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Council approves Caballo Farms final plan and annexation matter amid public objections and pending litigation
Summary
Council approved the Caballo Farms final plan (Bill 7852) and moved forward on multiple annexation and rezoning first readings despite public commenters who cited a pending Writ of Mandamus and urged tabling; the final plan passed 9–1 (Taylor opposed).
The City Council approved Bill 7852 (final plan for Caballo Farms) after reconsideration and a roll call vote that resulted in nine yes votes and one no (Councilmember Taylor). The ordinance was assigned number 7313.
Katie Peroutka of McBride Homes presented Caballo Farms Addition as a 6.08‑acre addition of 14 detached single‑family lots (52‑foot wide lots) with substantial common open space — she said about 45% of the site will be common ground and that the developer is preserving roughly 95% of trees on the parcel. "We are so pleased to receive our approval on our final plan for our overall Caballo Farms project," Peroutka said during the presentation, describing the Bayside product line and amenities that will be accessible to the addition.
During the public hearing and comment period several residents and the city public advocate, Arnie C. A. C. Dienoff, urged the council to table action on the annexations and related items. Dienoff said there was insufficient transparency about land‑acquisition costs and impact analysis and referenced ongoing litigation: "There's no price tag, no transparency, and no public disclosure of exactly how much the land is going to cost us," he said, and later told the council the dispute included a Writ of Mandamus filed in county circuit court (case number referenced in the record).
Dienoff also charged that the verified petition for annexation was unusually short and urged council to allow courts to rule before moving forward. Other public commenters echoed concerns and criticized use of new bill numbers while litigation was unresolved. Councilmembers and staff acknowledged the comments but proceeded with votes and first readings for related annexation and rezoning bills (Bills 7858–7861) and for Caballo Farms documents.
The council's recorded vote on final approval of Bill 7852 showed Councilmember Taylor as the lone dissenting vote; the motion to reconsider and then approve was moved by Councilmember Cook and seconded by Councilmember Wilcox.
Several annexation petitions (Bills 7858, 7859, 7860) and a rezoning/area plan (Bill 7861) were introduced for first reading the same evening; staff and the applicant said they would respond to technical questions as the items proceed through the public‑hearing and review process.
