Levelland council approves zoning change, $1.54M Ameresco payment and multiple ordinances; cancels unopposed District B election

Levelland — The Levelland City Council on March 17 approved a series of measures including a first-reading ordinance to rezone about 18 parcels along Highway 114 from industrial to B‑2 general business, authorized payment of $1,536,463.31 to Ameresco for the city’s water-meter project, ratified the city’s portion of a regional sealcoat contract and adopted ordinances related to a city Mosaic Restoration Fund and a denial of Atmos Energy’s rate filing. The council also canceled the District B contested election after an unopposed candidate qualified and approved an election services agreement with Hockley County.

The zoning measure and several of the other items were presented as broadly supported by staff; most passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded. The council also accepted an access easement and granted an access easement with a private landowner related to the Oxy Sports Complex, opened the 2025 Main Street façade grant application process, and authorized the mayor and city manager to execute documents to purchase real property following executive session.

Why it matters: the zoning change converts properties along a primary corridor to a business-friendly classification intended to attract commercial investment; the Ameresco payment and the sealcoat contract represent major capital disbursements affecting the city’s FY2025 cash flow and budget planning; the Mosaic Restoration Fund changes how hotel-occupancy-tax revenue may be used to promote tourism.

Zoning change on Highway 114 City staff told the council they reviewed the area after a prospective business hesitated to move to Levelland upon seeing industrial zoning. Joe Shed, the city’s chief building official, said the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the change and that staff sent letters to property owners within 200 feet with no objections returned. "We believe that it's going to make this more available for businesses that wanna come to Levelland," Shed said during the public hearing.

Council approved…