City Council

Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – 5:30 P.M. The Belton City Council met in regular session in the Wright Room of the Harris Community Center. Members present included Mayor David K. Leigh, Mayor Pro Tem John R. Holmes, Sr., Councilmembers Craig Pearson, Daniel Bucher, Stephanie O’Banion Dave Covington and Luke Potts. Staff present included Sam Listi, John Messer, Mike Rodgers, Amy Casey, Chris Brown, Larry Berg, Jon Fontenot, Tina Moore, Amanda Hairston, Megan Odiorne, Paul Romer, Scott Hodde, Cynthia Hernandez, Daniel Aguirre, James Grant, Joe Dyer and representatives of the Belton Fire Department. The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag was led by Mayor Pro Tem John R. Holmes, Sr. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag was led by Fire Chief Jon Fontenot. The Invocation was given by Mayor David K. Leigh. 1. Call to order. Mayor Leigh called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Public Comments. (Audio 1:17) There were no public comments. 3. Receive Child Safety Fee Fund from Bell County Tax Assessor-Collector Shay Luedeke. (Audio 1:45) Tax Assessor-Collector Shay Luedeke presented the City with a check for $28,012.39 which will be given to Belton ISD to be used for its crossing guard program. 4. Receive Hotel-Motel Occupancy Tax funds from Bell County Commissioner Russell Schneider. Bell County Commissioner Russell Schneider notified the City prior to the meeting that the check was not yet available. Bell County will mail it to the City of Belton. Consent Agenda Items 5-10 under this section are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired by the Council, any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda prior to voting, at the request of any Councilmember, and it will be considered separately. (Audio 5:50) 5. Consider minutes of previous meetings: A. November 25, 2025, City Council Workshop Meeting; B. November 25, 2025, City Council Meeting; and 6. Consider reappointments to the following Boards: A. Library Board of Directors (Janice Pustka) B. Belton Economic Development Board (Brandon Bozon and Marion Grayson) Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 2 7. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Hill Country Transit District for the operation of a public transit system. 8. Consider award of a bid and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract for the S. Penelope Street, N. Main Street, and Industrial Park Sidewalk Improvements, and any change orders associated with the contract, not to exceed the amount authorized under State law. 9. Consider reauthorizing a license agreement with Arusha Coffee Company to allow for an 8’x20’x8’ storage container to remain in the City parking lot located on N. 1st Street between Penelope and East Streets. 10. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Central Texas Council of Governments (CTCOG) to continue funding for the volunteer coordinator position for the Belton Police Department’s RUOK? Senior adult outreach program. Upon a motion by Councilmember O’Banion, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. Mayor Leigh announced that the Council would go into Executive Session at this time. Executive Session At 5:37 p.m., the Mayor announced the Council would go into Executive Session for the following items: 23. Executive Session pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Govt. Code, Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated, in accordance with the authority contained in Section 551.071, Consultation with Attorney. 24. Executive Session pursuant to the provision of the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Govt. Code, Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated, in accordance with the authority contained in Section 551.072, Deliberation Regarding Real Property. At 6:17 p.m., the Mayor closed Executive Session and reopened the Regular Session of the Council meeting. Planning and Zoning 11. Z-25-37 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from SUP – Private Club to Planned Development – Commercial Highway on approximately 3.74 acres located at 1414 E. 6th Avenue. (Audio 9:08) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 3 The applicant withdrew his application for rezoning at the meeting, and therefore, the Council took no action on this item. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-74 (WITHDRAWN) 12. Z-25-38 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Agricultural to Multi-Family, on approximately 1.047 acres located at 2460 Connell Street. (Audio 11:07) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Public Hearing: Cecil Tibbets, applicant, spoke in favor of the zoning change. No one else spoke for or against this item. Mayor Pro Tem Holmes made a motion for approval of a Multi-Family Planned Development zoning with a maximum of six (6) total units. Councilmember O’Banion seconded the motion which was approved upon a vote of 7-0 with the following conditions: • The future development must conform to all applicable standards of the Multifamily Zoning District. • The development shall conform to all applicable Design Standards, as identified in Ordinance 2014-17, Section 7.1 of the Zoning Ordinance, including: o Site Development Standards o Landscape Design Standards o Tree Protection, Preservation and Mitigation Standards • A final subdivision plat and construction plan meeting all applicable standards is required before construction. