Granbury planning commission approves temporary amusement SUP with $10 million insurance condition; OKs accessory dwelling SUP

The Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Granbury approved two specific-use permits on Jan. 13, 2025: a temporary outdoor amusement permit for a March event at 615 East Pearl Street and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 324 Sardis Boulevard. The commission voted to add a $10,000,000 umbrella liability requirement to the amusement permit; the ADU permit was approved as presented.

The amusement permit covers a temporary outdoor “amusement center” event on a 5.43-acre site known as City Beach (Lot 1, Block 1, Granbury Beach Addition). City planning staff said the event is scheduled March 6–19 and that the request requires a specific-use permit under the zoning ordinance and compliance with the city’s event/festival rules. Staff reported nine mailed notices and one letter in favor; no letters in opposition. Staff recommended approval.

Commissioner Moore raised public-safety and financial-risk concerns and proposed the insurance increase after noting the city’s current liability requirement. “There’s more of a risk today than there ever has been. And there’s a potential for a real disaster if a stand falls, if it fails, or if a bull gets out,” Commissioner Moore said. Moore said the city’s minimum liability was $1,000,000 and that the applicant had increased coverage previously to $2,000,000; Moore recommended raising the umbrella insurance to $10,000,000. City staff told the commission increasing the umbrella would add only about $50–$100 to the event’s insurance cost, per the discussion on the record. The commission approved the SUP with the $10,000,000 umbrella condition.

The ADU request concerned a 15-by-21 accessory building (roughly 315 square feet) proposed for the rear of a lot in Gemstone Estates (Lot 23, Block 6). Staff said the development is zoned PDSF-4 (Planned Development Standards referencing the city’s 1995 zoning code), which requires a specific-use permit for ADUs. Staff reported 36 mailed notices and one letter in opposition and recommended approval. Applicant Mary Melinda Franco told the commission the unit is intended for her son and will include a bedroom, a small kitchen and a bathroom; she said a certified electrician and plumber will obtain required permits. “I was seeking permission to build a 15 by 21 accessory building in my backyard … for my son,” Franco said.

Commissioners and staff discussed construction and code issues: the PD references the 1995 zoning ordinance, which does not specify current ADU size limits (the modern ordinance lists a 450-square-foot standard, but staff said the PD defaults to the 1995 code language). Staff also noted that the ADU must be for an immediate family member and cannot be used as a rental; code enforcement could cite future violations. The commission discussed fire-code requirements: because the unit sits within four feet of the primary house, fire and building inspections will require a one-hour firewall (applicant said she will construct the entire unit to that standard). The commission approved the ADU SUP as presented.

Other business: the commission approved the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting minutes by motion and second, and the record shows an applicant-requested continuance for the next agenda item (D-3) to a future date to be determined. Staff reported no plats in the monthly plat report.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve Dec. 9, 2024 minutes as presented — motion carried (motion and second on the record; vote recorded as aye). - D-1: Specific-use permit, 615 E. Pearl St. (temporary outdoor amusement center; event March 6–19; 5.43 acres) — motion by Commissioner Moore to approve with an additional condition requiring a $10,000,000 umbrella liability policy; second by Commissioner Hayes; motion carried. - D-2: Specific-use permit, 324 Sardis Blvd. (accessory dwelling unit, 15x21) — motion to approve as presented; second by Commissioner Moore; motion carried. - D-3: Applicant requested continuance to a future date — continued/postponed by request.

The commission’s actions were recorded in open session; no roll-call tallies were entered into the transcript for individual yes/no votes beyond general “aye” responses recorded on the audio record. Any required permits, inspections and compliance with the city’s event/festival ordinance, zoning ordinance provisions and the master fee schedule remain conditions of the approved SUPs.