Wylie council approves two zoning special-use permits, awards $6.8 million Stone Road contract; votes 7-0 on each item

Wylie City Council members voted unanimously May 27 to approve two zoning special-use permits and to award a major road maintenance contract, part of a meeting that also cleared a consent agenda and scheduled other business for future meetings.

What the council approved - Hookah lounge expansion (2771 W. FM 544): council approved a change in zoning from Commercial Corridor (CC) to Commercial Corridor with Special Use Permit (CC SUP) to allow an expansion of an existing hookah lounge. The approval covers an expansion of the business from about 1,800 square feet to 2,700 square feet; the applicant plans to use the additional 900 square feet for food service. The SUP conditions limit smoking to inside the establishment and restrict sales to hookah products; the planner noted the business is currently legally nonconforming and the expansion requires bringing it into conformity. Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6-0 after discussion about ventilation. Staff mailed 27 notices within 200 feet; one property owner returned an opposition letter. The council approved the item by a 7-0 vote (motion by Dave Strang; second by David R. Duke).

- Flytrex drone delivery site (709 Cooper Drive): the council approved a SUP allowing Flytrex to operate a drone-launch site on about 0.47 acres. The proposal includes up to 14 launch pads, an 18-by-16-foot equipment shed, and use of shore power (no generator). The company said its drones carry up to 6.5 pounds and typically perform roughly five-mile round trips; operations must occur during daylight hours and are limited in hours (site open no earlier than 8:00 a.m.; last sales by 9:30 p.m., subject to daylight). Staff noted the FAA regulates aircraft and airspace and that utilities and routing are coordinated with federal air-traffic/UTM systems; staff and planning recommended approval and P&Z recommended 6-0. Notices to property owners within 200 feet numbered 17; the record includes one supportive response. The council approved the SUP 7-0 (motion by David R. Duke; second by Dave Strang).

- Stone Road maintenance contract (WA2025-87-2): the council awarded the Stone Road maintenance contract to Texas Materials Group for $6,809,012, a package that includes Alternate #4 and a 10% contingency. Staff reported four bids were received; the city engineer of record reviewed the apparent low bidder’s qualifications and recommended award. A county interlocal agreement (ILA) will fund about 27% of the project, lowering the city’s net share to just under $5,000,000. The contract calls for roughly 180 calendar days to substantial completion (210 days for final completion) and includes replacement of nine cross culverts, regrading of bar ditches and driveway culverts, and paving work. The council approved the award 7-0 (motion by Scott Williams; second by Sid Hoover).

Other formal actions - Consent agenda: council accepted the consent agenda as presented (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gino Malicci; second by Dave Strang). Vote: 7-0.

Context and council discussion Council members asked staff about ventilation and parking for the hookah lounge expansion, confirmed the business would retain all smoking indoors, and heard that public-safety records showed one disruptive call for service since 2019 that staff said did not implicate the owner. For the Flytrex item, council members sought operational and safety details; company representative Wade Hardin said Flytrex has operational sites elsewhere in the DFW area and that the drones operate under FAA authority with traffic-management coordination; staff emphasized that cities cannot regulate navigable airspace, which the FAA oversees. For Stone Road, staff explained drainage work, a bid alternate that allows addressing additional homeowners’ driveway culverts, and the 27% county ILA partnership. Council asked about potential lane closures and estimated durations for culvert replacements (staff estimated closures could be a few days to a week for some crossings; overall contract days were 180/210).

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved 7-0 (mover: Gino Malicci; seconder: Dave Strang). - Zoning case 2025-04 (2771 W. FM 544, CC to CC SUP for a smoking establishment): approved 7-0 (mover: Dave Strang; seconder: David R. Duke). - Zoning case 2025-05 (709 Cooper Drive, CC to CC SUP for Flytrex drone delivery site): approved 7-0 (mover: David R. Duke; seconder: Dave Strang). - WA2025-87-2 (Stone Road maintenance to Texas Materials Group): contract award approved 7-0 (mover: Scott Williams; seconder: Sid Hoover); contract $6,809,012 (includes Alternate #4 and 10% contingency); county ILA covers ~27%.

Next steps: staff will complete building-plan review and permits for the hookah lounge expansion; Flytrex must coordinate FAA approvals and final site-plan details with staff; the contractor for Stone Road will attend a pre-construction meeting to set a start date and sequencing. The council convened an executive session later in the evening on separate real-estate and economic-development negotiations and read an ordinance title related to a budget amendment (Ordinance No. 2025-21) before adjourning.