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-75 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MULTIFAMILY ON APPROXIMATELY 1.047 ACRES LOCATED AT 2460 CONNELL STREET. 13. Hold a public hearing and consider rezoning of property from University Campus-1, Office-1, Retail, Single Family-1, Multi-Family, various Specific Use Permits and Planned Developments, Commercial Highway and Commercial-1 to the Main Street Zones of the Imagine Belton Standards. The three areas proposed for the Main Street Zone are generally described as: (Audio 15:13) Area 1 – east of N. Main Street, south of Burlington Northern Railroad, and west of, but not adjacent to, N. Penelope Street. Area 2 – east of N. Pearl, south of E. 5th Avenue, north of FM 93, and west of N. East Street. Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 4 Area 3 – south of Nolan Creek, west of N. East Street, south of E. Avenue H, north of IH-35, east of S. Pearl, south of W. Avenue I, and west of S. Main Street. Director of Development Services Bob Van Til presented this item. Public Hearing: Jerri Gauntt, owner of 330 and 332 N. Pearl, spoke in favor of the rezoning. No one else spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Bucher, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the rezoning of properties in these four areas to the Main Street Zone was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-76 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-1, OFFICE 1, RETAIL, SINGLE FAMILY-1, MULTI-FAMILY, VARIOUS SPECIFIC USE PERMITS AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS, COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY AND COMMERCIAL-1 TO THE MAIN STREET ZONE GENERALLY LOCATED: AREA 1 – EAST OF N. MAIN STREET, SOUTH THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD, AND WEST OF BUT NOT ADJACENT TO NORTH PENELOPE STREET. AREA 2 – EAST OF N. PERAL, SOUTH OF E. 5TH AVENUE, NORTH OF FM 93, AND WEST OF N. EAST STREET. AREA 3 – SOUTH OF NOLAN CREEK, WEST OF N. EAST STREET, SOUTH OF E. AVENUE H, NORTH OF IH-35, EAST OF S. PEARL, SOUTH OF W. AVENUE I, AND WEST OF S. MAIN. 14. Z-25-39 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from SF1-PD Boarding House to Planned Development – Main Street, on approximately 0.53 acres located at 401 N. Pearl Street. (Audio 22:40) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Public Hearing: No one spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember O’Banion, and a second by Councilmember Pearson, the zoning change from SF1-PD Boarding House to Planned Development – Main Street was approved upon a vote of 7-0 with the following conditions: • An accessory dwelling unit with a kitchen is permitted as provided in Attachment B. • Future uses must conform to the Imagine Belton Main Street Standards. • A 5’ side yard setback is permitted along the northern property line. Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 5 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-77 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM SINGLE FAMILY-1 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT – BOARDING HOUSE TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT – MAIN STREET ON APPROXIMATELY 0.53 ACRES LOCATED AT 401 N. PEARL STREET. 15. Z-25-40 – Hold a public hearing and consider an appeal for a zoning change from Central Downtown to Planned Development – Central Downtown on approximately 0.11 acres located on 710 Flat Street. (Audio 25:42) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item noting that a supermajority vote of the Council would be required to overrule the recommendation of disapproval of the rezoning by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Public Hearing: Ronnie Schoepf, 702 E. Central Avenue, spoke against the zoning request. No one else spoke for or against this item. The item failed for lack of a motion. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-78 (FAILED) 16. Z-25-41 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Neighborhood Services to Planned Development – Retail, on approximately 1.89 acres located at 207 Lake Road. (Staff is asking that this be postponed to a future Council Meeting.) (Audio 36:24) Mayor Pro Tem Holmes made a motion to postpone this item to a future meeting. Upon a second by Councilmember Covington, postponement of the item was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. 