CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - 2026-01-27

Staff presented a proposed 10-year tax abatement at 60% on real and business personal property for Stellar Energy Americas to build a modular cooling equipment manufacturing facility for data centers at 15060 Blue Mound Road at Alliance Texas Westport 24. Company commits to minimum $114M capital investment and 420 full-time jobs averaging $78,000 salary by December 31, 2027. Competing sites are Dallas and Phoenix. Estimated taxes generated $4.7M with $2.8M incentive value and $1.9M net new taxes over 10 years.

Council reached consensus to increase affordable housing proposition from $5M to $10M using additional bond capacity from December refunding that increased capacity from $840M to $845M. Housing targets 120% of HUD area median income ($89,000 individual, $128,000 family of four). Expanded definition beyond single-family homeownership to include rental housing, repair/rehab, permanent supportive housing, and affordable housing fund partnerships.

Council agreed to proceed with technical amendments to public art ordinance: (1) clarify open space category has $0 public art allocation since it merged with parks proposition, (2) affordable housing proposition has $0 public art allocation, (3) design-only projects (Alta Mesa Boulevard, Waggly Robertson Road, Shaping School Road) have $0 public art allocation. Council declined to reduce all propositions to 1% public art funding or create separate public art proposition.

Staff provided update on three elements implementing Vision 2.0 strategic framework: (1) form-based code update for zoning and subdivision regulations with public engagement beginning spring 2025, (2) canal design manual adopted by Tarrant Regional Water District fall 2024, (3) canal connection fee adopted by TRWD at approximately 40% cost recovery to support development on the island.