[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6552839,"mediaKeyId","5091764-d13717735eb2821203bf2046d87a8297","parentId",5091764,"title","Council approves a package of zoning, conditional‑use and land‑development items; several rezonings and permits win approval","audioSeconds",41,"startMs",4240000,"endMs",4281000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091764-d13717735eb2821203bf2046d87a8297&start=4240&end=4281","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091764-d13717735eb2821203bf2046d87a8297/thumbnail_4240000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552839/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Council-approves-a-package-of-zoning-conditionaluse-and-landdevelopment-items-several-rezonings-and-permits-win-approval","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552839-15e984920decd0eed5a206cb9f9b585c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148807&Signature=Sxi-OhKjmnn7mHAeIzZTkdMyTqDY1o5WbjKS10Exxm-TRiJDHttvHUXLQkBLDXCtX0cLWU-bRutYz4Aknc5rWI3L5g3dm-O0P6MbO1UoNI7X1CzDphHVG9hLcrDaGREEUaFTHicNoOxC-DV~QansK2oH4cLx1wfH-1twYHVxeopKCyJIHijXDLLkRd9sz~NU53DJKFYiK4MxuMA5GyQJ5sbuKTc-QTuTj7daeuK2b6nSxIku3SDqKIZT-fYCwg73ovhi~nmB3FHLD8gJ73UPS3WIjepmqLuVX-CE~kSJZzOZNUQehrBfjb4AQXp~AsvQ6CdJKW8Y4lf4uNOTVYoZag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Abilene","date","2025-06-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Abilene City Council approved a packet of land‑use and zoning items including conditional‑use permits, rezonings from agricultural/open‑space to multifamily or commercial zoning, adjustments to planned developments and appointments to boards.

Tim Littlejohn, director of planning and development services, presented a series of cases (items 16–27 on the agenda). Council considered conditional‑use permits for a storage container at 6410A Buffalo Gap Road (2025‑09), social‑organization use at the Swenson House (1726 Winston Street; 2025‑10), an ambulance substation at 3301 S. 14th St. (Suite 34A; 2025‑11), and multiple rezonings and plan‑development amendments across the city, including rezonings to permit multifamily development and reduced lot sizes in planned communities. Public comment included an architect representing the Musgrave Road multifamily applicant and Metro Care’s clinical education manager speaking about the ambulance substation.

Votes at a glance

- Item 16 — Conditional Use Permit 2025‑09 (freight container at 6410A Buffalo Gap Road): Planning recommendation — approval with conditions (container behind building, solid color, not stacked). Motion by Councilman Price; second by Councilman Yates. Vote: \"All yeses\" with Councilman Reagan recorded as abstaining on one element of the consent earlier; motion carries.

- Item 17 — Conditional Use Permit 2025‑10 (Swenson House Historic Society, 1726 Winston Street): Planning recommended approval based on plan of operation. Motion by Councilman Beard; second by Councilman Espinosa. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 18 — Conditional Use Permit 2025‑11 (ambulance substation, 3301 S. 14th St., Suite 34A): Applicant (Metro Care) and staff said the site will host 1–2 ambulances as a substation and that policy restricts using lights and sirens until vehicles reach arterial/collector streets. Motion by Councilman Reagan; second by Councilman Price. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 19 — Zoning case 2025‑10 (rezoning ~12.47 acres to patio homes at 3400 block of Maple Street): Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Yates; second by Councilman Espinosa. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 20 — Zoning case 2025‑11 (rezone to heavy industrial at 1233 & 1241 Cherry Street): Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Beard; second by Councilman Price. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 21 — Zoning case 2025‑12 (rezoning to general commercial at 1801 Grape Street): Applicant noted the request cleans up existing use. Motion by Councilman Reagan; second by Councilman Yates. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 22 — Zoning case 2025‑13 (amend plan development to allow 4,500‑sq‑ft lots along Jolly Rogers Road in Caldwell): Planning recommended approval with normal lot and setback adjustments for patio‑home style lots. Public comment from a builder clarified the 4,500‑sq‑ft area would be a distinct phase separated from larger lots. Motion by Councilman Reagan; second by Councilman Yates. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 23 — Zoning case 2025‑14 (amend PD to allow additional multifamily uses at East S. 11th): Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Price; second by Councilman Beard. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 24 — Zoning case 2025‑15 (rezoning ~11.25 acres at 1717 Musgrave to multifamily): Architect Mark Leon (Cross Architects) told council the project proposes 240 luxury market‑rate apartments with nine three‑story buildings and common amenities; he said the developer intends to comply with standard multifamily requirements. Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Reagan; second by Councilman Espinosa. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 25 — Zoning case 2025‑16 (amend PD 188 to reduce interior side yard setback to 5 feet at Haley Street/Mimosa area): Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Price; second by Councilman Reagan. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 26 — Zoning case 2025‑17 (rezone ~2.06 acres at 5233 Old Andy Street to multifamily): Planning recommended approval. Motion by Councilman Beard; second by Councilman Yates. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 27 — Zoning case 2025‑18 (rezoning several parcels to neighborhood retail/general retail at Horsehead Crossing): Applicant's agent said the developer met with HOA and intends a layout compatible with neighbors. Motion by Councilman Price; second by Councilman Beard. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

- Item 29 — Appointments/reappointments to boards and commissions: Several new appointments were made (Abilene Tyler County Child Advocacy Center Board — Kyle McAllister; Abilene Tyler County Events Venue District Board — Miguel Espinosa; street maintenance advisory and appeals board — James Bailey). Motion by Councilman Reagan; second by Councilman Yates. Vote: unanimous; motion carries.