17. Z-25-42 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Agricultural to Planned Development – Multi-Family, on approximately 25.06 acres located at 4951 Toll Bridge Road. (Audio 37:00) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Public Hearing: Noah Longino, applicant, spoke in favor of the zoning change and explained how the facility would operate. No one else spoke for or against this item. Chief of Police Larry Berg stated that he had reservations about the development including safety and increased number of calls for service. Councilmember Pearson made a motion to postpone this item to a future meeting. Councilmember O’Banion seconded the motion which was approved upon a vote of 7- 0. Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 6 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-79 (POSTPONED) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM AGRICULTURAL TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT MULTI-FAMILY ON APPROXIMATELY 25.06 ACRES LOCATED AT 4951 TOLLBRIDGE ROAD. 18. Z-25-44 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Planned Development – Single Family-2 to Amended Planned Development – Single Family-2, on approximately 1.349 acres located on E. Avenue R, near the northwest intersection on Avenue R and Miller Street. (Audio 1:08:05) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Public Hearing: Jason Johnson, J&J Realty Group – representative of applicant Larry Guess, spoke in favor the zoning change. No one else spoke for or against this item. Councilmember Pearson made a motion for approval of the zoning change from Planned Development – Single Family-2 to Amended Planned Development – Single Family-2 with the added requirement of a final plat approval within thirty days. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes. Councilmember Covington made a motion to amend the original motion to approve the zoning change and to also require that the final plat be approved by the Council but without the 30-day requirement. The amended motion was seconded by Councilmember Bucher. The motion to amend the motion was approved upon a vote of 7-0. The amended motion was approved upon a vote of 7-0 with the following conditions: The use of the property shall conform to the Single Family-2 zoning district except as follows: • A minimum lot area of 5,785 square feet is allowed. • A minimum lot depth of 89’ is permitted. • A 15-foot front yard setback is permitted. • A 5-foot side yard setback is permitted. • An additional park fee of $5,000 will be provided in addition to the original park fee requirement of $1,600, a total of $6,600, to be used for S. Wall Tiger Park improvements. • A plat of the property in conformance with City standards is required to be presented to Council for consideration. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-80 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SINGLE FAMILY-2 TO AMENDED PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SINGLE FAMILY-2 ON APPROXIMATELY 1.349 ACRES LOCATED AT E. AVENUE Belton City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 – Page 7 R, NEAR THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF AVENUE R AND MILLER STREET. 19. Hold a public hearing and consider an amendment to the Belton Zoning Ordinance related to home-based businesses and adding a category for dog grooming. (Audio 1:28:13) Director of Development Services Bob Van Til presented this item. Public Hearing: No one spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember O’Banion, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the amendments to the Belton Zoning Ordinance were unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-81 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELTON, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTION 9 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE DISTRICT, SECTION 10 SINGLE FAMILY-1 DISTRICT, SECTION 11 SINGLE FAMILY-2 DISTRICT, SECTION 12 SINGLE FAMILY-3 DISTRICT, SECTION 14 TWO FAMILY DISTRICT, SECTION 15 MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICT, SECTION 20, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DISTRICT, SECTION 38 SIGN REGULATIONS, AND SECTION 42 DEFINITIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, RELATED TO HOMEBASED BUSINESSES AN DOG GROOMING; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE. 20. Consider a variance to the sidewalk requirement on the Blair Street Townhouses project, encompassing 1.94 acres, located at the northeast corner of 2nd Avenue and N. Blair Street. (Audio 1:33:14) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Bucher, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the variance to the sidewalk requirement for the Blair Street Townhouses project was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. Miscellaneous 21. Hold a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending the FY2026 Fee and Rate Schedule. (Audio 1:38:19) City Clerk Amy Casey presented this item. Public Hearing: No one spoke for or against this item.