Council deadlocks on rezoning for Fairway Oaks planned development after traffic study debate

The council considered Ordinance 3168 on May 26, seeking to change approximately 54.868 acres from agricultural to planned-development single-family residential (PDSF). The item had been continued from March 24 for a required traffic impact analysis (TIA).

The applicant hired Kimley Horn; Jay Coulter and Jake Halter presented the TIA. Halter said counts collected on 04/21/2026 showed existing peak-hour volumes and that after modeling phases 1 and 2 (the developer's near-term buildout), all studied movements met the City of Terrell's Level of Service C requirement and no turn-lane improvements were triggered. Halter described the methodology — camera-based 24-hour counts with hourly verification — and the horizon year for the near-term analysis (2028).

Councilmembers pressed staff and the consultant about cumulative impacts from Terra Nova's full buildout (14 phases, projected by some comments to complete by about 2040). Councilmember concerns focused on whether a two-phase TIA adequately captures long-term traffic effects, school-related peak congestion, and whether lot sizes and future land use plans had been respected. After debate, a motion to deny the ordinance (upholding the Planning & Zoning denial) produced a 2–2 tie and thus failed; the ordinance did not pass on the motion presented. Staff noted that additional TIAs will be required for later phases as they return through the development review process.