Carrollton City Council Regular Worksession & Meeting – November 1, 2022

On November 1, 2022, the City Council met at Carrollton City Hall for a 5:45 PM worksession, followed by a 7:00 PM regular meeting; the meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM. The worksession focused on proposed amendments to Chapter 97 (Hotel Code) to regulate short-term rentals. The regular meeting approved the consent agenda and all seven public hearing items on the agenda by unanimous votes.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Items 7–13 unanimously. The consent agenda included:
  • Purchase of prefabricated restrooms for R.E. Good and McInnish Sports Complex from Public Restroom Company through BuyBoard, not to exceed $1,967,167.40.
  • Purchase of lights for McInnish Dog Park from Musco Lighting, not to exceed $293,156.60.
  • Purchase of sand filters from Sunbelt Pools, not to exceed $187,707.48.
  • Authorization to purchase computer equipment from Unique Digital via DIR cooperative, not to exceed $220,000.
  • Authorization for telecommunication services from Unite Private Networks at $60,200 per year, with a five-year total not to exceed $301,000.
  • Construction contract with Crescent Constructors, Inc. for the Don Cline Pump Station modernization and rehabilitation project, not to exceed $9,267,000 ($8,997,000 base bid plus 3%/$270,000 contingency). Staff noted Crescent’s bid was lower than Fort Worth Civil Constructors’ $10,909,550 bid.
  • Resolution authorizing a three-year contract with Finario for capital planning software, not to exceed $63,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

• At the start of the regular meeting, no speakers came forward for public comment on consent items.
• For the Diamond Flats zoning case (Item 15), multiple speakers expressed support: Pastor Brent Taylor of First Baptist Church Carrollton said the church voted nearly unanimously to work with NRP; Tim Hare, associate pastor for administration, said the property had been marketed for over a year with zero retail interest; and residents Laney Applegate, Jonathan Knight, and Ken Newman also spoke in favor. Several additional cards registered support without speaking.
• During Public Forum, Paula McDonald read an email from resident BB Siler criticizing Councilmembers Fleming and Polter for alleged personal attacks against historian Liz Casinata at the October 25, 2022 council meeting. Lisa Sutter also criticized the two councilmembers, citing the council’s code of ethics and executive-session confidentiality rules, and called for investigation and discipline. The speakers’ allegations were asserted as positions, not findings of the city.

Worksession Discussion: Proposed Short-Term Rental Amendments

• Environmental Services Director Cory Heipel presented a second review of Chapter 97 amendments to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) and bed-and-breakfasts. The proposed framework included definitions, annual lodging licenses, registration and inspections, a calls-for-service tier system, denial and revocation grounds, appeals to the Property Standards Board, occupancy limits, insurance, parking restrictions, special-event prohibitions, and hotel occupancy tax compliance.
• Council discussed enforcement: two or more convictions for code violations within 12 months could be grounds for denial or revocation, although staff said routine enforcement begins with notices and a 10-day correction period, and citations can be challenged in court.
• Council discussed a proposed $1 million liability insurance requirement, parking restrictions, and code-enforcement practicalities. Councilmember Axberg raised concerns that a strict no-street-parking rule might be too restrictive and requested additional benchmarking; other members supported off-street parking requirements for STRs as a business use.
• Council reached consensus on a $250 annual registration fee, estimated to generate $62,500 to $75,000 per year from an estimated 250–300 STRs, offsetting the cost of a dedicated code officer.
• Council agreed not to create a minimum rental threshold (for example, allowing a few free weekends per year) to avoid creating a loophole.
• Staff proposed starting registration in 2023 and allowing operators one full year to come into compliance, with non-compliant operations required to cease by January 2024. Council expressed consensus for that one-year grace and education period.
• Staff said it would return with redlined ordinance language and additional benchmarking for final council action.

Public Hearings & Individual Considerations

• Item 14 – Pour Choices Amusement Arcade (PLSUP 2022-113): Approved unanimously. The special use permit allows an amusement arcade with no more than 8 gaming stations in a 2,455-square-foot suite at 1107 South Broadway, with stipulations including hours from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily and no simulated gambling devices.
• Item 15 – Diamond Flats (PLZ 2022-116): Approved unanimously. The PD-163 amendment for the approximately 6.9-acre Tract B-1 at Carrollton Parkway and SH-121 allows a mixed-use development with 331 multifamily units, a minimum of 5,000 square feet of retail, a 4-story building, and an integrated 6-level parking garage. Representatives from NRP Group presented the project; First Baptist Church and neighboring residents spoke in support.
• Item 16 – Home2 Suites and Hampton Inn by Hilton (PLSUP 2022-141): Approved unanimously. The special use permit authorizes a 90-room residence hotel within a dual-branded Hilton development on approximately 3.186 acres at Raiford Road and Trinity Mills Road. Staff added a stipulation requiring a parking agreement with the adjacent Courtyard by Marriott to satisfy an 18-space shortfall. Applicant Sanjay Naik said the project would include electric-vehicle charging accommodations.
• Item 17 – Repeal of PD-124 (PLZ 2022-132): Approved unanimously. The approximately 1.21-acre tract at 1401 West Hebron Parkway reverts to its base LR-2 Local Retail zoning; SUP-478 remains in place for the car wash.
• Item 18 – Repeal of PD-139 (PLZ 2022-129): Approved unanimously. The approximately 4.62-acre tract at North Josey Lane and East Trinity Mills Road reverts to base LR-2 zoning; SUP-476 remains in place for the communications tower.
• Item 19 – Repeal of PD-191 (PLZ 2022-128): Approved unanimously. The approximately 66.46-acre former Halliburton tract at East Belt Line Road and Columbian Club Drive reverts to base LI Light Industrial zoning.
• Item 20 – CZO Landscaping Text Amendments (PLZT 2022-133): Approved unanimously. The amendments revise Article XXV, including increasing the minimum landscape percentage for office, retail, and commercial districts from 10% to 15%; increasing the minimum landscape buffer width from 5 feet to 10 feet; changing the site-tree requirement to one tree per 3,000 square feet; simplifying existing-tree credits; updating approved and prohibited plant lists; and creating a Board of Adjustment variance process for artificial turf in residential front yards where hardship is demonstrated.

Mayor and Council Reports

• Councilmembers shared community news, including a Metrocrest Services luncheon, MMC concerts, the upcoming SwitchRide event, the BAPS Diwali event, Denton County CERT and disaster-response drills, the Civic League Tour of Homes on November 11–13, and the Clean Cities Gold Fleet Award received by the city for the third consecutive year. Election reminders were also given: early voting ended November 4 and election day was November 8.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 7–13): Approved unanimously.
• Public Hearings (Items 14–20): All approved unanimously.
• Short-term rental amendments: Council reached consensus on a $250 registration fee, no minimum rental threshold, and a one-year compliance period; staff will return with a revised ordinance and additional benchmarking.
• Next step: formal ordinance adoption for short-term rental regulations at a future council meeting.