Decatur council approves multiple ordinances, annexations and contracts; tables one replat

Decatur City Council on March 24, 2025 approved a slate of second-reading ordinances and other action items affecting land use, development timing and municipal services, and it voted to table one replat for further review.

Council approved the second reading of an updated schedule of fees (Ordinance 2025-03-11) and unanimously adopted annexation and land-use measures tied to new development proposals, including Nature Creek Reserve and a larger Libertas Decatur LP project. The council also approved a comprehensive-plan amendment and plan-development rezoning for the Libertas parcel and a separate comprehensive-plan amendment for Decatur Office Village at 1801 South Trinity Street.

Lisa Hannon, Decatur's planning director, told the council the Libertas application covers roughly 200.4471 acres at 1800 North US Highway 81/287 and that the Nature Creek Reserve annexation is approximately 125.3262 acres on US Highway 81/287. Council members moved and seconded the ordinances and approved them by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.

The council granted a six-month extension for the preliminary plat for Novell Terrace Lofts (PP2023-10), an 8.496-acre proposal for 64 lots at Deer Park Road and Trophy Ridge Drive. The applicant, identified only as Amir and described as a director for the LLC owning the project, said negotiations remain ongoing with pipeline owner EnLink to relocate a line on the site. "We have a pipeline here which is laid by EnLink ... we are still in the process of finalizing it with them," Amir told the council, and asked for more time.

Council approved an agreement with Royal Auction Group Inc. to provide government surplus-auction services; the city attorney and staff said the contract requires no payment by the city up front and the contractor is paid from fees assessed to buyers.

On the consent agenda, council approved listed consent items but pulled one replat (RP25-0001) at the request of the applicant, Decatur EDC. Kevin Holzbaugh, representing Decatur EDC, asked the council to table the replat and said he waived the shot-clock provisions of Section 212.009 of the Texas Local Government Code to allow more time to resolve project details. The council voted to table RP25-0001.

The meeting included an executive session to discuss the purchase, exchange or lease of real property under Texas Government Code —551.072; city staff reported no action followed the closed session.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025-03-11 (schedule of fees): approved (second reading, voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-03-11 (Nature Creek Reserve annexation): approved (second reading, voice vote); approx. 125.3262 acres on US Highway 81/287. - Ordinance 2025-03-12 (Libertas Decatur LP annexation/comprehensive plan amendment): approved (second reading, voice vote); approx. 200.4471 acres at 1800 N US Hwy 81/287. - Ordinance 2025-03-13 (plan development rezoning for Libertas parcel): approved (second reading, voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-03-14 (Decatur Office Village comprehensive-plan amendment, 5.82 acres at 1801 S Trinity St.): approved (second reading, voice vote). - PP2023-10 (Novell Terrace Lofts preliminary plat): 6-month extension approved; 8.496 acres, 64 lots; applicant cited need to coordinate pipe relocation with EnLink. - Agreement with Royal Auction Group Inc. (government surplus auction services): approved; no upfront municipal cost specified. - RP25-0001 (replat requested by Decatur EDC): tabled at applicant's request; applicant waived time limits under Texas Local Government Code —212.009. - Consent agenda (items b and c): approved; item a pulled and tabled as RP25-0001.

Most votes were taken by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript. Several items were presented as routine second readings and received little debate during the meeting.