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Council directs staff to review downtown master plan and South Side residential overlay
Summary
Rockwall’s mayor asked staff to review and propose updates to the downtown district ordinance and the South Side residential overlay district; the council voted unanimously to direct staff to begin that review and return with recommendations.
Mayor McCallum on June 16 asked council to direct staff to initiate a review of two planning documents: the downtown district ordinance (and downtown master plan) and the South Side residential overlay district. The council voted unanimously to send the matters to staff for study.
Why it matters: The mayor said the downtown master plan and the South Side overlay date from prior planning efforts and may not reflect the city’s current priorities, including preservation and the downtown character residents have emphasized. The requested review is intended to align zoning standards and design guidance with the city’s comprehensive-plan update and recent property purchases and investments.
What the council directed staff to review - South Side residential overlay district: The mayor asked staff to evaluate remaining lots in the overlay, lot-coverage and minimum-home-size standards, architectural guidelines and the allowances for multiunit development. He said the overlay was adopted in 1996 and merits re-examination in light of recent redevelopment patterns and planned public investments (including a grant-funded basketball court project with the Boys & Girls Club and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, and potential property acquisitions).
- Downtown master plan and downtown-district ordinance: The mayor said the previous downtown plan was produced with a redevelopment emphasis, while current community sentiment favors preservation of Rockwall’s downtown character. He asked staff to consider whether the downtown master plan should be revised, whether the Historic Preservation Advisory Board should have an oversight role in downtown reviews, and to propose updates that reflect the city’s preservation goals and recent downtown purchases (the mayor referenced a recently acquired church property downtown).
Council discussion and direction Councilmembers voiced support for the review. Councilmember Henson cited ongoing work to uncover and preserve historical features and supported further study; Mayor Pro Tem Tim Mueller and others noted recent purchases and the need to consider parking and preservation together. The mayor said the review should proceed alongside the broader comprehensive-plan update, but not be delayed until that work is complete.
Motion and vote Mayor McCallum moved to direct staff to initiate the review of the downtown district ordinance and the South Side residential overlay district; Councilwoman Jeffers seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps The mayor said he expects the review to take time and indicated a goal of working on the overlay and downtown issues over the next year, coordinated with the comprehensive-plan update and staff capacity. Staff was directed to return with proposed amendments and recommendations for Council deliberation and public hearings.
Ending: Council’s unanimous direction requires staff analysis, draft ordinance language (where appropriate) and public outreach; no regulatory changes were adopted at the June 16 meeting.
