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Belton City Council approves zoning changes, plats, downtown façade grants and EV charger fees; several items pass unanimously
Summary
At its Jan. 28 meeting the Belton City Council approved multiple zoning changes and plats, awarded façade and mural grants for downtown buildings, adopted a fee for public electric vehicle chargers and approved an annexation; most measures passed with unanimous votes or clear motions from the council.
Belton City Council on Jan. 28 approved a package of land-use actions, downtown façade and mural grants, a voluntary annexation and a $0.20-per-kilowatt-hour rate for city electric vehicle chargers. Most items were adopted by motion and recorded as passing, many unanimously.
The council approved zoning and development matters including a zoning change and specific-use permit for an outdoor flea market at 1930 George Wilson Road (case Z-2501), a rezoning to allow an accessory dwelling unit at 811 Lake Road, a zoning change for a new single-family lot at 275 Elmer King Road, preliminary and final plats for subdivision projects, and an amendment to the future land-use map to allow industrial designation at 815 Elm Grove Spur. Council also approved downtown certificate-of-appropriateness requests and matching façade-improvement grants for buildings at 206 E. Central Ave., 120 Elkie St. and 122 N. Penelope St., and granted a mural grant for 106 N. Main St.
In other actions the council adopted a voluntary annexation ordinance for a 1.764-acre tract (Young Williams Survey) tied to a prior boundary-adjustment agreement, and moved the school-zone location on Loop 121 to a spot north of the flyover near Sparta Road after a brief amendment to clarify the ordinance language. The council also approved the city’s EV-charger fee schedule, setting the public rate at $0.20 per kilowatt-hour.
Nut graf: The council’s approvals clear a range of land-use and downtown improvement projects and set a citywide price for public EV charging. Together, these actions affect near-term development approvals, downtown streetscape and façade projects, the placement of a school-speed zone, and the cost to use newly installed city chargers.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes, appointments to planning and parks boards, and resolutions to apply for criminal justice grants including Flock license-plate readers, tactical robot, police drones and VOCA victim-assistance grant): motion passed (motion and second recorded; passed unanimously on voice vote). - Z-2501 (1930 George Wilson Road: ag → Commercial 1 with SUP for outdoor flea market): motion to approve passed unanimously. - Postponement: Retail package store/SUP (Longhorn Liquor at 2044 N. Main St.) postponed to the Feb. 25 council meeting by motion and second; motion passed unanimously. - SF-1 with SUP (811 Lake Road: accessory dwelling unit with kitchen): motion to approve passed unanimously after staff presentation and applicant comment. - Zoning change (275 Elmer King Road to Single-Family 1): motion to approve passed unanimously. - Future Land Use Map amendment (815 Elm Grove Spur: residential → industrial): motion to approve passed (recorded as five votes in favor, one abstention and one absence). - Wells Addition final plat (Smoke Signal Lane, ETJ) and associated variances: motion to approve with variances passed (see companion article for discussion about county-maintained roads). - Saddle Creek Phase 4 preliminary plat: motion to approve passed unanimously. - Certificate of Appropriateness and façade improvement grants (206 E. Central Ave., 120 Elkie/122 N. Penelope): motions to approve passed unanimously; staff-recommended matching grant amounts were recorded in staff reports. - Mural grant (106 N. Main St., “bison” motif): motion to approve passed; staff estimated $15,000 project cost, maximum grant $7,500, and a five-year maintenance commitment (estimated $2,500 total) noted. - Voluntary annexation (1.764 acres, Young Williams survey): motion to approve passed unanimously; ordinance included language applying certain alcoholic-beverage conditions without a future election per applicant request and as written in the ordinance. - School-zone relocation (Loop 121 at Crusader Way / Sparta Road): motion (amended to clarify the zone starts north of the flyover) passed unanimously. - EV charger fee schedule: motion to adopt $0.20 per kWh for public charging passed unanimously; staff said the rate is above the lowest market offerings but covers the city’s electricity cost and vendor fees.
What the council said and staff noted - Planning staff described the flea market site as a long-standing nonconforming use seeking Commercial 1 zoning with an SUP after storm damage to structures. “This is the first step in rebuilding,” staff said during the presentation. - Applicants spoke briefly when present: Jason Kolbeth described an ADU at 811 Lake Road as intended to house his father, a military veteran with Parkinson’s disease, so the family can provide care. - On the EV chargers, staff recommended 20¢/kWh after comparing other local rates and accounting for vendor fees and the city’s electricity costs.
Ending: The council closed the regular agenda and recessed for an executive session on real-property deliberations under Texas Gov. Code chapter 551; follow-up public actions will appear on future agendas as needed.
