[{"_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",6534645,"mediaKeyId","3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace","parentId",3533884,"title","Midlothian council approves zoning change, engineering contract, water-deal amendment, public-safety purchases and land buys","audioSeconds",79,"startMs",4912000,"endMs",4991000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace&start=4912&end=4991","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace/thumbnail_4912000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534645/Midlothian/Ellis-County/Texas/Midlothian-council-approves-zoning-change-engineering-contract-water-deal-amendment-public-safety-purchases-and-land-buys","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534645-0495ebc33c5fe770075927cbc45f933e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920149&Signature=ZGAl2vfqs9YaGzkbGR~IzcoXrXyg7zgCKKFFRvX2zD1rHYEjeEI-IPgM1ZwRpknrK0E8r6hHLoPXu3eKRylwjbEvGbNlgIFYQbMYCya2sXgiZZaGQbkUSi3quhC-b2cx--cn5QGkxzUTU9mjeFMrX043WqD~ANXK-XpmYIRkpaeLty0OZEstSFOQRgoj2CtrjhHoKIgqHo~VHEsNppYNRHmQSvHx9V255ZGqnylHlOgPWpsCBJweiFrUJVkir-9euIFuuqCYL6xuFH-234Kl-V~37PaY4g0zDOrkK625zSb2AGxZRWvJ04hS8WGuCNwO~ImZJhqglFk9bU3iPmmSTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Midlothian","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Midlothian City Council approved a series of ordinances, contracts and property purchases at its May 20 meeting, including a zoning amendment for Plan Development (PD) 157, preliminary engineering work for the Taman Water Treatment Plant, an amendment to a wholesale water development agreement, purchases and budget amendments related to police weapons, a small budget appropriation for a parking-lot design, a roof-pitch exception for a single-family house, and three property acquisitions needed for the McAlpin Road project.

Why it matters: Together these votes advance infrastructure and development projects across Midlothian — from neighborhood subdivision design to water-treatment capacity planning and public-safety equipment — and they commit city funds or contractual commitments that will shape near-term construction and service delivery.

Most significant actions

- Zoning amendment: The council voted 4–0 to approve amendments to Plan Development District 157 (Hayes Road area) that reconfigure lot sizes and allow up to 157 lots with modified setbacks and architectural standards. The motion included a condition reducing the allowable percentage of front‑facing garages to 65% (mover: Mayor Pro Tem Whitcliffe; second: Councilman Rogers). The applicant, represented by Terry Weaver, said the change responds to the city’s current comprehensive plan and includes preserved open space and a concrete trail connection to nearby Lago Vista.

- Water‑treatment engineering contract: The council approved a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols for preliminary engineering and design services at the Taman Water Treatment Plant in an amount not to exceed $996,400 (vote 5–0). The work will produce roughly 25% design documents to evaluate plant upgrades that could increase capacity (presented by city staff).

- Wholesale water / development agreement amendment: Council authorized a first amendment to the earlier consent and development agreement involving Circle S Midlothian LLC and related entities, increasing the wholesale volume under the agreement to as much as 7,640,000 gallons per day and adjusting lot counts within the Midlothian portion of the project (vote 5–0). The amendment is tied to a wholesale/retail arrangement with the retail provider referenced in the discussion (transcript reference: Mountain Peak); the approvals are conditioned on raw water availability and contractual terms with the retail provider.

- Public‑safety equipment and related budget ordinance: Council approved purchase of new sidearms with red‑dot optics (amount not to exceed $66,488.49) paid from federal forfeiture funds (vote 5–0). Separately, council approved an ordinance to appropriate up to $80,744 from the unreserved general fund balance to buy approximately 16 patrol rifles, eight shotguns and associated hardware and optics; that purchase is structured to be repaid by participating officers through payroll deductions (vote 5–0).

- Roof‑pitch exemption: Council granted an exception to Zoning Ordinance section 3.5501 to allow a primary roof pitch below the 8:12 minimum for a single‑family home at 3820 Mays Court; council approved the exception 4–0. The applicant provided HOA support; staff recommended approval.

