Waxahachie commission approves permanent specific-use permit for Ellis County Bail Bonds at 104 N. Jackson St.

At a meeting of the Waxahachie city commission (date not specified), commissioners voted to recommend approval of a specific-use permit allowing Ellis County Bail Bonds to remain at 104 North Jackson Street and operate with extended evening hours.

The permit, listed on the agenda as ZDC-6-2025, would make permanent a use that previously had a two-year expiration; the earlier SUP had been approved in June 2023. City planning staff said the new request reflects the applicant’s decision not to move operations to a different property at 216 South Jackson Street and requests changes to hours and conditions from the prior approval.

Zach, city planning staff, told commissioners the application is for a bail bond agency in a commercial zoning district (not in the Central Area zoning district) and that the earlier SUP had a two-year expiration to allow the owner to relocate. The applicant, Richard Schenpaw, owner of Ellis County Bail Bonds, said he had planned a new building but would not pursue that move because of higher-than-expected interest rates and financial considerations. “The only reason I’m extending it to 12AM is from time to time, we do have to meet clients down there later than 9PM,” Schenpaw said. “I would just rather have that window…rather than not enough room.”

Key changes from the previously approved SUP include revised hours of operation (from the earlier 8 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week, to 8 a.m.–12 a.m., seven days a week) and removal of some conditions that appeared in the staff report. Planning staff also noted that the SUP before the commission will be tied to the current owner and business: the permit would not transfer automatically to a new owner or a different business operating at the same address. Planning staff clarified that the property is within a commercial zoning district and therefore requires an SUP for a bail bond agency use; it is not inside the Central Area zoning district.

Commissioners asked whether signage or historic-preservation approvals would be required for the existing location; Schenpaw said the existing signage would remain and that he did not have to obtain historic-preservation approval for the current site (he had sought that approval for the separate new building). When asked about the new building at 216 South Jackson Street, Schenpaw said it is designed and ready to build but that financing and interest rates led him to keep his operation at 104 North Jackson Street.

A commissioner moved to recommend approval of ZDC-6-2025 “specific use permit for bail bond agency use subject to the conditions [in] the staff report, authorizing the mayor and our city manager to execute all documents accordingly.” Another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission voted by voice/hand; the chairman called the motion carried and the item approved.

The staff presentation noted the property identification number given on the agenda (170540) and listed an owner name in the agenda text; the commission did not record a roll-call vote or a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes for this item. Planning staff reminded the commission that, even for a permanent SUP, the city council retains the authority to review SUPs periodically.