Midlothian council approves several development and capital items; rezoning and drainage updates among measures passed

Midlothian City Council approved multiple routine and development items at its Nov. 11, 2025 meeting, including site plans, zoning and technical ordinance changes. The council acted unanimously on a number of items while continuing one major mixed-use rezoning (PD-170) for additional design review.

Votes at a glance

- Harmony Bank detailed site plan (detailed site plan with drive-through exceptions): Approved 5–0. (Staff presentation; no public speakers.) - Rezoning: ~11.102 acres out of the JV Emerson survey (Onward Road & Shiloh Road) from Agriculture to Single Family 2 (SF-2): Approved 4–0 (one councilmember recused). Staff recommended denial citing inconsistency with the 'country module' future land-use category; Planning & Zoning had recommended approval 5–2. Council’s approval allowed SF-2 zoning subject to standard subdivision review and dedications. - Subdivision ordinance — drainage and stormwater design updates (Chapter 10A): Adopted 5–0. Staff presented updated runoff coefficients, revised rainfall/intensity tables, lower allowable channel velocities to reduce erosion risk, and new outlet-discharge guidance for detention ponds (e.g., requiring outlets to release at rates below certain predevelopment flows for design storms). - Downtown design overlay stakeholder focus group appointments: Approved 5–0. Council appointed 12 residents/business owners in a 1/3 outside-downtown, 1/3 downtown residents, 1/3 downtown business owners split. - Award: accessory building behind Fire Station No. 2 (GLC Roofing Systems) — low bid $393,512.67 plus $30,000 contingency (total $423,512.67): Approved 5–0. Chief McCaskill noted an anticipated $45,000 underrun from a separate project and potential ESD participation (pending ESD approval). - Midway Regional Airport — Joint Airport Board development recommendations: Approved 5–0. The council accepted geographic priorities for airport development (corporate aviation, MROs, manufacturing/advanced air mobility, and FBO/terminal improvements) to guide future ground leases and potential city participation in infrastructure. - Ellis Appraisal District board votes: Council allocated its 155 votes as 78 votes for Nathan Potter and 77 votes for Walter Erwin and approved the allocation 5–0.

What the votes mean

The approvals move multiple projects toward implementation: the Harmony Bank site plan and the Fire Station accessory building have clear next steps (site construction and contract execution). The new subdivision drainage standards will apply to applications submitted after adoption and are meant to reduce runoff velocities and improve detention pond performance. The airport board recommendations establish priority areas where the city and regional partners will evaluate investment and leasing strategies; staff said cost estimates will follow.

Items continued or noted

- PD-170 (mixed-use at East Ridge/Main Street): Continued 5–0 pending a city council workshop to resolve facade, height and access concerns. The council asked staff and the applicant to return with alternatives and to discuss whether lowering the front building from three stories to two stories could work without losing unit count or moving units elsewhere on the site. - Executive session: Council held an executive session on economic development projects and reported no action when it reconvened.

Next steps

Staff will schedule follow-up items: a council workshop on design themes for Main Street and additional reporting on airport cost scenarios if council decides to pursue capital participation or ground-lease facilitation. Staff also noted that significant changes to tabled zoning items could require re-advertisement and a new public hearing.