[{"_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",6554498,"mediaKeyId","5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb","parentId",5022991,"title","City holds public hearing on 2025–26 HUD annual action plan; no public commenters registered","audioSeconds",117,"startMs",372000,"endMs",489000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb&start=372&end=489","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb/thumbnail_372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6554498/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/City-holds-public-hearing-on-202526-HUD-annual-action-plan-no-public-commenters-registered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554498-79ef04e1bd55cb43e2d5a15d4075bf69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114110&Signature=UHeXqyOSWo85rfTaBvxXNMzBo3ddONs~hilaEMjZmv-RZlkxRGgNDYAkGOgotwPeIZsIlR4mjb63Tz5jMMt9ljWvCvfmkGuoXDUkFqnwMoXlQ6bZv6BULD4qQz52VwHi15k3Thm-g27V65vSSPJedO54eh9BbbJvKgsff9jj8P0HAABwP7jNlSfH8tr3VpbFMho05sVnccFAb6spao9qXCEmDv9t4g4Kmk351~57o~5HdoIMMiySECVWr6z1hJvm9p3IvAnU8uWBaekWfTZo30jPA-ppCZknyuHtn20rHeiq0cxcjFRh4PlGG-BfgZt181SL-ua0PVavvmSnle3N6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Waco, TX","date","2025-06-18T16:20:41Z","article","City staff held a public hearing on June 17 to receive comments on the City of Waco’s 2025–26 Annual Action Plan prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Director Price explained that the plan identifies housing, homelessness and community development needs and outlines proposed uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds for the 2025–26 program year. The city’s citizen participation plan requires a public hearing before submission to HUD.

Staff said the draft plan will be available for public review from June 17 through July 17; hard copies will be available in the city secretary’s office, the housing office and public libraries. A second public hearing and a resolution to approve the annual action plan are scheduled for the City Council meeting on Aug. 5, 2025. The notice of the June 17 hearing was published in the nonlegal section of the Waco Tribune-Herald, posted on the city website and posted at city libraries and bulletin boards.

No members of the public were registered to speak at the June 17 hearing; the council closed the hearing with no action required that night and will take up the plan again on Aug. 5.

What’s next: The plan will be posted for public review and returned to the council for a second public hearing and a resolution on Aug. 5, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Business Session (June 17, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Director Price presented the 2025–26 Annual Action Plan and citizen-participation process; the plan will be available for public review June 17–July 17 and is set for a second hearing and resolution on Aug. 5.","taxTitle","Waco, McLennan County, Texas","taxId",2807,"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},6554503,"Waco selects interim fire leader and moves to apply for SAFER grant to add 15 firefighters",1598,2180000,3778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb&start=2180&end=3778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb/thumbnail_2180000.jpg","/articles/6554503/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-selects-interim-fire-leader-and-moves-to-apply-for-SAFER-grant-to-add-15-firefighters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554503-ce1e4a0aadee0c05d93daaa9af8f2bae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114110&Signature=Nd1ibbtSAIVzCaK80MRzR2uPBIlb4cs2YJ7LKaSQP2bfRqKCdTHB4DV9-2HrvkvMkkeJ9XTW3DK3si9RPTGHtQtAcHeTDzgSStrgBdUO3im9Sc3dxLWurfuu~LjslLHZnRwBhmk8cnwcOhxaCVuDuvV6rvYRlQ~HCS~~AuWbxmjoi8Sm2qk6Bnl8HEDDHUB~XHUffMcBQ-YxanrpfmROy6xDVFnxGdauTJmsrL1WOmmpvAdbCed6B~PUsdzqVUUhyDsxjjiXa2fwyhNjb-V7Di8TGkybMedscw9eX5TrrDZQ7ERn-ZDNWo~gvZ2ySnOKsXMxWBIrVBaCdPYcNjXJJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco City Council confirmed the appointment of the city’s internal candidate to the permanent position of fire chief and authorized staff to submit a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application on June 17.

