Council approves preliminary and final plats for Villas at Heritage Pointe after public questions about drainage and timing

The Weatherford City Council on Feb. 24 approved a preliminary plat for 89 single-family lots and a separate final plat covering nine townhomes for the Villas at Heritage Pointe, a roughly 16.78-acre development along East First Street. Scott McDonald, director of development services, told the council the zoning was set in 2006 and that plat approval is a ministerial act handled against current city standards.

Resident Lynn Baber, who lives on Timber Cove Court, asked whether a developer’s long delay in building — roughly 20 years in this case — could justify denying a plat. She raised concerns about drainage, fence lines and the cumulative effect of nearby approvals, saying the intersection could see nearly 400 more homes if all local projects proceed. "Is there a timeline attached to this plat?" Baber asked.

City legal counsel Albon answered that Texas law generally allows an owner to rely on vested zoning and that zoning does not expire with time: "The zoning doesn't expire, and it runs with the property," he said, adding that if a plat meets the city's standards it must be approved and that the state 'shot clock' can cause an application to be deemed approved if the city does not act within the statutory time window.

Council member Luke Williams asked staff to confirm that phase 1 covered the nine townhomes at the north end of the property and that remaining acreage would return as phase 2. McDonald confirmed that sequence. The council approved the preliminary plat and the final plat on separate motions; the motions were seconded and passed by voice vote.