Weatherford council denies Heritage Trails final plans after members cite lower‑quality designs

The Weatherford City Council voted to deny the final plans submitted for Heritage Trails, a proposed 188‑lot subdivision on approximately 20.921 acres at the northwest corner of Front Street and Tremont Street.

Staff described the project as originally approved under a 2019 plan‑development ordinance and said that while Type A plans had been part of the original application, Type C building plans were not previously provided and are newly presented for final approval. “You have in your packet the staff report for this request,” staff member Kempner said in his presentation.

Mayor Paschal and several councilmembers expressed concern that the Type C designs shown in the current submission appear to be of lower architectural quality than the product presented and approved in 2019. “When I look at the product that was originally proposed to us in 2019, the 1 today, they are not architecturally anywhere on the same level of quality,” the mayor said.

Council discussion addressed options: deny the submitted plans and request revised plans with specific feedback, or allow the applicant to resubmit under current ordinances. City counsel explained that plan‑development zoning runs with the property and that council can deny the final plans to require the applicant to return with something different. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Wilder moved to deny the plans; the mayor seconded the motion and the council voted to deny the item.

The transcript does not include statements from the developer or a recorded roll‑call vote tally for the denial. Staff told council the applicant may revise and resubmit final plans or pursue other available options under the original zoning and city rules.

Next steps: planning staff will notify the applicant of the denial and provide guidance on the council’s expectations if the applicant chooses to submit revised plans.