Union leaders representing Waco Professional Firefighters attended the meeting to publicly support the internal candidate. Brent Weatherby, president of the Waco Professional Firefighters, and Philip Burnett, a union leader, praised city management for an inclusive selection process and urged the council to support the appointment.

City Manager Bradley Ford and multiple council members praised the candidate’s 28 years of service, leadership and continuity. The council voted in favor of the resolution to appoint the chief; the motion passed on a council poll recorded by Assistant City Secretary Spikes: Fairfield — yes; Lozano — yes; Porter Root — yes; Ewing — yes; Chase — yes; Holmes — yes.

Immediately after the appointment, the council considered a separate resolution authorizing the city to apply for a SAFER grant to fund 15 firefighter positions. City management said the federal request would be for a grant just over $3,000,000 that would fund 15 firefighters. The city’s total match across the three grant years is approximately $1,900,000 (a 25% city match in years one and two and a 65% match in year three), with the city assuming full staffing costs if the positions continue beyond the grant period.

Staff described how the grant would be used: three additional firefighters to bring Engine Company at Station 12 to four-person daily staffing to comply with two-in/two-out safety expectations for interior firefighting operations; and 12 firefighters to staff a dedicated heavy rescue unit (Rescue 1) at Station 1 to ensure around-the-clock technical-rescue readiness. Staff said Station 12’s closest backup can take nearly 9 minutes, 44 seconds to arrive from Station 2, and the additional staffing would reduce critical response-time gaps in outlying coverage areas.

City staff noted the heavy rescue truck was purchased in fiscal year 2024 for $1,500,000 and is expected for delivery in fall 2025; staffing it with grant-funded personnel would prevent leaving other units unstaffed when specialized responses occur. Staff also said the NFPA 1710 standard and Insurance Services Office (ISO) measures informed the request; current effective response force (ERF) levels to commercial structure fires assign 23 personnel while the standard requires 29 for full compliance, and improved staffing could help maintain the city’s ISO rating.

The council authorized application for the SAFER grant and approved the appointment. Staff said the SAFER application must be submitted by July 3 and award notifications would be made by August 18.

Votes at a glance: Resolution to appoint the fire chief — outcome: approved (Fairfield, Lozano, Porter Root, Ewing, Chase, Holmes — yes). Resolution to authorize SAFER grant application (resolution 2025-450) — outcome: approved (Fairfield, Lozano, Porter Root, Ewing, Chase, Holmes — yes). Motion details: mover/second not specified in the transcript.

What’s next: City will submit the SAFER grant application by the July 3 deadline; if awarded, the city will implement hiring, account for the required match in future budgets, and staff the rescue truck and Station 12 positions as described.","Council confirmed the city manager's appointment of an internal candidate as fire chief and authorized the city to apply for a federal SAFER grant that would fund 15 new firefighter positions; the city match over three years is roughly $1.9 million.",{"_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},6554507,"Waco council approves Hilltop Heights PUD rezoning despite neighborhood opposition",371,499000,870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb&start=499&end=870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022991-8f752ff923b0a8b36d959541f26573cb/thumbnail_499000.jpg","/articles/6554507/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-council-approves-Hilltop-Heights-PUD-rezoning-despite-neighborhood-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554507-3de085666393a9867180ae7ae11fd442/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114110&Signature=l7FyeiQD0nMvguwK4iy4~QBE8t-zf5QTmefK1Ttbtwkxw-fWaQ2XKUL~ajLA4SAoEzR5n6hgWOYM-MZLAuz28Z7zupfqmXDa7wbQFREsvD8op9NsxV6Y1vB0TBSsxqyOQW3s~gUeY94jtFKcgmITgauXygLaMLtvfXJe6WsMssOobzyw7l~6HzrPt-hYfT2N-9scKYtbGzuYUrSRmUUf5-D5Mdr16~S1kIMTAPtLkoh6i21~KT-NwxtEeTYUmkD3EkJsW0mLQiA8Z1VZCqYwrC36GBsExBE-N8mq6DN-b4ZOd2CRo-LAaDpwRg2A8g04K2O5pGaL89knL~7fZWtNSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco City Council voted to approve a rezoning and concept plan for Hilltop Heights PUD, a proposed 63-lot single-family subdivision on about 10.71 acres southeast of the Loop 340–Kendall Lane intersection, after a public hearing and debate on June 17.

