1. Denton City Council approves land use changes for approximately 55 acres along US 380
Denton City Council members approved an amendment to the city’s Future Land Use Map for roughly 55 acres along US 380 at an Oct. 14 meeting.
The vote passed 4-3 with council members Brian Beck, Brandon McGee and Suzi Rumohr opposing.
The amendment changes about 33.5 acres—located south of US 380, between Geesling Road and North Trinity Road—from a rural designation to light industrial.
The amendment also changes about 21.8 acres—located north and south of US 380 beginning at North Trinity Road and extending approximately 0.4 miles—from low residential to community mixed use.
Over the last year and a half, city staff have received a variety of development inquiries regarding properties within and adjacent to the area that are inconsistent with the current zoning designations, Assistant Planner Erin Stanley said.
She said the new designations better match nearby land uses and prepare the corridor for Denton’s continued growth.
The amendment does not immediately change any property's zoning, but it provides guidance for future rezoning requests consistent with the updated land use map.
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2. Denton City Council purchases 9.2 acres for municipal electric campus expansion
As Denton continues to grow, city officials are planning for future electric needs with the Denton Municipal Electric, or DME, campus expansion.
City Council members unanimously approved purchasing approximately 9.2 acres of land located north of the city’s existing DME campus at a Sept. 30 meeting.
DME provides electric services to the greater Denton area, according to the city’s website. The main campus is located at 1701 Spencer Road, Denton.
The land along Shady Oaks Drive was previously owned by GIRO Realty Investments Ltd. and cost the city around $4.32 million in DME bond funds.
The additional land purchased will help address inventory space shortages, mitigate safety hazards and provide more effective electric services to customers, city documents state.
DME’s customer base has grown by 21% in the past five years, according to city documents. As a result, the company currently rents additional warehouse space at 651 S. Mayhill Road, which is located off-site from the main campus.
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3. Denton City Council approves $1.8M in funding for nonprofit organizations
More than 20 organizations are set to receive funding from the city of Denton.
Members of Denton City Council unanimously approved approximately $1.8 million in funding agreements with groups that support the community at a Sept. 30 meeting.
Organizations were recommended to council by the Community Services Advisory Committee in May. The CSAC consists of seven members who advise council on the use of public resources to address economic instability, housing, homelessness and community service needs, according to city documents.
Per city documents, the following organizations will receive money from the general fund:
- Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas: $40,388
- Our Daily Bread: $39,378
- Giving Grace: $36,854
- Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County: $35,340
- Communities in Schools: $35,340
- PediPlace: $35,339
- Denton County MHMR: $30,291
- Denton Christian Preschool: $30,291
- The Salvation Army: $25,242
- Cumberland Youth and Family Services: $16,155
- Refuge for Women: $15,360
- Paisley Street Preschool: $15,145
- Opening Doors International Services Inc.: $15,145
4. Denton City Council approves $255K for Ruddell Street crossing, amended interlocal agreement for Bonnie Brae Street construction
Denton City Council members approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement with Denton County for an additional $4 million of county funding for Phase 3 of the Bonnie Brae Street project at a Sept. 30 meeting.
Council members also approved spending $255,000 to purchase land at 1425 Mingo Road as part of the Ruddell Street crossing project. Both items were unanimously approved as part of the consent agenda.
The third phase of the South Bonnie Brae Street widening and reconstruction project is funded through Regional Toll Revenue, the Transportation Road Improvement Program and city funds, city documents state.
The additional $4 million comes from reimbursement funding through the 2022 Denton County Transportation Road Improvement Program, which voters approved in 2022. This brings the maximum total reimbursement for the third phase of the project from the county to approximately $6.85 million. The additional funds will be used to cover cost increases that have occurred since the county's TRIP 22 bond, said Seth Garcia, Denton's director of capital projects, in an email.
Completion of the project is expected to result in a reduction in current traffic congestion and reduce future congestion expected in the Bonnie Brae corridor, particularly those areas adjacent to the planned construction of a new Denton High School at 3001 Bronco Way, according to the city’s website.
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