Grimes council advances Sienna Hills, tables Brookside Village North and approves Fox Glenn/Prairie Heights rezones

The Grimes City Council on Jan. 13 advanced three separate rezoning items after staff presentations and limited public comment.

Sienna Hills (Ordinance 808): City staff described the proposal as a rezoning of roughly 34 acres from A1 agriculture to R4/PUD for a concept plan with approximately 93 single-family lots, private detention, a 10-foot trail connection to west-side amenities, and dedicated right-of-way along 19th Street. Staff noted the greenway purchase in the area previously satisfied parkland dedication requirements and recommended approval; the council passed first consideration on roll call (members recorded as voting yes included Earlbe, Love Lady, De Phillips and Johansson).

Brookside Village North (Ordinance 809): Staff presented a roughly 14-acre concept to rezone from C2 commercial to R4/PUD with higher-density development along Highway 141 and a fee-in-lieu arrangement that would allocate an estimated $250,000 toward North Park improvements. Resident Terry Gollightly spoke in the public hearing to object to PUD density adjacent to single-family homes and to raise concerns about utility easements. Per staff request, the council voted to table first consideration of Ordinance 809 to allow finalization of the development agreement (roll call recorded votes in favor included Or, Phillips, Rbeck, Johansson and Love Lady).

Fox Glenn & Prairie Heights (Ordinance 806): After staff described the combined rezone (about 52 acres) and minor edits to the development agreement, council members asked technical questions about a proposed trail crossing that would have required a pedestrian bridge because of sanitary sewer constraints. Staff said the bridge would likely cost approximately $200,000 and that sidewalk alternatives provide pedestrian access without that expense. The council moved and adopted Ordinance 806 on final passage by roll call (members recorded as voting yes included Waring, Phillips, Johansson, Earl and Love Lady).

Why it matters: The rezones shape where residential and mixed-use growth will occur in Grimes, with staff pointing to consistency with the comprehensive plan, infrastructure work (water main extensions and road overlays) and mitigation such as landscaping buffers and fee-in-lieu park funding. The Brookside item was delayed to resolve development-agreement details; Fox Glenn/Prairie Heights won final approval.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in meeting transcript): - Ordinance 808 (Sienna Hills) — First consideration: recorded yes votes included Earlbe, Love Lady, De Phillips, Johansson (motion passed). - Ordinance 809 (Brookside Village North) — Motion to table first consideration: recorded yes votes included Or, Phillips, Rbeck, Johansson, Love Lady (motion passed; first consideration tabled). - Ordinance 806 (Fox Glenn & Prairie Heights) — Final passage: recorded yes votes included Waring, Phillips, Johansson, Earl, Love Lady (ordinance passed).

Sources: Staff presentations and roll-call votes recorded during the Jan. 13 Grimes City Council meeting (City staff Evan and Alex provided project summaries and technical explanations).