The city’s planning director presented staff’s recommendation for approval of the concept plan with nine conditions, including construction of a sidewalk connection from the subdivision to Buena Vista Park as part of subdivision infrastructure, installation of sidewalks on both sides of all streets at the time of lot development, a 25-foot front setback when a garage faces the street and a 20-foot front setback when it does not, corner-lot setback requirements, and a limit on maximum site coverage so building and paved areas do not exceed 65% of each lot.

Developer representative Larry W. Jackson told the council the applicant had revised the site plan to meet the city’s conditions, including showing sidewalks on all streets, and that TxDOT has approved a right-in/right-out access off Loop 340; he urged approval.

Several Timbercrest-area residents opposed the proposal during the public hearing. Roy Trussell said he has lived in the Timbercrest area since 1975 and called the neighborhood \"very tight,\" citing traffic and safety concerns near parks and athletic fields. Telly Ramsey said the area already sees heavy recreational traffic and asked the council to maintain current zoning. Jack Abel, Michelle Abel and Jenny Richardson Urban also spoke against the PUD, raising recent vehicle crashes, speeding on Kendall Lane and Orchard Lane, concerns about potential crime and questions about whether housing would be market-rate or subsidized. Jackson responded that the project is planned as market-rate housing and not for Section 8 or other restricted-income programs, and said the developer’s price target would start around $250,000.

Council discussion acknowledged neighborhood concerns while framing the project as part of a broader effort to address Waco’s housing shortage. A councilmember said the city faces a deficit of about 5,000 housing units and described increased density on some sites as necessary to produce more housing. Councilmembers also said staff and traffic engineers would continue to study and mitigate traffic and safety issues raised by residents.

A motion to approve the rezoning and concept PUD with the nine stated conditions passed on the council vote. Assistant City Secretary Spikes polled the council: Fairfield — yes; Lozano — yes; Porter Root — yes; Ewing — yes; Chase — yes; Holmes — yes.

The approved conditions and the applicant’s revised plans will guide future platting and building permit reviews; staff reiterated that additional plan-review requirements must be met prior to issuance of building permits. The item will be recorded in the city’s zoning maps and the development must comply with the subdivision ordinance and the plan review committee’s site requirements before construction can begin.

Residents and the developer were advised during the hearing that sidewalks, setbacks and some infrastructure requirements will be enforced as part of subdivision infrastructure requirements rather than deferred to individual lots.

Votes at a glance: Hilltop Heights PUD rezoning (public hearing 2025-428) — outcome: approved; conditions: nine conditions added by staff (sidewalk connection to Buena Vista Park to be built as subdivision infrastructure; sidewalks both sides of all streets; 25-foot front setback with garage, 20-foot without; corner-lot setback rules; rear setbacks may be reduced to 5 feet with maximum site coverage of 65%; plus four plan commission conditions). Motion details: mover/second not specified in the transcript; vote: Fairfield, Lozano, Porter Root, Ewing, Chase, Holmes — all yes.

What’s next: The applicant must proceed with subdivision plats and compliance with plan-review and subdivision ordinance requirements before building permits are issued.","The City of Waco approved a rezoning to allow the Hilltop Heights planned unit development — 63 single-family lots on about 10.71 acres — after public comment from nearby Timbercrest residents who cited traffic and safety concerns. Council approved the concept plan with nine conditions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City holds public hearing on 2025–26 HUD annual action plan; no public commenters registered

Waco selects interim fire leader and moves to apply for SAFER grant to add 15 firefighters

Waco council approves Hilltop Heights PUD rezoning despite neighborhood opposition