUn6Tum1aMPEW7Lty1oYm81k~PE7OYgvI638~rSOaOGTLoPo7ImyYq3ery1CE003MV7TUUAYGdcK8c-2WLOvc1EfVouRbqPd0jMFH-bDo~5bt1qarO2miTLhozAO2jgPCvihwOm8KT-ZFqTjDDMwiJYy6dzBExr~moVCwFcneN-LRQNcLKjLVXUPvZLDpYeh3wECiZ9DZ4pxLZ3wePxaQDrhTuVv~fBo2GNxmyY6hX2ICpx7wH1wESDpuPTSBZLMF4wow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockwall City Council on May 19 approved a series of zoning and land-use items, including a special-use permit for an East Ridge Church of Christ expansion, multiple rezonings and an SUP for an oversized accessory structure. The council denied a residential infill request and, on the consent agenda, adopted an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of oversized vehicles in harbor public lots.

The council voted unanimously to approve Z2025-017, a specific-use permit to allow an expansion of the East Ridge Church of Christ campus that would add an approximately 31,500-square-foot detached classroom and office building and increase parking by 100 spaces. Planning staff said the request was consistent with the comprehensive plan and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4-0.

Other zoning votes included:

- Z2025-018: Rezoning a 2.581-acre tract from Agricultural to Single Family-1 to allow future subdivision into 1-acre lots; approved unanimously.

- Z2025-020: SUP to allow an accessory structure larger and taller than by-right limits on a 1.06-acre lot (owner proposes a 6,55 [sic] square-foot accessory building); approved unanimously.

- Z2025-021: Rezoning a 1.65-acre parcel from Agricultural to Commercial to enable a retail store with gasoline sales; approved unanimously. The applicant said the intended site plan provided for two access points to ease circulation and the city is conducting a signal warrant study for the nearby John King/Airport Road intersection.

- Z2025-022: A request for a SUP to permit residential infill on a 0.19-acre lot in the High Ridge subdivision was denied by council (vote to deny passed unanimously). The council noted the applicant had previously failed to appear at a hearing and reaffirmed expectations that applicants attend public hearings.

- Z2025-012: A separate SUP for residential infill on a 0.17-acre lot (Lot 3, Gammes Addition) was approved 4-3. The meeting record shows the motion passed with four yes votes and three no votes; the mayor and Council Members Melba Louise Jeffress and Richard Henson voted no.

Consent agenda and plats: The council adopted an ordinance amending the municipal code to prohibit overnight parking of oversized vehicles in public parking lots at the harbor. A final plat for the Peachtree neighborhood (P2025-014) was pulled from consent for discussion and then approved 5-4, with two members recorded as voting in the negative (Mayor McCollum and Melba Jeffers were recorded as the two who voted no in the meeting minutes).

Why it matters: zoning and SUP decisions determine allowed land uses, shape neighborhood character and influence traffic and public-services needs. Several of the approvals involve future site plans that will be reviewed for buffers and access.

Details and applicant comments

East Ridge Church expansion (Z2025-017): Planning staff described the subject property as a 15.159-acre tract in the FM 549 overlay with an existing roughly 52,582-square-foot sanctuary. The proposed detached addition would provide about 26,500 square feet of classrooms and 5,000 square feet of office space, and add about 100 parking spaces. Applicant James Jackson said the project is \"mostly a youth building\" that the congregation has postponed for about 20 years.

Commercial rezoning for retail with gasoline sales (Z2025-021): The applicant's representative said the plan provides two access points to the site to aid circulation; an architect for the applicant said they do not intend to include truck fueling and that a car wash is part of the program. City staff said the signal warrant study for the John King/Airport Road intersection is in progress and noted coordination is needed because the signal would have to be timed with a nearby railroad crossing.

Denial and applicant attendance: Council discussed a prior denial earlier in the year for a similar infill request when the applicant did not appear. The council voted to deny Z2025-022 and instructed planning staff to make clear the expectation that applicants appear at hearings.

Votes at a glance (selected items):

- Z2025-017 (SUP, East Ridge Church expansion): approved unanimously.
- Z2025-018 (rezoning to SF-1): approved unanimously.
- Z2025-020 (SUP accessory structure exceeding size/height): approved unanimously.
- Z2025-021 (rezoning to Commercial for retail with gasoline sales): approved unanimously.
- Z2025-022 (SUP residential infill, High Ridge): denied unanimously.
- Z2025-012 (SUP residential infill, Gammes Addition): approved 4-3 (mayor, Melba Louise Jeffress and Richard Henson voted no).
- Consent harbor parking ordinance (overnight parking prohibited for oversized vehicles): approved unanimously.
- P2025-014 (Peachtree final plat): approved 5-4 (two recorded no votes).

What happens next: Approved rezonings and SUPs will proceed to site-plan and permitting review; conditions and required buffers will be enforced at that stage. The commercial rezoning includes a recommended condition to amend the future land-use map to commercial retail for the parcel.

Speakers quoted or summarized: Planning staff Ryan (presenter), applicants James Jackson and Joseph Bickham (applicant/architect representatives), residents Bill Ricker and others, and council members who moved/seconded and voted on each item.

Records: The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for most items by 4-0 votes at its May 13 meeting prior to council action.","The council approved multiple zoning requests and specific-use permits on May 19, including a church expansion, rezoning requests, and a commercial rezoning for a retail site with gasoline sales. The council denied a residential infill SUP and approved a consent ordinance prohibiting overnight oversized-vehicle parking at the harbor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Rockwall mayor lays out agenda on density, roads and public safety; council names mayor pro tem and Emergency Services Corporation members

Council directs staff to draft school-hour parking restrictions on Kyle Drive after near-collision

Rockwall council approves several zoning and development requests, denies an infill request; consent changes parking rules at harbor