Waco council holds CAPER hearing, approves multiple rezones and ordinances; consent agenda passes

The Waco City Council on Dec. 17 held a public hearing on the city’s 2023–24 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and approved several zoning and ordinance items and resolutions by roll call.

HUD report hearing: Director Galen Price presented the CAPER, covering Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. The draft CAPER was made available for public comment beginning Dec. 5; Price said no public comments had been received as of the hearing date. The council opened and closed the public hearing; no council vote was required.

Zoning and land-use votes: The council conducted public hearings and approved the following zoning items after plan-commission recommendations: a rezoning of properties at 2405 and 2409 Singer Avenue (approximately 1.35 acres) from C-2 to O-3 district classification; and a land-use and zoning map amendment in the Sun West Village area (approximately 2.2 acres, lots 6 and 7, Block 2) to change a designation to mixed-use flex and to rezone from O-2 to C-2. Plan Commission recommendations for these items were unanimous in favor, and the council recorded affirmative roll-call votes and declared the motions passed.

Fence ordinance: The council approved updates to the city’s zoning code to establish fence construction standards (height, installation and maintenance) by amending section 28-9.29, Division 3, Accessory Structures and Uses, in Chapter 28 (Zoning). Plan Commission recommended approval; no public comments were received at the hearing.

Consent agenda and pulled items: The council approved the consent agenda covering resolutions 2024-993 through 2024-1025 except for the two items that had been pulled earlier. Resolution 2024-1010, which had been moved to the consent agenda and drew public comment in support from Andy Patillo of Quicksilver Investments, was approved after the public speaker indicated support; the council also approved another pulled resolution after Council Member Boro Roode filed an affidavit of substantial interest and recused as required. The full consent agenda passed on a subsequent roll call.

Ordinance, first reading: On first reading the council approved an ordinance updating the city’s junk-vehicle disposal rules to comply with chapter 683 of the Texas Transportation Code; council members said the measure’s purpose was to align local code with state law. The ordinance passed first reading and will return for later consideration as required by ordinance-reading procedure.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - CAPER public hearing (agenda item 2024-988): hearing held, no council action required. - Cowen Village Phase 4 final PUD (agenda item 2024-988): approved (separate article covers details). - Fence ordinance amendment (section 28-9.29): approved. - Rezoning: 2405 & 2409 Singer Ave (C-2 to O-3, ~1.35 acres): approved. - Land-use/zoning change: Sun West Village (lots 6–7, ~2.2 acres; mixed-use flex; O-2 to C-2): approved. - Resolution 2024-1010 (Quicksilver Investments): approved after public comment in support. - Pulled resolution with affidavit of substantial interest by Council Member Boro Roode: approved after required recusal. - Consent agenda (resolutions 2024-993 through 2024-1025, except pulled items): approved. - Junk-vehicle ordinance (first reading, updates to match TX Transportation Code chapter 683): passed first reading.

Several items drew little or no public comment during the hearings; plan-commission recommendations and staff presentations provided the primary detail used by council members in their votes.