Waco City Council approves multiple land-use changes, easements and code amendments; eminent-domain authority authorized for Speegleville project

WACO — The Waco City Council on Jan. 21 approved a package of rezonings, plan amendments, easement and right-of-way actions and several ordinance readings, and authorized staff to pursue acquisition — including eminent domain if necessary — for the Speegleville Corridor Improvement Project.

Council approved a short-term rental special permit for property at 4916 Hillcrest Drive, granted a withdrawal request for an application at 8464 Spicewood Road, and approved an amendment to the Saddle Creek planned-unit development to allow a car-washing establishment in a designated commercial pad with seven specific conditions. The council also approved changes to comprehensive-plan land-use designations and rezonings at multiple addresses, an abandonment of part of Trikes Avenue with conditions to protect utilities and fire access, and a consent-agenda slate of routine resolutions and budgeted items.

Why it matters: the approvals change allowable uses at specific sites, add frontage development flexibility in Saddle Creek (but limit hours and require construction and screening measures for a proposed car wash), and clear city authority to obtain property and easements needed to widen and improve Speegleville Road.

Key outcomes and conditions

- Short-term rental: The council approved a special-permit request allowing a Type 1 short-term rental at 4916 Hillcrest Drive. Plan Commission had recommended approval. The permit is subject to the city’s licensing process for short-term rentals, including a two-year license and biennial review.

- Withdrawal granted: An application for a Type 1 short-term rental at 8464 Spicewood Road was formally withdrawn at the applicant’s request; staff recommended approval of the withdrawal and the council approved it.

- Saddle Creek PUD amendment (car wash): Council approved an amendment to the Saddle Creek PUD to permit automobile car wash uses in the commercial area generally north of China Spring Road, subject to conditions including: site plan compliance with grading/drainage and parking standards; subdivision compliance before permits; car wash limited to a specified lot; an eight-foot masonry wall at the rear of the car wash parcel; hours restricted to 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; vacuum equipment enclosed; and lighting directed inward toward the site.

- Land-use and zoning changes: The council approved amendments to the comprehensive plan and zoning map for multiple small properties referenced by staff, including a change for property at 3208 Robson Drive (land-use change to support C-2 zoning) and zoning map changes for properties near downtown (including a change for 1726 Austin Avenue to C-4) and for lots on Sanger Avenue. Plan Commission recommended approval of these items.

- Right-of-way abandonment (Trikes Avenue): Council approved abandonment of approximately 0.319 acres of right-of-way (Trikes Avenue) contingent on retention or relocation of utility easements: a 15-foot easement for an existing and rerouted water line, a 26-foot fire lane within 150 feet of all exterior first-floor points (or approved turnaround if distance exceeds 150 feet), and additional easements or relocations for utilities at the developer’s expense.

- Eminent-domain authorization (Speegleville Corridor): By recorded vote with special motion language, the council authorized acquisition — including use of eminent domain if necessary — of multiple easements and fee tracts across parcels in McGregor, Woodway and other parcels described in staff language as required for the Speegleville Corridor Improvement Project. The motion described specific acreage and easement types to be acquired for the Speegleville Road widening and corridor improvements.

- Scrivener correction for easement payment: Council corrected a draft resolution that had an erroneous large figure; the motion approved an amount not to exceed $426,692 for easement purchases and an amount not to exceed $4,500 for closing-related costs for a specified purchase (staff cited a scrivener’s error in the previous draft). The corrected amounts were adopted.

- Ordinances and code updates: Council took action on multiple ordinance items: on first reading repealed the city’s mandatory retirement provision (section 18‑131); approved updates to the junk-vehicle code to comply with state law; adopted fence-construction criteria; and approved several zoning-map and land-use amendments on second readings where noted. Most ordinance items referenced the city code and chapter 28 zoning and were presented with Plan Commission recommendations.

Discussion, direction and next steps

Most items came through as public hearings with limited public comment and were approved after staff presentation and a Plan Commission recommendation. The Saddle Creek car-wash amendment included explicit construction and operational conditions. The Trikes Avenue abandonment and the Speegleville acquisitions include requirements to preserve utility access and fire-lane access; developers will either retain easements or relocate utilities at their expense in coordination with providers. The council recorded votes and moved several items from consent for separate roll-call consideration before approving the remainder of the consent agenda.

The council recessed the business session at the end of the meeting for executive session items including property and economic-development briefing topics.

Votes at a glance (items acted on in this meeting)

- Special permit — 4916 Hillcrest Drive (Type 1 short-term rental): approved (council vote recorded; Plan Commission 10‑0 recommended). - Withdrawal — 8464 Spicewood Road (Type 1 short-term rental application): withdrawal approved on applicant request. - PUD amendment — Saddle Creek concept plan to allow car wash in commercial area: approved with conditions (site limitations, hours, screening, lighting, vacuum enclosure). - Land-use / zoning changes — multiple properties (3208 Robson Drive; Sanger Avenue lots; 1726 Austin Avenue; others): approved per staff descriptions and Plan Commission recommendations. - Right-of-way abandonment — Trikes Avenue (approx. 0.319 acres): approved subject to easement and fire-access conditions. - Resolution 2025‑052 — Authorization to acquire multiple easements/fee tracts and use eminent domain if necessary for the Speegleville Corridor Improvement Project: authorized by recorded motion and roll call. - Resolution 2025‑062 — Corrected easement payment authorization to an amount not to exceed $426,692 and closing costs not to exceed $4,500: approved. - Consent agenda (resolutions 2025‑020 through 2025‑068, except pulled items): approved. - Ordinances (including repeal of mandatory-retirement section 18‑131 on first reading; junk-vehicle, fence standards and multiple zoning/map amendments): taken in the readings presented (first/second reading results noted at the dais).

What the council did not do

No new citywide dog‑park policy or specific park‑development funding was adopted at this meeting; public commenters asked the council to add dog-park planning to Parks & Recreation agendas but the council did not take immediate action on that request during this session.

The council’s formal documents, staff reports and video/minutes provide full verbatim wording of motions, staff findings and the roll-call tallies for each item.