Levelland council and planning commission begin diagnostic review of zoning ordinance

Mayor Breann Buxkemper convened the Levelland City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission for a joint work session on June 16, 2025, at 5:02 p.m. at Levelland City Hall to begin a diagnostic review of the city's zoning ordinance. The meeting room roster noted council members Michael Stueart, Bill Powell and Jaime McCabe as present; Max Ledesma was recorded absent. Planning and Zoning Chair Butch Wade and commission members Roger Lindsey, Pete Cunningham, Jeremiah Gavina and Ryan Fitzgerald were present; two alternates and one member were absent. City Manager James Fisher, Interim Assistant City Manager Justin Balderas and City Secretary Andre9a Corley were also recorded in attendance.

The agenda introduced the item as: "Hold a joint work session with City Council and the Planning & Zoning Commission to discuss goals and objectives of a Zoning Ordinance Diagnostic Review." David Jones and Abdul Ghous, consultants with Freese & Nichols, led the presentation and discussion. They summarized initial studies and research methods the firm will use to evaluate Levelland's land-use regulations, said the consultants would compare Levelland's code to regulations in similarly sized cities, and outlined a plan and timeline for next steps.

Council and commission members raised priorities and concerns during the discussion; the transcript records that the conversation focused on local priorities, comparative benchmarks, and a schedule for the diagnostic work. The consultants' presentation did not culminate in a motion or vote. The record states "No Action Taken."

The joint meeting concluded with the item left for study and follow-up under the consultant's proposed timeline; the session then adjourned. Meeting minutes were prepared by City Secretary Andre9a Corley and signed by Mayor Breann Buxkemper and Chair Butch Wade.