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Zoning & land use
Rezonings, specific use permits, alcohol-sales variances and permits, neighborhood rezoning initiatives, and annexation.
Each member's votes on these 18 decisions
| Member | Aye | Nay | Abstain | Absent | Mixed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Craft | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elaine Hays | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ginger Nelson | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Freda Powell | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Prescott | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Reid | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddy Sauer | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Scherlen | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Les Simpson | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Howard Smith | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cole Stanley | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Tipps | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are of decisions, not readings: an ordinance's two readings are one decision. "Mixed" means the member voted differently on different readings of the same decision. Members served different spans, so totals are not comparable across people without the dates below.
May 2019 – May 2021 · 3 decisions
Rezoning of 174.51 acres near S.E. 34th Avenue and Whitaker Road for a commercial business park (Ord. 7799, first reading)
The ordinance changed the tract from Residential District 1 to a Planned Development District for a commercial business park, alongside a comprehensive plan amendment for the same area voted on just before it. The minutes record Councilmember Sauer's abstention without a stated reason.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0
Rezoning near Interstate 27 and Washington Street to General Retail (Ord. 7870, both readings)
The ordinance changed Lots 11 and 12, Block 5, Roy Lindsey's Addition from Residential District 2 to General Retail District. Councilmember Hays spoke against expanding General Retail zoning.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-1, 4-1 (2 votes)
Rezoning near North Forest Street and N.W. 12th Avenue from Light Industrial to Manufactured Home (Ord. 7899, second reading)
The ordinance rezoned lots in Amended West Amarillo Industrial Park Unit No. 5 and West Amarillo Industrial Park Unit No. 25 from Light Industrial District to Manufactured Home District.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-1
May 2021 – May 2023 · 5 decisions
Motion to table the North Heights neighborhood rezoning (432.90 acres)
The item was the first reading of a rezoning of several areas in the north half of the North Heights Neighborhood Plan Area. After a public hearing at which 13 people spoke, the council tabled it until the next regular meeting, and it returned on August 24.
Aye = table the item · Passed 3-2
North Heights neighborhood rezoning, as amended to the Planning and Zoning alternate recommendation
Ordinance 7926, on first reading, rezoned land in the North Heights Neighborhood Plan Area under the Planning and Zoning Commission's "Alternate Recommendation," dropping language on down-zoning and allowable uses. It included about 346 acres of Residential District 2, 104 of Moderate Density and 69 of General Retail, among other districts.
Aye = approve the amended rezoning · Passed 3-2
Variance allowing alcohol sales within 300 feet of a school (Ord. 7938, both readings)
The variance let GoBrands Texas, LLC sell alcohol at 3420 SW 15th, within 300 feet of a public school. The motion found that enforcing the distance rule there "would not be effective or necessary." Second reading passed 3-1 on October 26, with Councilmember Sauer again voting no.
Aye = grant the variance · Passed 4-1, 3-1 (2 votes)
Motion to postpone the North Heights rezoning ordinances (Ord. 7926, second reading; Ord. 7939, first reading)
The motion put off the second reading of Ordinance 7926 and the public hearing and first reading of Ordinance 7939, Parts 1 and 2 of the North Heights Rezoning Initiative covering the north and south portions of the plan area, until a later date. Later in the meeting, a motion to reconsider the postponement failed 2-3.
Aye = postpone the two ordinances · Passed 3-2
Motion to reconsider postponing the North Heights rezoning ordinances
Earlier in the meeting, the council voted 3-2 to postpone Ordinances 7926 (second reading) and 7939 (first reading), which would have rezoned the north and south portions of the North Heights Neighborhood Plan Area. After further public comment, mostly opposed, the motion to reconsider failed, so both stayed postponed.
Aye = reconsider the postponement · Failed 2-3
May 2023 – May 2025 · 6 decisions
Rezoning of an 8.12-acre tract (Ord. 8060, both readings)
The rezoning changed an 8.12-acre tract near N. Western Street and NW 12th Avenue from Agricultural to Planned Development District 405, for a multi-building General Retail development. Applicants included Tascosa Development Company and Tascosa Golf Club. Mayor Stanley stated a financial interest and abstained.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 3-0, 3-0 (2 votes)
Rezoning (Ord. 8135, first reading)
The ordinance rezoned a lot near Jackson Street and SW 11th Avenue, owned by First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, from Multiple-Family District 2 to Central Business District. Councilmember Simpson abstained, citing membership in the church.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0
Rezoning (Ord. 8136, first reading)
This was a zoning code text change, not a map rezoning: it changed the "Art Gallery or Museum" land-use category and the parking requirement for libraries and museums. Three people spoke in favor. Councilmember Scherlen abstained, citing work with the applicant on the project.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0
Rezoning of 7.56 acres near Western Street and Dunn Ranch Road (Ord. 8154, both readings)
The ordinance rezoned unplatted land in Potter County from Agricultural District to General Retail District at an estate's request. Mayor Stanley filed a conflict-of-interest form and stepped out of the meeting for both readings, and Mayor Pro Tem Scherlen presided.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0, 3-0 (2 votes)
The minutes record that Mayor Stanley recused himself and the mayor pro tem presided.
Rezoning (Ord. 8155, both readings)
The ordinance rezoned lots near SW 6th Avenue and Jackson Street, for The PARC, from Heavy Commercial District to Central Business District. The minutes do not state the intended use. Mayor Stanley cited a conflict-of-interest form on file and stepped out for both readings.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0, 3-0 (2 votes)
The minutes record that Mayor Stanley recused himself and the mayor pro tem presided.
Rezoning (Ord. 8176, first reading)
Ordinance 8176 rezoned 30.18 acres of unplatted land in Randall County near Soncy Road and Town Square Boulevard from Agricultural District to General Retail District. Mayor Stanley recused himself and handed the meeting to Mayor Pro Tem Simpson; no one spoke at the public hearing.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0
May 2025 – present · 4 decisions
Annexation of 477.36 acres on the owner's petition (Ord. 8200, first reading)
The owners asked the City to annex 477.36 undeveloped acres in Randall County near I-27 and Sundown Lane. The staff memo said the land was proposed for commercial development and the Kids Inc. Rockrose Sports Park and lies within the South Gateway TIRZ. Two residents spoke against it at the hearing.
Aye = approve the annexation · Passed 4-1
Specific use permit for alcohol sales at the Netplex indoor sports facility, 6.73 acres (Ord. 8234, both readings)
The ordinance kept the 6.73-acre Netplex site at SW 58th Avenue and S. Western Street zoned General Retail and added Specific Use Permit 208, which let the indoor sports facility sell alcohol for drinking on the premises. The staff report said the applicant wanted to serve alcohol from concession stands. Five speakers opposed it and one supported it.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 3-2, 3-2 (2 votes)
Rezoning (Ord. 8243, both readings)
The ordinance added Specific Use Permit 209 to lots at SW 5th Avenue and S. Alabama Street in the San Jacinto Heights Addition, keeping the Residential District 3 zoning so a daycare could operate there. No one spoke at the public hearing. Mayor Stanley stated a conflict of interest and abstained on both readings.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-0, 3-0 (2 votes)
Specific use permit for an asphalt or concrete batching plant in the 66 Village light-industrial area (Ord. 8252, both readings)
The ordinance kept a Light Industrial lot near Triangle Drive and Loop 335, north of the airport, zoned for light industry and added Specific Use Permit 210 so the applicant could build an asphalt batching plant. Nearby owners filed a written protest, so the ordinance needed four of five votes.
Aye = approve the rezoning · Passed 4-1, 4-1 (2 votes)
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