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Joint Work Session (CC, P&Z, and FEDC)

Farmersville Weighs Mixed-Use Crackdown As Leaders Push For New Growth Rules

At the April 29, 2026 Joint Work Session of the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Farmersville Economic Development Corporation, leaders focused on one big question: should Farmersville set a formal policy for mixed-use development in future large projects? The discussion touched the city’s growth pattern, how to keep development more balanced, and how much control the city can actually have under state law. The talk affects residents now and the people who may live, shop, and work here next.

A New Growth Rule Was Put On The Table

Jim Foy said the goal was not to write the policy that day, but to see whether the three groups agree in principle that Farmersville should pursue one. Leaders said they want clearer expectations before developers come in, instead of handling each project one at a time. The idea is to guide future growth so neighborhoods do not end up as just rows of homes with all the shops stuck in one strip.

State Law Sets The Limits

The city attorney said any new policy would have to fit current ordinances and state law, and the city cannot make rules that are more restrictive than what the law allows. She also said the city could not simply force a developer to build commercial space without the right zoning or district in place. That means Farmersville may have room to guide growth, but not to control every detail.

Mixed Use Was Framed As A Community Builder

Several speakers said mixed use should mean more than just housing. They talked about blending homes with retail, convenience shops, and other services so people are not forced to drive everywhere. The point was to build neighborhoods that feel complete, instead of turning the city into a bedroom community where people just sleep here and spend money somewhere else.

Outside The City, The City Still Has Leverage

Staff and consultants said developments outside the city limits do not fall under zoning, but the city can still shape them through development agreements and negotiations tied to water, sewer, and public safety. That gives Farmersville some bargaining power, especially on large projects, even when the land is not yet inside city limits.

Vertical And Horizontal Mixed Use Both Came Up

Consultant Doug Scott said mixed use can take different forms. In some places, it is vertical, with shops downstairs and homes above. In others, it is horizontal, with homes in one area and retail pads in another. He warned that retail often comes later, after enough homes are built to support it, and said the city should be realistic about where mixed use can actually work.