Aledo City Council voted 3-2 Thursday, Nov. 5, to rezone property at 325 Old Annetta Road to the city’s Downtown District, clearing the way for an existing home and detached garage to become offices and a group-meeting space.
Council also approved stricter parking standards for new homes, revised five library policies and approved an amended agreement with the Friends of the Aledo Public Library.
The request, filed by Joshua Rogers on behalf of 325 Old Annetta Road LLC, covers a 1.557-acre lot zoned single-family residential (R-1) that holds the house and garage, and an undeveloped 0.473-acre lot split between R-1 and Downtown (D-T) zoning.
Grant Fore, senior planner with Berkley Group, the city’s planning consultant, said the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval. City staff called the change “a logical extension” of existing downtown zoning. The city mailed notices to owners within 200 feet and received one response in opposition.
Councilman Ben Clark expressed concern that downtown zoning would allow far more than offices if the property is sold. The district permits retail, restaurants, offices, health care and entertainment uses. It also sets no maximum residential density and allows townhomes and apartments.
“Their intent is to convert this to office, right? … But they sell it tomorrow, then anybody has the right, and we can’t stop all the uses in DT,” Clark said, suggesting the owner seek planned-development (PD) zoning limited to office-use instead.
“We make a decision today that carries on forever unless it gets rezoned again,” Clark said.
Another council member said neighbors had been notified and chose not to object.
“Are we showing concern for people that are not concerned about this, given the fact that they’ve been made aware of it?” Councilman Matt Poston asked.
No one spoke during the public hearing on the issue.
When the rezoning came up for vote, it passed 3-2 with Clark and Councilman Todd Covington voting against.
Council approved Ordinance 2026-O-32, which changes residential parking rules in the Unified Development Code. The changes:
Require two enclosed spaces, such as a garage, in addition to the baseline two spaces per home in residential districts.
Stop on-street parking from counting toward residential requirements.
“This is also trying to help you protect you from your streets not being movable,” City Attorney Alicia Kreh said. “We’ve seen that happen in some other communities that don’t plan ahead for that situation.”
Aledo City Library Director Beck Gorman presented updates to five policies, all approved:
Code of conduct: Staff can seek criminal trespass orders; food is banned in carpeted areas; and only sealed, nonalcoholic drinks are allowed.
Collection development: Books generated mainly by artificial intelligence will not be added on purpose, and a local-author collection is created. Only cardholders who live in Aledo may file a challenge, now called a “Statement of Concern;” and library staff and board members will review challenges instead of council.
Circulation: Council amended the policy to remove card eligibility for Aledo ISD students ages 11 to 17 without a parent’s signature. Inactive accounts will be purged after three years, or after five years even if fines are owed. Gorman said 367 cardholders owe a total of $16,849.
Council approved a revised memorandum of understanding with the Friends of the Aledo Public Library, which it had tabled in August.
Council added three amendments. The Friends must give the library board written quarterly financial reports. Donations the group receives for the library must go only to the library.
If the group dissolves, it must turn over its remaining funds within 365 days.
Erika Cooper-Bateman, director of Community Services, previewed Christmas Tyme in Aledo, set for 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, downtown with a “Cozy Cowboy Christmas” theme.
Plans include Santa photos, a tree-lighting, Letters-to-Santa hosted by the library, food trucks, the Front Street open-air market and a drone show with new animations. About 75 vendors have applied. The event will go on rain or shine.
Council cancelled the Nov. 19 regular City Council meeting.
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