Special Joint Meeting: Killeen City Council & Planning and Zoning Commission, October 5, 2026

The Killeen City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission held a special joint work session on October 5, 2026, to improve communication, discuss council priorities, deliberate on proposed zoning ordinance amendments for data centers, and determine the future format of such meetings. The meeting was informational, though council did pass a motion of direction regarding data center regulations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michael Fornino criticized the council for failing to address the conduct of a specific commissioner who had prior reprimands, accusing the mayor of ignoring the problem and threatening legal action.
• Edward Frazy spoke in strong opposition to data centers, citing excessive water and electricity consumption, the creation of heat domes, and noise and light pollution as detrimental to the community. He urged the council to reject the industry.

Discussion Items

• Council Priorities and Expectations for P&Z (Items 1 & 2): The Mayor emphasized a goal of 'one city, one goal' and that council sets the vision. P&Z commissioners, including Steele and Wilkerson, sought clearer guidance and tools, such as fiscal impact analyses, to interpret the comprehensive plan. Councilmember Nash-King stressed that P&Z serves as a check on council and that commissioners must maintain professional conduct and respect for staff, noting the council has the authority to remove members for cause. Councilmember Kimball added that staff expertise should be relied upon.
• Data Center Zoning Amendments (Item 3): City staff reviewed previous options for data center regulations, including a three-tier system. Staff originally proposed allowing tiers by right with strict stipulations, while a prior council direction called for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) route. Councilmember Kimball made a motion of direction to draft an alternative ordinance based on the original by-right model with stipulations, arguing the CUP route could deter investment due to lack of certainty. Councilmember Brown expressed concern that a by-right approach removes the city's ability to prevent over-proliferation, favoring a CUP or a specific zoning district for control. The motion passed 6-1. Councilmember Bass stated he favored the original staff recommendation. Discussion on short-term rental regulations noted a draft ordinance removing inspection requirements is expected in October.
• Format of Future Joint Meetings (Item 4): Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez proposed semi-annual meetings: one for legislative updates and one for strategic planning. P&Z Commissioner Cooper suggested an annual meeting aligned with the fiscal year to catch new appointees, also recommending the inclusion of the Board of Adjustments and TIFR Board. The general consensus was that the meeting format was highly valuable and should be continued.

Key Outcomes

• Motion of Direction on Data Centers: The council passed a motion (6-1) directing staff to draft an alternative zoning ordinance for data centers based on the original tiered model with strict stipulations, rather than solely the previously directed Conditional Use Permit route.
• Commitment to Communication: The council and commission agreed to formalize a process for sharing legislative updates, council priorities, and emerging development trends to ensure P&Z is aligned with the city's broader mission.
• Training and Public Education: Council committed to exploring the creation of training videos, incorporating zoning basics into the Citizens Academy, and partnering with the Central Texas Council of Governments to better educate both commissioners and the public on planning and zoning processes.