Present: Mayor Teresa Palmer, Councilmembers Eric Contreras, Buddy Wright, Scott Smith, and Nathan Crummel. Absent: Councilmember Chawn Gilliland. Staff present included Interim City Manager Toni Fisher, City Secretary Deana McMullen, and City Attorney Andy Messer. Four residents spoke during public comments: Scott Caron, Carol Wagner, Amy Fennell, and Gene Martin.
The meeting opened with an unusual move — executive session was pulled to the top of the agenda at the request of the City Attorney, with council going into closed session at 6:06 PM and not reconvening until 7:03 PM. No action was taken on any executive session item. The regular agenda then covered three public hearings, land use decisions on five properties totaling over 386 acres, a $15,000 festival sponsorship, and several items tabled for future meetings. Every vote was 4-0 (Gilliland absent). The Beall-Dean Ranch preliminary plat — the 318-acre development at the center of the Aledo/Fort Worth lawsuit — was approved.
Hearing 1 — Bankhead Highway Zoning (Property ID #9527): A request to rezone 0.80 acres in the Havins Subdivision from R-1 Single-Family to C Commercial. The property owner at 6603 Bankhead Highway spoke about his intended use. Bill Green (224 Vista Drive) also spoke. Mayor Palmer opened the hearing at 7:31 PM and closed it at 7:37 PM. This hearing was followed by the vote in Item 15 — which denied the request (see below).
Hearing 2 — Digital Sign SUP (Parcel #33643): A request for a Specific Use Permit to convert an existing static sign to a digital message sign on a 3.14-acre "Shopping Center" property (Lot 1-A & 1-B, Block 5, Willow Springs Oak). Bill Green and Libby Afflerbach (421 Big Creek Road) asked questions. Hearing opened 7:38 PM, closed 7:41 PM. The SUP was approved in Item 14.
Hearing 3 — Crown Road Annexation (Property ID #106134): Proposed annexation of approximately 61.405 acres in the W. Franklin and A. McCarver Surveys. Bill Green spoke. Hearing opened 7:42 PM, closed 7:43 PM. The annexation ordinance was approved in Item 17.
Item 6 (Discussion Only): City Attorney Andy Messer reported that the charter was presented to council on February 10, 2026, and that it has been tabled to the November 2026 election (it will not be on the May ballot). Messer noted there were legal questions from the council that he needs to research and will return with answers in two to four weeks. No action taken.
Item 7 (Action): Councilmember Contreras had requested discussion on the Home Rule Charter appointment process, but moved to table the item pending the information the City Attorney committed to providing.
Council approved a new ordinance establishing a water conservation impact fee credit. This was presented by City Engineer Gretchen Vazquez and Public Works Director Chase McBride.
Council approved the Advanced Funding Agreement for a TxDOT Transportation Alternative grant, presented by Parks Director Mandy McCarley and Interim City Manager Toni Fisher. The Weatherford Democrat reported this as a $694,000 project to add sidewalks, bike lanes, and other features to Meadow Place Drive and Kings Gate Road, with the city committing a $130,000 local match and seeking the remaining funds through the TxDOT grant.
Police Commander Quincy Hamilton reported that the department placed a speed trailer in the area in question. There were equipment issues with the trailer, which has since been repaired and redeployed. Hamilton said he will bring data back once it's collected. Council tabled the item pending that report.
Council approved $15,000 from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds for the city to be a presenting sponsor of 760 Fest, a local festival. Communications Director Rose Hoffman presented the item. HOT funds come from hotel/motel tax revenue and are restricted by state law to uses that promote tourism — festival sponsorship qualifies.
This item, brought by Councilmember Scott Smith, was withdrawn and removed from the agenda by motion. Amy Fennell spoke on the item after the motion to withdraw. The topic of public comment decorum was discussed earlier in the meeting during Mayor Palmer's opening comments and was also one of the subjects discussed in executive session (which was held at the beginning of the meeting).
This ordinance, co-sponsored by Mayor Palmer and Councilmember Chawn Gilliland, would amend Section 9.02.033 of the Code of Ordinances regarding the City Manager's "Nature and Duties of Position." Because Gilliland was absent, council tabled the item until he could be present for discussion. This item returns on the April 14 agenda as Item 9.
Following the public hearing, council approved the Specific Use Permit allowing conversion of a static sign to a digital message sign at the Willow Springs Oak shopping center (Parcel #33643). Presented by Chelsea Kirkland and Toni Fisher.
Following the public hearing, council denied the request to rezone 0.80 acres at 6603 Bankhead Highway (Property ID #9527) from R-1 Single-Family to C Commercial. The stated reason was that a blanket commercial rezoning would open the property to any type of commercial business. Council directed that the property owner should instead come back through P&Z and City Council with a Specific Use Permit, which would allow the council to approve a specific proposed use rather than granting unrestricted commercial zoning.
This is a good example of how zoning works in practice. The council didn't reject the idea of a business at this location — they rejected the method. A commercial rezoning is permanent and allows any commercial use. A Specific Use Permit ties approval to one particular business type, giving the council ongoing control. If you're a property owner on Bankhead hoping to convert residential land to business use, this signals that SUPs are the preferred path.
Council accepted the voluntary annexation petition from Bar-Ko Land Company LLC and set a public hearing for April 14, 2026 for the proposed annexation of approximately 7.29 acres on East Bankhead Highway in the James Oxer Survey. The Weatherford Democrat reported that Bar-Ko is in discussions with Tractor Supply Co. for this site.
Following the public hearing, council approved the annexation of approximately 61.405 acres in the W. Franklin and A. McCarver Surveys (Property ID #106134). This tract is bordered on the north and west by the 90-degree curve of Crown Road near the Clear Fork of the Trinity River.
Council approved the preliminary plat for the Beall-Dean Ranch Development — the 318-acre tract at the southwest corner of I-20 and FM 1187 that is the subject of the ongoing Aledo/Fort Worth annexation lawsuit. The land spans the F.H. Hammon Survey, Heirs of Francisco Sanchez Survey, and H.T. & B.R.R. Co. Survey No. 5, and is described in the deed to John Henry Dean III. Developer Robert Beall's $500 million mixed-use project includes plans for single-family and multi-family homes plus commercial and light industrial uses.
Approving the preliminary plat keeps the development process moving forward even as the lawsuit plays out. The preliminary plat is not the final plat — it establishes the general layout, lot configuration, and infrastructure routing. Final plat approval and construction permits would follow. Meanwhile, Fort Worth and Aledo attempted mediation in late March but failed to reach a settlement. The case remains active in the 43rd District Court in Weatherford.
Executive session was held at the beginning of the meeting (6:06 PM – 7:03 PM) at the request of the City Attorney. Those in attendance included Mayor Palmer, all four present council members, City Attorney Andy Messer, and both Interim City Managers (Fisher and Guelker). Topics discussed: revised rules of decorum, 120 El Chico Trail lease agreements, the Aledo/Fort Worth v. Willow Park lawsuit, and a police investigation. No action was taken on any executive session item.
Mayor Palmer requested Certificates of Recognition for the Home Rule Charter Commission members. Councilmember Contreras requested Michelle Guelker and Chase McBride give an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Both items appear on the April 14 agenda.
