Mansfield City Council Regular Meeting - December 8, 2025

The Mansfield City Council held a regular meeting on December 8, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM and adjourning at 5:24 PM. The meeting included a work session with staff presentations on three zoning and permit requests, citizen comments, an executive session, and a consent agenda with numerous resolutions and ordinances all approved unanimously. The council also took action on board appointments following the executive session.

Consent Calendar

• Approved an ordinance vacating and abandoning a portion of right-of-way along Ellis Street and drainage easement along Ambrose Parkway at 2401 South US 287 to Impression Homes, LLC (Ordinance OR-2430-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved an ordinance vacating and abandoning a 2.5-foot wide portion of a 7.5-foot wide utility easement within Lot 12, Block 3, The Fairways of Walnut Creek – Section Two to David Cook and Tonya Cook (Ordinance OR-2431-25, vote 7-0).
• Awarded contracts for Upper Pressure Plane and 6th Ave Water Line Replacement to ANA Site Construction, LLC for construction and Raba Kistner, Inc. for materials testing, authorizing funding not to exceed $2,511,000.00 (Resolution RE-4466-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved use of funds from the Fiscal Year 26 Budget and grant funds for an expenditure exceeding $100,000 for the Police Department (Resolution RE-4467-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #2 (Resolution RE-4468-25, vote 7-0), discussed earlier in the work session.
• Approved an amendment to the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation Bylaws (Resolution RE-4469-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved an Economic Incentive and Performance Agreement between the City, MEDC, Deblock Retail Partners, LLC, and SCSD-Finnell, Ltd. (Resolution RE-4470-25, vote 7-0), discussed earlier in the work session.
• Approved an Economic Development Performance Agreement with Hideaway-2 Inc. and L&M Hideaway, LLC (Resolution RE-4471-25, vote 7-0).
• Supported a Texas Enterprise Zone application for ZAH Group (Klein Tools) (Resolution RE-4472-25, vote 7-0).
• Adopted the Five-Year Update to the 2020 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan (Resolution RE-4473-25, vote 7-0).
• Authorized the purchase of property at 775 W. Broad Street using park fees (Resolution RE-4474-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved amendments to the Mansfield Park Facilities Development Corporation Bylaws (Resolution RE-4475-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved amendments to the Mansfield Library Advisory Board Bylaws (Resolution RE-4476-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved amendments to the Mansfield Historic Preservation Advisory Board Bylaws (Resolution RE-4477-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved a service contract amendment with Tyler Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $596,186 for enterprise permitting, licensing, and financial software services (Resolution RE-4478-25, vote 7-0).
• Approved the November 10, 2025 2:00 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes (vote 7-0).
• Approved the November 10, 2025 6:00 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes (vote 7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Syeda Syed (6705 Sapphire Circle N, Colleyville, TX) spoke for about five minutes regarding her candidacy for the Tarrant Appraisal District Board. She highlighted errors in the 2024 Tarrant County College election vote count and urged council members not to vote for candidates who supported changing the reappraisal plan. She stated that 499 of 500 votes are sitting aside, with nearly 100 votes to be cast that night and 300 on December 15, making it "anybody's game."
• Michelle Kennedy (9333 N Normandale Street, Fort Worth, with Trinity Habitat for Humanity) expressed support for agenda item 25-1645 (Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #2) and thanked the council for their careful consideration and partnership in providing affordable homeownership opportunities.

Discussion Items

• Work Session – Zoning Change Request (ZC#25-002): Staff from the Planning Department presented a request by Open Studio Architecture PLLC to rezone 5.866 acres at 2445 FM 157 from C-2 Community Business District to Planned Development (PD) District. The proposed development includes 22,000 square feet of commercial space and 42 attached single-family homes (townhomes) on individually platted lots, with a density of 11.5 units per acre. Council members expressed concerns about residential use in a prime location along FM 157 (Council Member Broseh), traffic impacts on Turner Way (which is in Arlington's jurisdiction), buffer distances to existing neighborhoods (Council Member Bounds), and whether the city could regulate rental vs. for-sale status of units (Council Member Tonore, with City Attorney Flores reserving detailed legal advice for executive session). The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 4-2-1 on December 1, 2025, with a condition that at least 25% of commercial have a certificate of occupancy before residential building permits are issued.
• Work Session – Specific Use Permit for Goodwill (SUP#25-003): Staff presented a request for a SUP for a used merchandise store (Goodwill) at 989 N. Walnut Creek Drive (approximately 26,000 square feet on 5.8 acres). The store would close the existing Goodwill location adjacent to Walmart upon opening. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 6-1 on December 1st, adding conditions for enhanced lighting and security cameras. The Development Review Committee also recommended approval.
• Work Session – Specific Use Permit for Mansfield Mission Center (SUP#25-005): Mayor Evans recused himself. Staff presented a request for a SUP for a used merchandise store at 901 W. Broad St (2.539 acres, approximately 18,000 square feet with 6,600 square feet of storefront). The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 6-0-1 on December 1st. The Development Review Committee also recommended approval.
• Consent Agenda Items Discussed: Two items were pulled for discussion:
  • Item 25-1645 (Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #2): City Attorney Flores explained this creates a second NEZ providing a 50% reduction on impact fees, permitting fees, and planning fees, similar to the successful NEZ #1. Council Member Bounds clarified that certain departments are excluded per the definition of eligible projects.
  • Item 25-1411 (Economic Incentive and Performance Agreement with Deblock Retail Partners/SCSD-Finnell): Jason Moore, Executive Director of Economic Development, explained the agreement provides reimbursement of MEDC sales tax for up to 75% of the lease term (capped at five years) if the tenant meets a destination definition (specialty grocery, destination restaurant or retail). The development includes two phases.
• Item 25-1655 (Purchase of 620 W. Broad Street): Council Member Newsom removed this from the consent agenda. Matt Young, Executive Director of Community Services, explained the $1 million purchase price (split between park dedication funds and MPFDC cash) would expand the Man Homestead park footprint, providing parking, trail access, and space for historic structures. The property was appraised at approximately $2.45/square foot, consistent with market analysis. The purchase will use park fees and sales tax funds.

Key Outcomes

• Executive Session Action: Following the executive session (1:49 PM – 5:09 PM), the council approved board appointments for the Mansfield Parks Facility Development Corporation: Lindsey Cadenhead as President, Mialinda Francis from Alternate to Full Director, and Bob Kowalski as Alternate Director. The motion passed 7-0.
• Sub-Committee Minutes: Approved the November 10, 2025 Revitalization of Historic Downtown Mansfield Sub-Committee Meeting Minutes (vote 3-0, with only sub-committee members Bounds, Evans, and Tonore voting).
• All consent agenda items were approved unanimously (7-0) including the two items discussed in the work session.
• Item 25-1655 (Purchase of 620 W. Broad Street) was approved 7-0 after separate discussion.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:24 PM, with a 5:30 PM tours meeting scheduled in the community room.