Council directs staff to draft UDC text amendment to allow event hall use at Honey Locust Farms

Property owner Ron Hawkins told the Rockwall City Council he has operated classes and small events at Honey Locust Farms for years and had applied for a certificate of occupancy after staff raised code-enforcement concerns. City staff (Ryan) explained the property is zoned agricultural and the city’s future land use designates it for technology/employment, noting that light industrial zoning is the best long-term fit but does not currently allow banquet facilities. Staff recommended a Unified Development Code text amendment that would allow a banquet facility or event hall in a light industrial district through a Specific Use Permit so the council could evaluate parking, operations and compatibility case by case.

Hawkins described his events as informal gatherings—classes, birthday parties and small weddings for roughly 100–125 people—and said he had applied for a CO and minor permits. Councilmembers asked procedural and compatibility questions, including whether a concrete parking lot or detention pond would be required for code compliance; staff said establishing a new use requires demonstrating conformance with UDC parking and health/safety requirements and typically a site plan and permits. Staff emphasized that rezoning to light industrial would still be necessary before an SUP could be applied, and that the SUP would not change the base zoning for future owners.

Several councilmembers expressed conditional support and offered 'head nods' directing staff to move forward with drafting the amendment and to take the item through planning and zoning and public hearings; no formal motion or vote occurred at the meeting.

Next steps: Staff will draft the proposed text amendment and proceed through planning and zoning and public hearings if directed; any rezoning and sup application would require subsequent hearings and voter action by council.