Decatur City Council approves Nature Creek Reserve plan, backs regional animal-control study and clears several ordinances

The Decatur City Council on May 27 approved a set of land-use ordinances, agreements and appointments and authorized a feasibility study into a regional approach to animal control for Wise County-area municipalities.

The most consequential land-use action was final approval of the Nature Creek Reserve planned development, an amendment to the city zoning code covering about 200.4471 acres. Planning Director Lisa Hammond told the council staff added a sentence to the development standards requiring that “the living area, the AC area for all residential structures shall not be less than 1,000 square feet in area,” a change she said aligns the development with the underlying single-family-2 zoning. Council members voted to approve the ordinance on second reading.

The council also approved two smaller land-use items on second reading: a comprehensive-plan land-use amendment for roughly 5.114 acres and a rezoning of approximately 2.0355 acres (case numbers as published in the packet). Council discussion on the rezoning items included questions about home-size expectations and the measurement of square footage; staff said proposed lot-width-based standards would yield houses with living areas substantially larger than the 1,000-square-foot minimum when garages are excluded.

The council authorized a staff-initiated amendment to the Planning and Zoning Commission rules to allow the P&Z chair to cast a vote when serving as the quorum maker. A second-reading ordinance changing subdivision regulations to add traffic and drainage provisions also passed.

On public works, the council approved a streets-and-parking public-improvement project agreement with Wise County to continue joint paving and parking-lot projects and approved an encroachment agreement with Encore at Chisholm Apartments that formalizes city infrastructure passing under the development’s power lines on Thompson Street.

On regulatory policy, the council adopted an ordinance prohibiting amusement redemption machines and game rooms; staff published a public notice giving operators until July 1 to remove any covered machines. The consent agenda and a staff-drafted ordinance identified in the agenda packet also passed.

Regional animal-control study: The council voted to approve a resolution to enter a memorandum of understanding with neighboring municipalities to commission a feasibility study on a regional approach to animal-control services. Staff described a geographic study area that spans Wise County and parts of Denton County. City staff noted three consultant cost estimates ranged roughly from $10,000 to $40,000 and that participating cities would split the consultant fee; staff said Decatur’s share could be in the low thousands and could be paid from the general fund. Several neighboring cities — New Fairview, Rome, Northlake, Paradise and Newark — had already indicated interest in joining the study.

Appointments: The council filled several liaison and board positions. Council voted to add Linda Reeves to the Economic Development Corporation board, reappointed the mayor to serve as the North Central Texas Council of Governments representative, and kept the incumbent on the Airport Advisory Board (incumbent participation was discussed). Those appointments were approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to add Linda Reeves to the Economic Development Corporation board — approved by voice vote; mover/second recorded in meeting minutes. (agenda item 2) - Reappointment of mayor as representative to North Central Texas Council of Governments — approved by voice vote. (agenda item 2) - Airport Advisory Board liaison (incumbent to continue) — approved by voice vote. (agenda item 2) - SUP 25-0002 (second-reading ordinance, special use/permitting item listed on the packet) — approved on second reading. (agenda item 3) - CP25-0002 (comprehensive plan land-use designation amendment, ≈5.114 acres) — approved on second reading. (agenda item 4) - ZC25-0001 (rezoning ≈2.0355 acres) — approved on second reading. (agenda item 5) - Ordinance amending zoning (Nature Creek Reserve plan development, ≈200.4471 acres; adds minimum living-area language) — approved on second reading. (agenda item 6) - Ordinance 2025-05-22 (planning/development ordinance referenced in packet) — approved on motion; second reading. (agenda item 6 / formal ordinance text in packet) - Streets and parking public-improvement project agreement with Wise County — approved; authorized city manager to execute documents. (agenda item 7) - Resolution R2025-516 to establish an MOU to explore a regional animal-control approach (feasibility study) — approved; authorized study participation and staff to proceed. (agenda item 8) - Encroachment agreement with Encore at Chisholm Trail Apartments (1500 Deer Park Road) — approved; authorized city manager signature. (agenda item 9) - Ordinance amending the subdivision ordinance to add traffic and drainage provisions (second reading) — approved. (agenda item 10) - Ordinance prohibiting amusement redemption machines and game rooms (second reading) — approved; public notification memo published giving businesses until July 1 to comply. (agenda item 11) - Ordinance amending P&Z membership/terms to expand chair voting when serving as quorum maker (second reading) — approved. (agenda item 12) - Consent agenda — approved. (agenda item 13)

What the meeting did not do: Council did not set specific consultant contracts for the animal-control study at this meeting; staff described potential cost ranges and how costs would be split among participating cities. Council also did not set valuations for potential homes in the Nature Creek Reserve development — staff said no builder is under contract and no firm home-value numbers are available. Staff indicated the change in lot count for the Nature Creek Reserve plan from 693 to 694 lots.

The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:46 p.m.