Fire insurance rating improves, chief says
FAIR OAKS RANCH — The City Council is moving ahead with amendments to the Unified Development Code that includes a plan to make the night skies friendlier for stargazers.
A second reading set for Sept. 17 highlights several UDC proposed regulations covering outdoor lighting, hemp and kratom sales, data centers, manufactured housing and political signage.
Also during the Sept. 3 session, city leaders learned Fair Oaks Ranch is improving its fire insurance rating.
Meanwhile, City Planner Jessica Lucio told council members the UDC changes were developed through community feedback, Planning and Zoning Commission workshops, council discussions and ongoing reviews of city regulations.
One of the proposed changes would consolidate outdoor lighting regulations into a single section of the city’s code while clarifying that recreational lighting must be turned off by 10 p.m.
In addition, under the new guidelines motion-activated lights can remain illuminated for no more than five minutes at a time.
Lucio said the changes are part of the city’s efforts to obtain Inter-national Dark Sky Community recognition, which recognizes entities that reduce light pollution at night.
The council also is considering new regulations for hemp and kratom retailers.
Under the proposed amendments, such businesses would be permitted conditionally in some mixed-use zoning districts and would be required to maintain a 500-foot separation from residential areas, schools, religious institutions, day cares, alcohol establishments and similar retailers.
State regulators at Gov. Greg Abbott’s urging have already tightened restrictions on some hemp-related businesses.
Data centers, which are not addressed in city regulations, would be allowed through a special-use permit in logistics zones.
A logistics zone is an area designated for light- industrial facilities and appropriately designed warehouses and offices.
Lucio said applicants would be required to provide studies related to noise, generators, vibration, water use and electrical demands.
The amendments also include changes required by state Senate Bill 785, which took effect Sept. 1 and requires cities with zoning regulations to permit Housing and Urban Development-code manufactured homes in at least one residential district.
Fair Oaks Ranch currently allows manufactured homes only in logistics zones. The proposed changes would permit them to locate in rural residential areas while maintaining existing deed restriction protections.
Councilman Scott Parker asked how the state law would affect existing deed restrictions and homeowners’ associations.
“ So, if ( Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowners Association) says no manufactured homes?” Parker asked. there “If is a deed restriction, that will still uphold,” Lucio responded. “If there is an HOA in the area, then that will still uphold, too.”
Councilman Keith Rhoden followed up, asking whether HOA restrictions could supersede the state’s requirement.
“SB 785 ensures that deed restrictions are still enforceable,” Lucio said.
The amendments also revise regulations governing political signs at polling locations by reducing the maximum sign size from 36 square feet to 4 square feet, limiting signs to three per candidate or ballot measure and requiring removal the day after voting ends.
Following discussion, the council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance. The second reading and a final adoption is expected Sept. 17.
The chief said the district’s long- term goal remains achieving an ISO Class 1 rating, which would require improvements in response times, staffing levels and deployment capabilities.
An ISO rating is a scoring system from one to 10 that rates how well a community is safeguarded from fires.
The chief advocated for staffing the city’s future fire station, commonly referred to by ESD officials as Station 420, saying it could reduce response times by two to three minutes.
“Time is of the essence when it’s an emergency on the fire or EMS side,” Andrade said. “When we look at cardiac arrest, we want somebody there within four minutes.”
According to Andrade, adding first responders would significantly improve emergency care and protections across the city and help the district move closer to national fire service standards.
The council took no action on the report.
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