[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6189050,"mediaKeyId","5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa","parentId",5058779,"title","Council hears requests to study sidewalks, crosswalk upgrades and a road patch for nursing‑home access","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1943000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa&start=1943&end=1943","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa/thumbnail_1943000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189050/Keene/Johnson-County/Texas/Council-hears-requests-to-study-sidewalks-crosswalk-upgrades-and-a-road-patch-for-nursinghome-access","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189050-652976b687fc0b6ee09fe7140a13f51b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777609741&Signature=StSIn0-xFr4x-SiNe5kGirSG~dgZqcEmc277dTFACeANMPOtm6pcKZb83WxIDicAcK3QW~U5XpQNl9eNAWYm74Pbb97xFS3VOMOBhTYSpUxEMc1PjW7xLwj4rIh9-YwDeZX4ukzHmmWLaVuElNeo-s-lJuDu~JBVCWhm5lFsTWcSZnlWAUCjT5BT9oAWW02OYYkV6IuxRH-bKjZnVfsZUaxxRtVMM-9KbcoUWIi3xA9NgD4j3DlWCV7bm~iPdd8Qg61JNsFgYviF~DtxcxV-h-C6lbNYDgFlOpC9kgQ4o~95xAfw7IGPWf5mi9iuPDP~esWGFB4Hp~Ycp0R-HkcKMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Keene TX","date","2025-06-24T11:42:05Z","article","Keene councilmembers on June 23 discussed several traffic and pedestrian‑safety requests and directed staff to place the items on a future agenda or the upcoming budget discussions.

Council members recounted a social‑media petition and resident concerns about the speed limit where a road leaves Keene toward Egan, near the gym and a pond. A council member said the matter is controlled by the Texas Department of Transportation and described the typical process: the council requests TxDOT review, and TxDOT decides whether to move speed signage or install other controls. City Manager Seitz said he would talk with TxDOT and provide an update.

Council discussion also returned to pedestrian access at the recently approved Covington Acres site; members asked whether sidewalks could be required to connect the development to the highway and nearby businesses. Staff and the developer had said driveway work would involve TxDOT and that sidewalks from the gates to the highway were not included in the civil plans. Council members indicated this remains an open item for civil‑plan review and future negotiation with the developer and TxDOT.

Separately, staff relayed a request from Town Hall Estates Nursing Home for a safer crossing on the local street between the nursing home and its parking lot. Councilmembers discussed repaving or patching a portion of Fireside Village Drive, or installing a short concrete sidewalk across the street, to allow residents in wheelchairs and with walkers to move safely from the home onto adjacent parking and sidewalks. Council asked staff to obtain cost estimates and consider the request during upcoming budget hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Keene, Texas | Special Council Meeting | 06/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers discussed resident requests to pursue a TxDOT study for a speed change and flashing crosswalk, asked staff to evaluate sidewalks near a proposed development, and considered patching Fireside Village Drive to improve access for nursing‑home residents.","taxTitle","Keene, Johnson County, Texas","taxId",69538,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6189056,"Keene council moves July 3 meeting to July 8, confirms July 10 budget meeting",449,1641000,2090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa&start=1641&end=2090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa/thumbnail_1641000.jpg","/articles/6189056/Keene/Johnson-County/Texas/Keene-council-moves-July-3-meeting-to-July-8-confirms-July-10-budget-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189056-0b2be66491cda5afbf5bb4389787719e/orig.mp4?Expires=1777609742&Signature=ltsOoWiErZM9Nxj3ig5Llmn~UEe74gmpYXOb4gTCGbR5tR0x88w-bx76S~vvgk0tbxfdHo4J6BI7g~mM9VxKjJK88pE8dja7m0Hbvn6ANL4WVT08S-EoCHtCqQjnqaCx4gA~2J~c6jcTaSVWG6Et9waXhp3IKZnzYsq-skJhJrGffeeaCpENvM3fmz-TBfrW4BNPsJE8CC-3YBGIqquQyP-PCJsGHnWGhfCRYuSdWBwqTklB88iGKkpg-05gXbQpvVg1YmBXFtLuBbFSmSWCQKqPIC6Cdt71TQqNy4rANHJP9zaTpNrX6mQ34K6xXh0sv9jEyRfCvTUqTIfBoSLekQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Keene City Council voted June 23 to reschedule its regular July 3 meeting to July 8 and to proceed with the previously scheduled budget meeting on July 10. Councilman Foster made the motion to reschedule and Councilmember Easley seconded; the motion carried unanimously by raised hands.

