The Forney Planning and Zoning Commission voted to add a new definition and zoning regulations for fortune-teller and psychic businesses, permitting the use in the Light Industrial district only after a conditional use permit was obtained.

Staff told the commission the change was prompted by a prospective operator seeking to open a psychic business near Highway 80 and that the city’s current zoning ordinance did not include a specific classification for fortune-telling or psychic services. "The definition would be fortune tellerspsychic, use involving the foretelling of the future in exchange for financial or other valuable consideration," a staff member said, presenting a draft ordinance and comparable rules used by other North Texas cities. Staff said Forney typically provides specific definitions and classifications instead of leaving the use unlisted.

The draft ordinance, as presented, would create a single definition that captures related terms and would place the use in the Light Industrial district. Staff explained that treatment of the use varies across nearby cities: some allow it only by conditional use permit in heavier commercial districts (Richland Hills, Sherman, Allen), Frisco and Prosper permit it only in industrial districts, Rockwall allows it in most nonresidential districts with downtown conditional use requirements, and other cities leave it unlisted (Garland, Sachse, Terrell, Rowlett). The staff presentation said the city provided legal notice in the Forney Messenger and that no public comments were received.

Commissioner Peter asked why staff recommended permitting the use by right rather than requiring a conditional use permit. The staff member replied, "We've seen it either way but the Light Industrial District is already one that really only allows the most intense uses, and so we would be fine either way, if the commission prefers conditional use permit we can certainly go that route instead." Following that exchange, a commissioner moved to add the definition and to permit the use in the Light Industrial district with a conditional use permit; a second was recorded and the motion carried by voice vote.

Staff did not provide language specifying application fees, operational limits, or hours of operation in the ordinance text presented; the commission adopted the narrow zoning location (Light Industrial) with the conditional-use requirement as the governing approval mechanism. The amendment will require applicants proposing fortune-teller or psychic operations in the Light Industrial district to apply for a conditional use permit and undergo that review process before beginning operations.

Why this matters: the change creates a clear regulatory path for an activity that was previously unlisted in Forney’s zoning ordinance and gives the city a discretionary permit process (conditional use) when the use locates in the Light Industrial district. It aligns Forney’s approach with several neighboring cities that either restrict the use to heavier commercial/industrial districts or make it subject to conditional review.

Provenance (transcript evidence):
Topic intro — staff presentation: s=64.43 ("The first item is is to hold a public hearing ... fortune teller psychic and related uses.")
Topic finish — motion and vote: s=363.29 ("All in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries.")

Speakers cited: Chair (unnamed), Staff member (presenter), Commissioner Peter (questioner), Missus Harris (prayer leader)

Authorities identified in meeting: Texas local government code (referenced by staff regarding subdivision/zoning review), City of Forney comprehensive zoning ordinance (subject of the amendment).