Council rezones city-owned 7.6-acre parcel on Prince Lane to residential estate for Missmay Drive extension

The Fate City Council voted 7–0 on March 3 to rezone a city‑owned 7.611-acre parcel at 644 Prince Lane from agriculture to residential estate, a change staff said is necessary to facilitate the Missmay Drive extension and to create approximately five 1‑acre lots.

Ryan Wells, director of planning and development services, said the rezoning was initiated by the city because building the Missmay Drive extension required acquiring the parcel; the acquisition was voluntary, staff said, and the city paid market or above-market value for the property. Wells said residential estate zoning is consistent with the comprehensive-plan rural-reserve designation and is compatible with surrounding large-lot residential uses.

Staff presented a fiscal analysis showing that large-lot single-family development is less fiscally productive than commercial uses: staff estimated an annual net revenue shortfall of about $17,000 when road costs are included, with a revenue-to-cost ratio of 0.27 to 1 and a private-to-public ratio of about 9.91. Wells said keeping the property undeveloped would produce a larger fiscal loss when the cost of the road acquisition and construction is considered; the sale of the subdivided residential lots is expected to help recoup acquisition costs that were paid from the roadway impact fee fund.

Two residents spoke against the rezoning during the public hearing. Rob Brumlow (102 Jeremy Drive) said the city should prioritize attracting retail rather than more housing. Khalib Musa (listed at 684 Prince Lane) said he lives adjacent to the parcel and raised concerns about increased runoff and sewage/septic impacts, citing flooding and sewage backups after nearby development. Wells and other staff responded that one‑acre lots would generally be graded toward the street and to a catchment system and that on-site septic systems would be designed by a registered engineer and must meet TCEQ requirements; staff added the preliminary plat and grading plan would return to the council in the subdivision approval process and civil-plan reviews would enforce standards.

Councilmembers asked procedural questions about how the city will sell the lots; the city attorney said staff would return with a transparent sale process (auction, broker or other statutory process) and that the council would approve the method. Council approved ordinance O2025‑010 to rezone the property; the zoning change enables the city to prepare a preliminary/final plat and later sell lots consistent with city policy.