Council discussion considered whether to combine policy items with the July 10 budget presentation. Several members preferred not to merge the policy agenda with the budget hearing because policy items can require extended deliberation. City Manager Seitz told the council the July 10 plan was to present revenue figures and that the presentation should be manageable; staff expected to have more updates by then.

Council members checked availability before voting; the change was made to reduce conflict with the July 4 holiday and to ensure broader member attendance. The council also noted additional budget hearings scheduled for July 17 and July 24.

No ordinances or budget approvals were adopted at the June 23 action; the vote only changed meeting dates and scheduling.","Council voted to reschedule its July 3 regular meeting to July 8 and to hold the previously planned July 10 budget meeting, citing holiday scheduling and quorum considerations.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6189060,"Keene council approves rezoning and plats for 24.73-acre Covington Acres multifamily development",1196,546000,1742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa&start=546&end=1742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058779-16c57834f12776baf076e7f2198506fa/thumbnail_546000.jpg","/articles/6189060/Keene/Johnson-County/Texas/Keene-council-approves-rezoning-and-plats-for-2473-acre-Covington-Acres-multifamily-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189060-7ebd0f420942c269ea74998e55a9f63d/orig.mp4?Expires=1777609742&Signature=eZB1A7BAw-8f6TFbw7MtFMUaRrZZLRfQAUjfGMdGUWTxT8yJu~popPFlG3yjt~axrANERBLBg8-uYp5pQ8X6I2ZFMmDvRgLudt8t5krVfGwOxAG4Droz2ydfxDuI5G2kE0kc-CG~ecP6JDtB4B30x3eA0rUUl-q~9nfPQwRGXgWh2KDyIKmN7WNHatMFp5QbCXTIYLW~YzXeiWP-aiexNsw7cOjf6VIEMW6xPDU0vkl9c04CZgphPXFU-vDQh6QUEJfUIF80hYGzJR9BAvqAUkabPcvTxz5dOyNbEnPWcJUIlbFZE87L65V9UNP62xUnjikeNKJ0wy-FgqI4oWn~~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Keene City Council on June 23 unanimously approved a rezoning and associated plats for a 24.7308-acre portion of the Hugh McCollum survey to allow a planned-development multifamily complex. Councilman Foster moved to approve the rezoning, and Councilmember Shaw seconded; council members voted in favor.

The rezoning converts the property at about 2632 East U.S. Highway 67 from C-2 (general commercial, office and light retail) to PD (planned development) based on multifamily zoning. The application from Kittle Property Group included requests for two variances: permitting three-story buildings instead of two and providing four playgrounds instead of five.

The vote followed a public hearing in which a Kittle Property Group representative and the project consultant described changes made to the plan after the gas‑line easement along the site was widened. \"It will be 24.7308 acres instead of the original 21.8 acres,\" Mr. Martin told the council while showing revised conceptual plans. Elena Harsen, identified as a Kittle Property Group representative, told the council, \"No. We do not have a sidewalk that runs from the gates to the highway,\" and said work with TxDOT would be required at the driveway entry.

During the hearing a resident, Johnny Knott, urged the council to reject the development, saying, \"I just don't think we should be facilitating the opportunity for people to live in such close proximity to each other.\" Council discussion noted safety and pedestrian‑access concerns and debated whether to require sidewalks now or seek them later. One council member said the development was awaiting state low‑income housing grant approval and that the funding \"will fall through if we do not approve this by the end of this month,\" a timeline concern cited during deliberations.

After approving the rezoning and variances and authorizing an ordinance to be drafted, the council moved on to related land‑use approvals. The council approved the preliminary plat (motion by Chapman, second by Shaw) and the final plat (motion by Foster, second by Smith); both motions passed unanimously.

Council members and staff noted that sidewalks adjacent to the site and TxDOT coordination remained outstanding items to address during civil‑plan review and later permitting. The council did not condition the approvals on immediate sidewalk construction; staff said sidewalks and other infrastructure could be discussed with the developer during plat and construction review and with TxDOT as needed.

The approvals authorize staff to return with an ordinance for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting and let Kittle Property Group proceed with the next phases of platting and construction review.","The Keene City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request and both preliminary and final plats for the Covington Acres multifamily project submitted by Kittle Property Group, including two variances; council discussion raised sidewalks and a pending state grant deadline.","actionData","errors"]

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Council hears requests to study sidewalks, crosswalk upgrades and a road patch for nursing‑home access

Keene council moves July 3 meeting to July 8, confirms July 10 budget meeting

Keene council approves rezoning and plats for 24.73-acre Covington Acres multifamily development