- Budget amendment (consent agenda item e): Council approved an ordinance amending the FY24–25 general fund appropriations up to $40,000 from the unreserved fund balance to fund design and sidewalk extensions along Seventh Street (vote on the item after removal from consent: 3–2 to approve that specific ordinance). The consent agenda as presented (with item e removed) had been approved earlier by the council 5–0.

- Property acquisitions for McAlpin Road: Following an executive session, council authorized three separate purchase agreements for small parcels needed for the McAlpin Road project (totaling 0.214, 0.339+0.06, and 0.125 acres respectively), each approved by vote 5–0. The motions authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute closing documents and specified purchase prices ($49,575; $70,000; $35,000 respectively) plus closing costs.

How the council voted: All items listed above passed; several were unanimous 5–0 votes, with the Seventh Street/parking-lot design budget ordinance passing 3–2 on its individual vote and the PD‑157 zoning change and roof exemption passing 4–0 (two council members recused/stepped out on those two items as noted in the record).

What the city said: City staff described the Taman work as a 10‑month preliminary design effort that will produce 25% design documents; staff said these plans will clarify which plant upgrades would be required to expand capacity. Staff noted the water‑agreement amendment remains contingent on the availability of raw water and further contractual steps with the retail provider. Police leadership described the firearms purchases as funded by federal forfeiture dollars (pistols) and an officer‑purchase program (rifles/shotguns) to provide officers with more accurate or mission‑specific equipment while having officers repay city‑fronted costs over time.

Next steps and timeline: The Freese and Nichols work is expected to produce 25% design in about 10 months; the water‑agreement amendment will require follow‑up contractual work with the retail provider and depends on raw‑water availability; property closings for McAlpin Road will proceed under the city manager’s delegated authority; procurement timelines for the police equipment were not specified beyond council approval.

Votes and motions recorded in the minutes are reflected in the city transcript and minutes.

Ending: The council concluded its business for the evening after the recorded votes and adjourned at approximately 7:41 p.m.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Midlothian - City Council - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Midlothian City Council approved a package of development, infrastructure and public‑safety actions at its May 20 meeting, including a zoning amendment for PD‑157, a nearly $1 million engineering contract for the Taman Water Treatment Plant, amendments to a wholesale water agreement, two public‑safety equipment purchases and three small property acquisitions for McAlpin Road.","taxTitle","Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas","taxId",54290,"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},6534637,"Midlothian resident urges council not to use $15 million certificate of obligation for new fire station",454,1062000,1516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace&start=1062&end=1516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace/thumbnail_1062000.jpg","/articles/6534637/Midlothian/Ellis-County/Texas/Midlothian-resident-urges-council-not-to-use-15-million-certificate-of-obligation-for-new-fire-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534637-4daacf2ae8dcc0585122e8b180c194f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920149&Signature=jXRQWXI-X4l1Gn6018nVlaBb7~5P3ht1xsaB~SDDupSh9l9a2Rj9qptjbfuIJVFhyHoRfiIDaUIkK4GyfW~rQghK2bvMjapWpC8PpUmzGpbAte~uzJ39sde5JDLctxWKVCGYGhN2kMHoFYe~DkZYA84cKZiP6bIHyn7gNxnwt5D4S~AOl8n~H4iQ4iD90w7r7BebHYdbsBqSCvlBNhGRbb3cA2MZfjZYxyxuNBBUQ-n-uVu8aFkJuYSwiy6gR-zy5maZ5T3NydimJ3Ii5SpyOBO0Gm-LWq6y7rzeOf7-hnL34DA80HvO1wY7-K7F8F~Xz0wbbB7IbQuXn0JDZTclrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Midlothian resident objected to plans to finance a new fire station with a $15 million certificate of obligation, urging the City Council to consider alternative funding sources and to delay other spending.

Lisa Healy, who identified herself as a city resident during the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the May 20 meeting, told the council she understood the city had been considering a new firehouse for about five years and questioned what steps had been taken to reduce the borrowing need. Healy said she believed voters had been told taxes would be lower and said the $15 million financing would not reduce taxes as promised in campaign materials.

