Midland City Council approves Hogan Park renovation, AST expansion, multiple drilling permits and new pedestrian safety ordinance

Midland — At its September meeting, the Midland City Council approved several capital and land-use actions and adopted a new pedestrian safety ordinance, while council members and staff debated measures to limit truck traffic through neighborhoods and to guide commercial development along Loop 250.

The most prominent items the council approved were a renovation contract for the Hogan Park Quail golf course, amendments to economic-development and lease agreements for AST SpaceMobile, issuance of several oil-and-gas drilling permits with waivers for road-repair agreements, and a zoning change to allow regional retail on a two-acre parcel along Loop 250. Council also moved $400,000 into the Compass program for alley and substandard street improvements and adopted a “clear zone” ordinance intended to reduce pedestrian crashes. The council generally approved the staff recommendations and several amendments on final vote.

Why it matters: The decisions direct public funds and regulatory permissions that affect public infrastructure (streets, golf course irrigation), economic development (AST expansion and jobs), residential neighborhoods (oilfield traffic routes and zoning adjacency), and pedestrian safety policy. Several actions also included conditions or follow-up direction from council (for example, requiring clarified traffic routes and outreach to service providers, and requesting plans for surplus equipment).

Hogan Park Quail Course renovation The council approved awarding the Hogan Park Quail Course renovation contract to Mid America Golf and Landscape (award and project details discussed by staff) and authorized project-related expenditures. Staff described this as the first phase of a multi‑phase master plan for Hogan Park, including full irrigation replacement (including an RO system to serve both courses), new greens, fairway turf and other reconstruction. Staff said the contract bid closely matched the architect’s estimate.

Council amended the staff resolution on the floor to expressly add construction alternates 1, 2, 5 and 12 (alternate 1 was described as a 25‑year warranty at no cost to the city). Staff said alternates netted roughly $41,992 after deducts and additions. Timeline presented: construction to begin in November with anticipated completion in September 2026. Council members emphasized the city’s policy that the golf course operate on user fees rather than property-tax subsidy going forward; staff reiterated that earlier council direction removed the large property‑tax subsidy historically used for the course.

AST SpaceMobile lease and economic development amendment Council approved an amendment to the economic development agreement between the Midland Development Corporation (MDC) and AST SpaceMobile and a related lease amendment for a facility at 2908 Enterprise Lane at the Midland International Air and Spaceport. Sarah (city staff) summarized that AST currently employs more than 200 people locally and the amendments are expected to add about 50 jobs as the company expands its footprint. Council asked staff to clarify plans for pressure-chamber equipment that was being moved to storage; council directed follow-up on whether the city will store, relocate, or dispose of that equipment so it not become an ongoing cost.

Oil-and-gas permits, truck routing and neighborhood impacts The council approved multiple permits to drill wells within the city limits, including a permit to COG Operating LLC (item 13) and two sets of permits to Pioneer Natural Resources (items 14 and 15). Staff explained the waivers of the city’s road‑repair surety were granted because operators will use state highways (e.g., Highway 349) or lease roads rather than city streets. Operators and staff showed planned traffic routings and said entrances for some sites would use lease roads off of 349 to limit neighborhood impacts.

Council members pressed staff and operators on how the city would monitor and enforce routing so third‑party service companies do not use residential streets. City staff (Jose Ortiz and Garrett) described steps under consideration including better signage, outreach to trucking and service providers, a public contact point for reporting violations, targeted citations, and long‑term infrastructure solutions (outer loop/truck corridors, Oxnard Parkway). Staff said operators have in some cases barricaded entrances and agreed to defined routes and that the city has not commonly had to draw on road‑repair bonds because operators quickly remediate direct damage when it occurs.

Rezoning for Loop 250 property (Crestgate / 4600 Crestfield) After a public hearing and debate, council approved a request to rezone Lot 2 and Lot 3 of Crestgate (about 2 acres near Loop 250) from a PD (planned development for housing) to RR (regional retail). Planning staff recommended Local Retail as a lower‑intensity buffer adjacent to single‑family homes; the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended RR and the council voted 5–1 to approve RR. Supporters, including John Newton (engineering consultant for the applicant), argued the comprehensive plan and previous development patterns support higher‑intensity commercial uses along Loop 250; other council members said they preferred more restrictive zoning or a PD in order to retain greater council control over future development. Council and staff confirmed code requires a continuous masonry screening wall where commercial uses abut single‑family lots.

