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Property owners decry 'forced zoning' as commission considers AG setback changes
Summary
Two Northlake residents told the commission the proposed shift of some rural residential parcels toward agricultural zoning, even as a text-only change to setbacks, feels like 'forced zoning' that infringes on private property rights; commissioners and staff said rezonings would be a separate council decision.
Two residents spoke during the public hearing against the prospect of rezoning rural residential land to agricultural (AG), even as the commission considered only text amendments to setbacks.
Michael Savoie, who gave his street address as 8132 Florence Road and said he is one of the affected property owners, said he was "not opposed to the changes" to setbacks but objected to what he called "forced zoning," telling the commission that "you are forcibly changing our zoning from rural residential to ag, which limits what we can do with our property." He said he and other large landowners run cattle, are not seeking development, and want protections for private property rights.
Rena Harderman, who identified herself as a multi-generation Denton County resident, echoed opposition to forced zoning and urged commissioners not to recommend the change to council. She also raised a process concern, saying attendance was low because road conditions were dangerous and suggesting the meeting should have been postponed to allow more residents to appear.
Staff and commissioners repeatedly clarified the scope of the night's action: the commission was being asked only to recommend code text changes to setbacks, and council would separately consider any rezoning of specific properties at a later meeting. The public comments were recorded and the hearing closed at 05:45.
