The Waxahachie City Council on Aug. 5 approved three specific‑use permits (SUPs) allowing short‑term rental uses in single‑family residential zones, and amended one approval to limit occupancy after council questions about parking and neighborhood impacts.

All three items were presented by planning staff as required SUP requests for properties in single‑family zoning. Trenton (city planning staff) said the city’s short‑term rental ordinance requires a specific‑use permit in single‑family residential districts and that notice was mailed to nearby property owners in accordance with the ordinance and state notice requirements. He said Planning and Zoning recommended approval for each request.

At 106 (street number not fully specified in staff slides), applicant Gilberto Escobedo, who identified himself and his wife as local homebuilders and owners of multiple rental homes, told council his management team enforces parking and house rules via cameras and a property manager. Council members asked whether the advertised maximum occupancy (10) was compatible with the property’s two off‑street parking spaces (one garage space and one driveway space). Escobedo said his other short‑term rental typically hosts five or six people and that the owners enforce rules via camera monitoring and a manager. The council then amended the motion to limit the property’s maximum capacity to eight people; Escobedo agreed to that change on the record. The motion to approve the SUP with that occupancy limit passed.

Two other SUPs also were approved without similar amendments: a 3‑bedroom property at 710 Perry Avenue (about 2,300 square feet, three off‑street parking spaces) and a 2‑bedroom property at 821 Williams Street (about 1,400 square feet, two off‑street parking spaces). Planning and Zoning recommended each by 6–0 votes and staff confirmed required materials — site plans, house rules, emergency contacts and security cameras — were provided for the applicants.

Staff noted the city’s ordinance prohibits on‑street parking for short‑term rentals and requires property owners to supply emergency contact information. At least one member of the public expressed concern about LLC ownership concentration in residential zones; Ira Tiffany asked the council to watch how many LLCs operate short‑term rentals in single‑family areas.

All three SUP motions were approved by the council and the council authorized the mayor or city manager to execute necessary documents. Where an owner agreed to an on‑the‑record condition (the occupancy limit for the property at 106), staff indicated that the condition will be reflected in the SUP authorization paperwork.

These approvals are administrative land‑use decisions that set conditions for operation (parking limits, house rules, camera requirements and emergency contact availability). Any future alleged violations of those conditions would be addressed through code enforcement procedures and permit revocation processes under the city ordinance.