Council discusses zoning, parks uses for 78-acre Flying H property; no zoning change voted

Haslet City Council members and residents discussed the future zoning and intended uses for a roughly 78-acre tract commonly referenced as the Flying H property during the Sept. 22 special meeting, but the council took no formal zoning action.

Council members and the presenter reviewed prior actions from June 29, 2022, that authorized transfers from Type A and Type B funds totaling several million dollars toward a planned community development on the tract and described the original vision: a multi-use agrarian development with a farmer’s market, teaching pavilion, equestrian facilities, riding trails and a community arena. The presenter told the council that earlier grant work, a proposed YMCA and other components did not fully materialize, but that Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and 4‑H leaders had expressed interest in operating programs at a community pavilion and that the site could draw regional visitors.

Council members sought clarification about the property’s current zoning. Staff said the parcel currently includes multiple zones across its area: public institutional (around the Public Works building), industrial and general commercial near Schoolhouse Road. Council discussion noted that the city could seek to designate all or part of the property as ‘‘community facilities’’ on the future land-use plan to preserve flexibility for municipal use; that action would need to come through planning and zoning and ultimately the council.

Residents who testified urged citizen engagement and clearer mapping of the parcel’s zones. Several speakers recommended a formal citizen survey and said the parks board planned a survey on park priorities; council members indicated they expected citizen input would inform any future zoning or development decisions. Speakers including Mike Roach and other residents discussed the potential to host 4‑H and FFA livestock or equestrian events and urged mapping and phased planning so that any commercial development at the site would not preclude community uses.

Council members and staff said no immediate rezoning was necessary and that development of the tract would proceed with public input; staff indicated they do not expect private warehouse development on the tract given city ownership and prior programmatic intent. No motions were made to change zoning at the meeting; council members advised that staff should bring consolidated documents to council later and that planning and zoning would be the body to process any formal zoning amendments.

What’s next: the parks board and staff will coordinate survey work and return with maps and consolidated documents for council consideration; any formal zoning changes would follow the planning-and-zoning review process and subsequent council action.