Council approves Novus Academy permit, renews Camp Gladiator, confirms appointments in unanimous votes

The Southlake City Council on April 15 took a series of routine and semi-routine votes, including land-use approvals for a private school, a renewal of an outdoor fitness permit, and personnel confirmations.

Novus Academy: zoning change and specific-use permit The council approved second-reading zoning and a specific-use permit for Novus Academy, a K-12 private school that serves students with learning differences, to occupy about 22,000 square feet at 2250 East Continental Boulevard. Director Killough said the site27s current I-1 light industrial zoning will be amended to a detailed SP-1 district so the property can host the private school while retaining existing industrial uses on the lot. The applicant, Amy Richard, told council the school expects up to 50 students and 17 staff for the 2025-26 school year, and that operations would run roughly from 7:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval; council voted to adopt both the zoning ordinance and the SUP 6-0.

Camp Gladiator SUP renewal Council renewed the specific-use permit for Camp Gladiator27s outdoor fitness classes at a Southlake location for five years, effective May 25, 2025. Applicant Brooke Nicholson told council the operator had recently moved morning workouts to a south parking area to reduce impacts on adjacent residences; council voted 6-0 to approve the renewal subject to staff conditions.

Personnel and board confirmations (consent items) As part of the consent agenda council: - Approved the city manager27s appointment of Shannon Langford as fire chief effective May 5, 2025 (consent item 9A). City Manager Allison Ortowski summarized Mr. Langford27s 32 years of fire and EMS experience, his leadership roles in Farmers Branch and Allen, and credentials including a master27s degree and completion of the Texas A&M TEEX chief executive program; the council added the confirmation to the consent agenda and approved it 6-0. - Adopted first-reading ordinances reappointing Cara Carreras and Lindsey Kinsey as associate municipal judges for two-year terms. - Approved amendments to the boards-and-commissions ordinance that dissolve the Alliance for Community Engagement and revise the allowable consecutive terms for board chairs; the council voted 6-0 on second reading.

What happened procedurally Council handled several of these items on the consent agenda but required public hearings for the school zoning and SUP and for Camp Gladiator prior to final votes. All votes noted above passed unanimously (6-0).

Provenance: The council debated Novus Academy at agenda items 6A and 6B and voted to approve both items 6-0; Camp Gladiator was addressed under item 6D; appointments and ordinance amendments were on the consent agenda and approved 6-0.

Votes at a glance (selected) - Novus Academy (Zoning second reading, Ord. 480-833): approved 6-0. - Novus Academy (Specific Use Permit, Res. 25-017): approved 6-0 (term tied to lease and lease extensions). - Camp Gladiator (Specific Use Permit renewal, Res. 25-018): approved 6-0, five-year SUP. - Shannon Langford (fire chief confirmation, Consent item 9A): confirmed as part of consent, vote 6-0. - Associate judges (Ordinances 1290, 1291): first readings approved; reappointments authorized. - Amendment to Boards & Commissions (Ord. 1228D, second reading): approved 6-0.