Pedestrian safety ordinance (Vision Zero clear zones) Acting on the Vision 0 (Vision Zero) safety recommendations adopted by the council earlier this year, the council adopted a new section of the city code establishing narrowly tailored “clear zones” around crosswalks, intersections, medians and curves where, with listed exceptions, standing, sitting or remaining in a way that obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic is prohibited. Staff said exceptions include constitutional free‑speech activity, ADA access, emergency response and lawful crossing of streets; enforcement will be by the Midland Police Department. Council members asked how obstruction is determined in the field and staff explained enforcement will focus on cases that force pedestrians into traffic or otherwise create immediate crash risk. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Compass alley/street paving appropriation Council authorized transferring $400,000 from the engineering operating budget into a Compass project account to fund design and construction of targeted alley/street improvements identified in District 2. Staff showed a parcel map and said the full list of candidate streets has an estimated cost near $3,000,000; this appropriation will fund a first tranche (design in October) and the city will seek funding for additional phases over time.

Boards, commissions and administrative items Council filled and reappointed a number of seats across advisory boards and commissions (airport reappointments and appointments, parks & rec reappointments, etc.), deferred several vacancies for later consideration and noted some appointments are handled on a calendar‑year schedule. Staff and council discussed deferring appointments for boards that meet infrequently or for which the city is awaiting further vetting (for example, oil & gas advisory committee and the spaceport development corporation board). Council also received a budget briefing and staff update on ongoing savings, fee realignments and grant leverage that staff say are closing forecasted budget gaps.

Votes at a glance (selected final actions taken during the meeting) - Consent agenda (with items 6, 10, 11, 13–15, 18 and others pulled and considered separately): approved (motion carried). - Item 6 — Resolution awarding contract for Hogan Park Quail Course Renovation to Mid America Golf and Landscape with amendment to include alternates 1, 2, 5 and 12 and appropriation of project‑related expenses: approved (motion to approve as amended carried). - Item 10 — Amendment to economic development agreement (Midland Development Corporation and AST SpaceMobile): approved, council recorded as carrying 5–0. - Item 11 — Amendment to commercial lease agreement (MDC and AST SpaceMobile) for 2908 Enterprise Lane: approved, recorded 5–0. - Item 13 — Permit to COG Operating LLC to drill (Section 10, Block 10 Hilliard Survey) and waiver of road‑repair agreement: approved (motion carried 5–1). - Item 14 — Permits to Pioneer Natural Resources for 5 wells (Section 6, Block 38) with waiver of road‑repair agreement: approved (motion carried 5–1). - Item 15 — Permits to Pioneer Natural Resources for 6 wells (Section 1, Block 39) with waiver: approved (motion carried 5–1). - Item 18 — Appropriation and transfer of $400,000 to Compass paving project account (alley/street improvements): approved (motion carried 6–0). - Item 29 — Rezone Lots 2 & 3, Crestgate Addition from PD (housing development) to RR (regional retail) (public hearing held): approved (motion carried 5–1). - Item 30 — Ordinance adding “clear zones” to Title 9 (streets and sidewalks) implementing Vision 0 safety policy: approved unanimously.

What council asked staff to follow up on - For AST expansion: a clear plan and cost path for pressure‑chamber equipment removed from leased space (storage/relocation/disposal options). - For oil‑field sites: clearer public reporting/point of contact for neighborhood complaints about service‑truck routing, outreach to service providers and trucking associations, signage and possible citation/enforcement changes to deter parking/route violations, and continued coordination on corridor/outer‑loop right‑of‑way needs. - For Crestgate rezoning: ensure masonry screening requirements are enforced at buildout and staff to consider options if council seeks to revisit lower‑intensity zoning or PD conditions.

Staff and public comment highlights - Sarah (city staff): “They will be adding 50 jobs in addition to their current headcount, which is above 200.” (AST expansion summary). - John Newton (engineer/consultant for applicant): “The Tall City Tomorrow comprehensive plan explicitly supports regional retail development along the Loop 250 corridor” (argument in support of RR zoning). - Mayor Lori Blong issued a proclamation recognizing September 2025 as Hunger Action Month and thanked the West Texas Food Bank for service to the region.

Next steps and context Council recorded several formal approvals and directed staff follow‑up in the areas listed above. Several long‑range infrastructure items discussed during public comment (outer loop, truck corridors, Oxnard Parkway and right‑of‑way acquisition) will require multi‑agency coordination and additional council policy discussion. Staff also briefed the council on a multi‑year budget forecasting process and ongoing efficiency and fee adjustments intended to limit subsidies and preserve the city’s fiscal posture.

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