Most items were recommended by planning staff and carried by simple majority votes; staff noted conditions or standard operating procedures where appropriate (for example, ambulance policy on lights and sirens and freight‑container placement and color conditions). The council did not reject any presented land‑use proposals during this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Abilene - City Council - Jun 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the Abilene City Council approved a series of conditional‑use permits, rezonings and plan‑development amendments covering freight‑container storage, an ambulance substation, multiple multifamily rezones and planned‑development adjustments. Most items passed unanimously or with routine abstentions; one vote recorded an abstention.","taxTitle","Abilene, Taylor County, Texas","taxId",2817,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552844,"Council approves $360,000 contract to restart federal permitting for Cedar Ridge Reservoir",109,1270000,1379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091764-d13717735eb2821203bf2046d87a8297&start=1270&end=1379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091764-d13717735eb2821203bf2046d87a8297/thumbnail_1270000.jpg","/articles/6552844/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Council-approves-360000-contract-to-restart-federal-permitting-for-Cedar-Ridge-Reservoir","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552844-9185e900165ccf3824f3671c7379aeca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148807&Signature=nc4eCoAVVuyx0RW3Fiqcmgca1pslWkg1IJCTWL6-XVhH4BA4YHQPhcd-xHo~C-ntAAzWk6fJDdhwP7pwjIokYirYCDYArUZbCeFg8vPot601vcTY4v8rOAdkxwcKzYc~aAcuwOU0XiZmN0yrPVdQ-24xL7TONS31u8km88JxymASEIGpDkdaT9fPI4uX0kZegLow0T9wxOmU8eJarrRjVrOeA4ZsFqhZVtfZJn4E0zhfJCgs9emZDQX9ASUhY2q2OjQHCPScgwcVj7GnmD9pARWmgeEWORajCaI9HKtc0swj84OgMKoTxcwbwtpYxvvHDlXW9SabpMuV2PYLR6b3YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Abilene City Council voted to approve a $360,000 contract to reengage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and restart the federal permitting process for the Cedar Ridge Reservoir project.

Jeremiah Bill, assistant director of water, told the council the contract will fund work to coordinate with the Corps and a Corps‑selected third‑party contractor to complete a gap analysis and resume environmental review. \"What we have before you is the approval of a contract with Improtect's Hib and Todd, EHT, for $360,000,\" Bill said. He said the city will provide data and negotiate with the contractor once the Corps selects it.

Bill said the Corps previously withdrew Abilene’s application during the COVID‑19 period and the city’s earlier studies from 2020 will be re‑examined rather than restarting entirely. He described the next steps: once a third‑party contractor is under contract, the Corps will complete a gap analysis in about three to six months, and Phase 2 — collecting any additional data identified in that analysis — could take 12 to 18 months. Bill said the Corps’ timetable to complete the NEPA (environmental) document and its review could be \"3 to 5 years,\" and that subsequent design, land acquisition, procurement and construction would add more years.

Council members pressed staff on timing, costs and alternatives. Councilman Reagan summarized staff’s projections in questioning: from permitting to design and construction, \"best case scenario, we're looking at a 15 to 20 year window for this from today for this to be usable by us,\" to which Bill replied the estimate assumes things \"ran perfectly.\" When asked for cost estimates, Bill said only that the project was likely to be \"multimillion\" dollars but that a clear cost range will depend on what the Corps’ contractor finds during the gap analysis.

Bill described uncertainties the contractor may identify — updated population and water‑demand projections, additional archaeological studies, or more intensive ecological study (for example, freshwater mussels) — and said those needs will affect schedule and cost. He noted the build timeline could be five to seven years once design and procurement are complete, and that, after construction, filling the reservoir will depend on rainfall and could add substantial time in West Texas.

Bill also outlined other water‑supply options the city is pursuing in parallel: the PK water plant capacity, a proposed West Texas Partnership water‑rights swap with Midland to obtain immediate access to water, and shorter‑term alternatives such as brackish water projects that could deliver incremental capacity more quickly. He said the council will see the Cedar Ridge work included in the city’s capital improvement program fund projections and that staff will remain flexible as more cost information becomes available.

Councilman Beard moved approval of the contract; Councilman Price seconded. The mayor called for a vote and said the motion carries.

The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the contract and continue coordination with the Corps; it does not commit the city to construction, land acquisition or future appropriation beyond the contract authorized at this meeting. Bill warned that federal or state decisions could end the project at a later stage and that staff is pursuing other options to secure near‑term capacity if Cedar Ridge is delayed or denied.

The council’s approval restarts a multi‑year permitting process, but staff emphasized the timetable, cost and ultimate realizability remain uncertain until the Corps’ contractor completes its gap analysis and the city receives a clearer scope and cost estimate.","The Abilene City Council approved a $360,000 contract to reengage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and restart federal permitting work for the long‑planned Cedar Ridge Reservoir, while staff warned the project remains many years from producing usable water and subject to substantial uncertainty.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves a package of zoning, conditional‑use and land‑development items; several rezonings and permits win approval

Council approves $360,000 contract to restart federal permitting for Cedar Ridge Reservoir