COUNCIL WRAP UP SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026
MULTIPLE SITE PLANS APPROVED
City Council approved site plans for four proposed developments. Within the Village at Gateway Planned Development, 7 Brew Coffee is planned as a drive-thru coffee shop on approximately 0.97 acres, while Hideaway Pizza is planned as an 8,202-squarefoot restaurant with a patio on approximately 1.77 acres. Council also approved site plans for Encompass Health, a proposed 43,366square-foot acute care/chronic care hospital within the Meadow Ridge Farm Planned Development, and Forney Dental, a proposed 9,088-square-foot retail and office building with up to four lease spaces. While site plan approval is a promising step forward for these proposed developments, it is still an early step in the development process and does not guarantee that a project will ultimately be constructed or that a business will open.
FORNEY MESSENGER NAMED CITY’S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR FY 2027
City Council approved a resolution designating the Forney Messenger as the City’s official newspaper for FY 2027. The City Charter requires Council to annually designate an official newspaper for the publication of ordinances, notices and other legally required materials. Following a review of the proposals received, the Forney Messenger was selected based on its circulation and overall value to the City.
NEW SEWER BILLING STRUCTURE
City Council approved changes to the City’s sewer billing structure, eliminating sewer averaging and replacing it with tiered billing similar to water usage. Under the new structure, sewer usage will be capped at 7,200 gallons, with a maximum monthly sewer charge of $103.96. The change will provide more consistent and predictable monthly charges while creating a fairer representation of sewer usage and helping prevent unexpected increases in sewer bills.
DATA CENTER ZONING REGULATIONS
City Council approved an ordinance adding an additional regulation for data center uses in Forney. The amendment prohibits data centers from being permitted or conditionally approved within Planned Development Overlay Districts. This requirement is in addition to regulations adopted earlier this year, which include a 5,000-foot setback from residential areas and require data center proposals to obtain a Conditional Use Permit and go through the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council review process.
The next council meeting will be on October 20th. More information at forneytx.gov/meetings