Subdivision ordinance fails after split council vote in Burton

The Burton City Council voted down Ordinance 20250114, a proposed set of rules governing subdivision of land and plats within the city, after a split vote on Jan. 14, 2025. Councilmembers Nathan Kalkhake and Macey Tidwell voted to adopt the ordinance; Councilmembers Jeff Eckhardt, Tommie Gilmon and Paul McLaughlin voted against it, and the motion failed.

The ordinance had been the subject of six months of workshops and meetings, according to materials in the meeting packet. Supporters, including Councilmember Kalkhake, argued the rules were needed "to protect the city's utility infrastructure and to encourage healthy development," and that the ordinance was timely given pending property sales. During a public hearing, resident Tiffany Eckhardt said she "feels that the peoples voice is not being heard" and urged the council to complete a comprehensive plan before adopting an ordinance; Susan Kiel asked the council to add explicit language exempting lots grandfathered by the existing town plat and to clarify that the ordinance apply only to new development, citing Brenham as an example.

Opponents raised concerns about scope and timing. After the vote failed, the council also removed a related Subdivision Fee Schedule from the agenda. The meeting packet and discussion show the city had considered interlocal arrangements and alternatives; council later approved a renewal of an interlocal agreement with Washington County to regulate subdivision standards in Burton's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Next steps: the council did not adopt the ordinance and left the fee schedule off the agenda; supporters and opponents signaled they will continue discussions about the city's approach to subdivision regulation and whether to pursue a comprehensive plan first.