Commission backs ordinance change to allow contractor offices with outdoor storage as conditional use in agricultural zoning

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend an amendment to the City of Weatherford zoning ordinance (Title 12, section 12-3-100) to add “contractor office/facility with outdoor storage, including vehicles” as a conditional use in the agricultural (AG) district.

Staff explained the change responds to a prior application for rezoning that raised concerns about converting property to a straight industrial zoning that would allow a wide range of uses. Commission members and staff said making contractor offices with outdoor storage a conditional use in AG allows case-by-case review through conditional-use permits rather than broad rezoning to industrial.

The public hearing opened and closed with no speakers. Staff recommended approval, and the commission approved the ordinance amendment unanimously. The commission’s action is a recommendation to City Council; the amendment must be adopted by ordinance to take effect.

Planner remarks summarized the previous meeting’s discussion: the applicant withdrew a rezoning application and staff was asked to prepare an ordinance creating a conditional-use route for the specific use so the city may evaluate individual proposals without creating broad industrial zoning rights for the parcel.

If City Council adopts the amendment, property owners seeking a contractor office with outdoor storage in AG will still need to apply for a conditional use permit; notification and public hearings will occur for those CUP applications per notification requirements.