Terrell City Council on July 16 approved two separate ordinances that clear the way for a special-events venue at 15662 State Highway 205.

The approvals — a zoning change from agriculture (AG) to commercial (C) (ZC 24-06; Ordinance No. 3052) and a specific-use permit allowing a permitted special-events venue (SUP ’24-2003; Ordinance No. 3054) — were adopted after staff presentations and without public opposition during the hearings.

Staff and applicant details: Business-development manager Dana Wampler told council the applicant plans to convert two existing buildings into an event venue the materials identify as the Waterfall. The main building was described in the application as 5,000 square feet and designed to accommodate up to 250 guests “per fire marshal guidelines.” A larger building on site was described in the packet as 61,650 square feet, of which an 800-square-foot portion would be converted for a groomsmen suite; additional back-of-house space was described as 400 square feet for storage and 400 square feet for catering staging. Wampler and the packet said there will be no food-preparation kitchen on site; outside vendors will deliver prepared food.

Council and staff emphasized conditions written into the SUP that staff recommended and the council adopted. Those conditions include: alcohol service must end one hour before closing; a licensed peace officer must be on site during events when alcohol is present; events must comply with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) rules; and several uses are specifically prohibited on the property, including private gambling clubs, storage facilities, new or used manufactured-home sales and portable building sales. Staff told council the site totals roughly five acres and that additional paved parking will be added in a later phase; until the additional parking is built, event attendance will be limited by the permit.

The application was approved by the City of Terrell Planning and Zoning Commission on June 27 by a 6–0 vote. At the council meeting no members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the public hearings on the zone change or the SUP.

Council action and next steps: The motion to approve the zoning ordinance and the motion to approve the SUP were both moved and seconded from the dais and passed with unanimous support from council members present. Staff said the applicant must return for building permits, site-plan approvals and a certificate of occupancy; parking, site improvements and any required permits from TABC will be verified before the venue may operate under the SUP.

The council’s approvals govern only the zoning classification and the SUP conditions recorded in the ordinances; any failure to meet conditions (for example, required parking or TABC requirements) could lead to enforcement action under the city’s zoning ordinance.

Shawna Soto (applicant name as included in the packet) and city planning staff will proceed with building-permit and site-review steps before the venue may open.