At its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16, council voted to approve both the expansion of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One (TIRZ 1) boundary and amend and restate the final project and finance plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Two (TIRZ 2), along with clarifying language for short-term rentals.
A TIRZ is a tool that can be used to finance public infrastructures that benefit a defined area. It allows a city and/or county to capitalize on growth in a specific area to fund improvements that ultimately augment or help that area.
In March 2016, the City of Weatherford established TIRZ No. 1 in partnership with the Parker County Hospital District (PCHD) which encompassed approximately 1,939 acres. That was amended in December 2024 to add and remove certain property from the zone. Tuesday’s amendment updated and expanded the list of projects and costs from $31.3 million to $182.2 million.
TIRZ 2 was established in December 2018 and that one included 1,882 acres. The amendment proposed and approved only identified new projects and costs. No other taxing authority partnered with the City on TIRZ 2.
City Manager James Hotopp made it clear to the council and those in attendance that the projects listed in these TIRZ zones are only what is identified and not a solidified or guaranteed list that any or all would happen as any project over $50,000 would still need to go through the proper approval process.
Both TIRZ items passed unanimously after a public hearing was held without comment.
A separate public hearing was held regarding a request to allow short-term rentals in existing single-family detached residences in the C1-Commercial and C2-Insterstate Commercial zoning districts and clarify regulations.
Scott McDonald, Director of Development Services, said in his agenda report that “staff has observed that a few short-term rentals are operating within existing single-family detached residences located in the C1 General Commercial and C2 Interstate Commercial zoning district” and that “since these homes are legally pre-existing and situated in close proximity to commercial and downtown areas, staff believes that allowing short term rentals in these legal nonconforming residences would be compatible with the surrounding land uses and would further support tourism within the city.”
When asked what prompted the need to amend the item at this time, McDonald said there was a request but that it was also a review of language that needed to be clarified.
The item passed unanimously after one person spoke at the hearing.
Also at the meeting, council voted to:
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