Forney council approves zoning change for youth center, rezoning and auto‑repair permit, multiple appointments and SAFER grant application

The Forney City Council on Tuesday approved a package of land‑use ordinances, appointed volunteers to several advisory boards and authorized the fire department to apply for federal staffing grant funding.

The council adopted an amendment to the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance that adds a definition for "youth center" and allows that use only by conditional use permit in commercial, general retail and mixed‑use districts. City staff said the change responds to a resident who asked how to open a teen youth club inside city limits; the ordinance creates the zoning category and requires any operator to seek a conditional use permit with site‑specific conditions such as parking, hours and screening. City Secretary Miss Rios read the ordinance as Ordinance No. 2509.

The council also approved a rezoning and a conditional use permit connected to Carter Automotive. The council rezoned 0.0944 acres at 305 Oak Street and an adjacent alley from single‑family residential to general retail to allow the business to expand outdoor vehicle storage behind 406 East Broad Street. Planning staff said the owner must provide screening for adjacent residences; the applicant proposed a 6‑ to 8‑foot wood screening fence. The rezoning was assigned Ordinance No. 2510 and the conditional use permit for auto repair minor was assigned Ordinance No. 2511.

In a separate action, the council voted to allow the fire department to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Chief Holcomb told the council the department is seeking authorization to apply for funding to add up to nine firefighter positions. He said the grant would cover a large portion of salary and benefit costs for the first two years with the third year requiring a larger local share; the department described the city share as roughly 25% for the first two years and roughly 65% for the third year under the grant's phased funding structure.

Appointments and other votes The council completed multiple volunteer appointments across boards and commissions. Among appointments recorded in the meeting minutes: - Paula Neely: Bridal Adoption Center Shelter Advisory Committee, seat 7 (appointment) - Marcus McFarland: Bridal Adoption Center Shelter Advisory Committee, seat 9 (appointment) - Jerilyn Isaac: appointed to a shelter‑related position per motion on the record - Sharika Bankston: Building Standards Commission, seat 3 (reappointment) - Randall Klein: Building Standards Commission, seat 5 (appointment); also appointed as an alternate on the Historic Overlay District Architectural Review Board - Becky Lara: Historic Overlay District Architectural Review Board, seat 1 (appointment) - Brandon Deaton: Historic Overlay District Architectural Review Board, seat 2 (appointment) - Richard Hansen: Historic Overlay District Architectural Review Board, seat 3 (appointment) - Thomas Graham: appointed as alternate seat 3 on the Building Standards Commission - Winter (Britney) Flores: appointed as alternate seat 4 on the Building Standards Commission - Warren Yancey Jr.: Parks and Recreation Board, seat 7 (appointment) - Lawrence Ott: Planning and Zoning Commission, seat 2 (appointment) - LaPortia Hurst: Planning and Zoning Commission, seat 7 (reappointment)

Other routine business: The council approved the minutes of the June 3, 2025 regular meeting and passed the consent agenda items 1–7.

How the votes proceeded (motions, movers and seconds as recorded) - Minutes (06/03/2025): Motion to approve by Councilmember Salgado; second by Councilmember Schlenzker. Outcome: motion passes. - Consent agenda (items 1–7): Motion by Schlenzker; second by Helm. Outcome: motion passes. - Zoning amendment (youth center) — Action Item 1 / Ordinance No. 2509: Motion to approve by Councilmember Chambers; second by Ms. Delgado. Outcome: motion passes. - Rezoning 305 Oak Street — Action Item (Ordinance No. 2510): Motion by Schlenzker; second by Weatherford. Outcome: motion passes. - Conditional use permit for Carter Automotive (auto repair minor) — Ordinance No. 2511: Motion by Schlenzker; second by Weatherford. Outcome: motion passes. - Building and other board appointments: Multiple motions and seconds recorded; show‑of‑hands votes recorded and minutes state motions passed. - SAFER grant application authorization — Action Item 2: Motion by Chambers; second by Delgado. Outcome: motion passes.

The meeting minutes do not record individual roll‑call votes or numerical tallies for several approvals; the minutes note outcomes as "motion passes" or show‑of‑hands. Items that require later specific site plans or civil plan approvals — such as Carter Automotive's parking expansion — will return to staff review for technical compliance (screening, drainage/civil plans and code enforcement as noted by staff).

Speakers quoted in this article or who presented material are listed in the speakers section. Documentation: City Secretary Miss Rios read ordinance language aloud when ordinances were assigned numbers and staff presented exhibits and recommended conditions during the public hearings and CUP consideration.

Speakers in votes and approvals are listed below in the speakers section.