Red Oak council approves five zoning and code changes including new 'watercraft sales' definition and data-center conduit rules

The Red Oak City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved five ordinances that amend the city’s zoning code and use tables, including a new definition for watercraft sales, a rezoning to permit a small auto-repair use with future commercial development, changes allowing overhead conduit raceways between data-center buildings, and a recodification of the city’s use chart that makes car washes a special-use permit in certain commercial districts.

The set of ordinances—25-025, 25-026, 25-027, 25-028 and 25-029—passed by 5-0 votes and will amend the comprehensive zoning ordinance and related code sections to add the new permitted uses and development rules, city staff said during the meeting.

Council action and why it matters: The ordinances clarify how several commercial uses will be handled moving forward. Ordinance 25-025 adds “watercraft sales” as a defined use and applies the same requirements previously created for all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) sales, meaning the use will require a site-specific special use permit (SUP) in certain commercial districts. Ordinance 25-026 rezones a narrow parcel identified by property ID 141728 (north of Free Market Drive, east of N. Highway 77) from agricultural to Planned Development (PD 184) to allow a minor auto-repair shop (a lube/tire/oil-change style operation) and to preserve the possibility of future C-1 commercial uses subject to additional approvals. Staff said the lot will use a septic system and is served by Rocket Water; a brick screening wall…