Forney council conditionally approves final plat for Wayfair at Forney Addition after residents raise drainage, traffic concerns

The Forney City Council on Jan. 21 approved the final plat for the Wayfair at Forney Addition, a proposed multifamily development in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), on the condition that the developer finalize and receive staff approval of the civil drainage plans before any further action.

City planning staff told the council the request would establish boundary lines and easements for two lots totaling roughly 50.8 acres east of Helms Trail and Prairie Lake Lane. Peter Morgan, city planning staff, said the preliminary plat was approved Aug. 20, 2024, and that the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 on Jan. 2, 2025, to recommend approval after 16 members of the public spoke in opposition.

Why it matters: The tract lies outside Forney's corporate limits, in the city's ETJ. Council members and residents emphasized that the council's authority is limited for land-use controls in the ETJ; staff and the developer said the council's role on a final plat is largely ministerial as long as subdivision-ordinance standards and stamped engineering plans are met. Still, residents urged the council to withhold approval until drainage, road…