The Terrell Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a package of zoning-code updates and a slate of plats and construction plans while receiving a technical briefing on the city’s updated construction standards.

City staff presented proposed amendments to the Terrell City Code—labeled Ordinance 3080—chiefly to clarify site-plan requirements, adjust permit approval timeframes, and add a new “Neighborhood Edge” zoning designation intended to allow limited neighborhood-serving uses in primarily residential areas. After discussion and staff answers to commissioner questions, the commission approved Ordinance 3080; no opposition was recorded at the hearing.

City engineer Chris Snapp gave a staff briefing on the Technical Construction Standards and Specifications (TCSS), which staff described as a comprehensive update to engineering and road-building standards. Snapp said the TCSS revisions remove lime stabilization in favor of flex base and materials aligned with Texas Department of Transportation practices, increase pavement and base profiles to extend road life and, for buildings over 30 feet in height, require wider (26-foot) fire lanes to meet fire-marshal code. Snapp described the update as aligning local standards with current products and longer-term durability goals and said the package would be forwarded to city council for consideration on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

Votes at a glance: The commission approved a series of plats and construction plans during the meeting. Items recorded as approved in the meeting record include:

- Final Plat FP 24-14 (8660 County Road 301, ETJ) — approved; staff said the parcel met ETJ requirements and Kaufman County Development Services had reviewed the submission.

- Final Plat FP 24-12 (Magnolia States development; correction to county name to be made prior to filing) — approved with a correction noted by staff.

- Construction Plat CP 24-16 (contractor/shop flex-space development at 15720 State Highway 205) — approved; staff said each tenant will submit required permits and special-use permits (SUPs) as buildings are leased.

- Construction Plat CP 24-17 (Arboretum Estates, phase 1 — 114.9 acres; 512 residential lots and 9 nonresidential lots) — approved; staff noted the development agreement for the Arboretum had been executed previously and that parts of the project will be annexed voluntarily into the city.

- Construction plan for Fire Station No. 3 (city-owned, 3-acre site at Apache and Rexall Court) — approved; staff said a January groundbreaking is anticipated with a target completion/commissioning in April 2026.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions on several items. On the contractor-shop project (CP 24-16) a commissioner expressed concern about the amount of impervious cover and the long-term visual effect of repetitive, high-impervious developments; staff replied the project meets current ordinances and that civil plans and drainage studies had been submitted and approved. On the Arboretum phase 1 (CP 24-17), staff said the master plan includes amenity space, detention ponds and areas set aside for schools and public uses, and that some acreage remains outside city limits pending voluntary annexation by the developer.

The meeting record shows no recorded in-person public speakers opposing the major items; several written responses to notices were noted by staff during individual hearings. Multiple motions were moved and seconded on the record and the chair called each vote; commissioners responded ‘‘aye’’ and no vocal opposition was recorded for the listed items. The meeting adjourned following an announced executive-session item on certain real-property matters.