\"I understand we've been needing a new firehouse for 5 years, and I'm just wondering what have we done over the last 5 years to offset having to go for a $15,000,000 CO?\" Healy asked. She suggested using a portion of the unreserved general fund balance and delaying items she named in the meeting record (a $120,000 reallocation on the consent agenda and a $176,000 item for police equipment mentioned in the meeting) rather than moving forward with the CO. Healy also said the city could have held bonds in prior years that might have lowered the eventual borrowing and interest costs.

City council did not take formal action on the comment during the meeting; the item she referenced (the $15 million CO for a new firehouse) was discussed in public comment and remains a policy/financing decision for future council action.

Ending: Healy’s remarks were the only citizen comment on the financing at the meeting; council members did not adopt or reject her suggestions during the session and did not schedule a decision on a CO during the same agenda slot.
","A resident told council she opposes a proposed $15 million certificate of obligation for a new firehouse and urged the city to consider using unreserved fund balance or delaying other spending to reduce the tax impact.",{"_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},6534641,"Midlothian CDC presents downtown facade‑improvement pilot: 50/50 grants up to $25,000 per project",443,572000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace&start=572&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533884-a7166dfa5d154a6275745a9ec2893ace/thumbnail_572000.jpg","/articles/6534641/Midlothian/Ellis-County/Texas/Midlothian-CDC-presents-downtown-facadeimprovement-pilot-5050-grants-up-to-25000-per-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534641-499dbe3655dc30de3b53382993d8c697/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920149&Signature=IqT60kiRwyl7l1AQzovmx22~NrxWnZyk8Qk~xwDG72~AFt3bDo635Ed295tXQ1BIaEKHbiL9v7iLwzpA6OwtaOKrBZMgMAQZYv~djxf1MitoYdkhIkE5Yb8T2hxZG6P3uq~sPiqKjXvMKEczSxsrtaonQjzWOFX-XhAe7ykvNnBbStzrhspjU2yXHwxWJokp-Tk5afqgt6RJsnJyD309n0rF922miZ2tNxhJYtW-x1cqc6sw6PmSUsBOXVXL0vDo5YOT13SnnJvErrr-C4Oma2ph7ctPisAtPa1V1kxInPsX8dhf-wQ7pnOHOYggXbjEjn65-M8gmO4KS7rFeWtSZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Midlothian’s Community Development Corporation (MCDC) briefed the City Council on a new facade‑improvement grant pilot at the May 20 meeting. The program offers matching grants to property owners and tenants to renovate or restore commercial building facades, with a maximum reimbursement of $25,000 per applicant and a $125,000 allocation for the pilot year.

MCDC representative Melissa said the program is a 50/50 matching grant: eligible applicants must complete exterior improvements, submit receipts and pass a final walkthrough to receive reimbursement. Eligible work can include signage, lighting, accessibility improvements and other facade elements; priority in this first round will be downtown businesses that are sales‑tax drivers.

The pilot is set to run through Sept. 30 of this year, Melissa said, with staff and the MCDC board reviewing results before recommending continuation or additional funding for the following fiscal year. Applicants must comply with all applicable state and local laws, permits, building codes and zoning requirements; the program also requires improvements to be compatible with the building’s character and city standards. The application requires detailed descriptions and supporting materials, and MCDC said it will use a subcommittee review process with cut‑off dates tied to board meetings.

Council members asked about specifics: the maximum grant per applicant ($25,000), total pilot budget ($125,000), a preference for downtown and sales‑tax‑generating businesses, and an allowance to include accessibility improvements. Melissa noted the program is reimbursement‑based and that applicants will have one year to complete the work after approval.

The MCDC presentation said the program aligns with the corporation’s five‑year plan objectives of downtown revitalization and small‑business support; staff described the item as informational and non‑actionable for this meeting.

Ending: Council members asked staff to track interest and report back after the pilot period so the board can recommend whether to continue or expand the program.
","Midlothian Community Development Corporation described a pilot facade‑improvement grant that offers 50/50 matching reimbursements up to $25,000 per applicant with $125,000 allocated for the pilot through Sept. 30; priority will be given to downtown, sales‑tax generating businesses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Midlothian council approves zoning change, engineering contract, water-deal amendment, public-safety purchases and land buys

Midlothian resident urges council not to use $15 million certificate of obligation for new fire station

Midlothian CDC presents downtown facade‑improvement pilot: 50/50 grants up to $25,000 per project