Nacogdoches · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Nacogdoches public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Airport Business Plan
The city is moving toward hiring a consultant to write a business plan that would make the airport financially self-sustaining and a stronger economic engine. The plan would tackle target customers, management structure, pricing, and how to prioritize the $302 million, 20-year Airport Layout Plan projects. A possible $150,000 price tag was floated in October.
A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport Runway Construction
The airport is undergoing major runway and taxiway rehabilitation backed by TxDOT funding and local bond dollars to ensure safe and modern facilities.
Airport Unleaded Fuel Infrastructure
The city is introducing new rules and fees for aircraft self-fueling at the airport to maintain safety standards and generate modest revenue.
Hospital District Legislation and Sales Tax Allocation
Council members debated whether the city should sponsor targeted legislation regarding the hospital district's sales tax collection and financial responsibilities, with sharp disagreements over local financial sustainability and collaboration.
Vehicle Fleet Management Modernization
The city is scheduled to review multiple capital purchases totaling over $2 million for sanitation trucks, a dozer, an asphalt paving machine, and police vehicle wash agreements.
Feral Hog Control and Ordinance Amendment
The city is updating its weapons ordinance to allow professionals to trap and remove feral hogs that are damaging yards and public spaces. Current rules made it illegal to discharge firearms, making it difficult to hire wildlife control services.
2027 State Legislative Priorities
The city is preparing its legislative agenda for the upcoming 90th Texas legislative session, focusing on local control, protection of water resources, mental health facility funding, and opposing state caps on local revenues and debt issuance.
Downtown Economic Vitality and Business Inventory
Committee updates will cover the ongoing downtown business inventory to improve communication and track merchant needs.
Convention and Visitors Bureau FY 2026-27 Budget and Agreement
The CVB presented its annual report showing strong hotel occupancy and tourism growth, alongside its $797,500 budget for regional marketing and visitor services.
Zoning Change on Old Tyler Road (ZON2025-14)
A proposed zone change from B-2 General Business and R-1 Single Family to R-4 Multi-Family was scheduled for a 9.88-acre property at 3607 East Main Street.
Economic Development Fund Management
The city approved a Chapter 380 agreement with Icon Cinema to bring a movie theater back to 3801 North Street, providing tax rebates and $50,000 in upgrade reimbursements.
Cottonwood and Hackberry Streets and Waterline Improvements
Nacogdoches is under a boil water notice after a major pipe burst. You'll need to boil your tap water before drinking or cooking until the city confirms it's safe again.
High School Area Pedestrian Safety
Nacogdoches just got flagged as one of the 100 most dangerous cities in the country. It’s a wake-up call that’s going to force city leaders to rethink how we handle policing and public safety moving forward.
Fleet Management Centralization
Nacogdoches just swore in a new mayor and city council to lead the charge for the next few years. These are the people who will be calling the shots on everything from your tax dollars to local policy changes.
Zoning Case ZON2026-06: Appleby Sand Road and NE Stallings Drive Rezoning
An applicant requested a zone change from single-family residential to local business for a 0.35-acre property at Appleby Sand Road and NE Stallings Drive to build an automated coffee kiosk. Neighboring property owners filed formal protests and raised concerns about traffic safety and neighborhood compatibility.
Event Venue and Downtown Hotel Demand Study
The city is partnering with FILO Group to study the feasibility of a downtown event venue and hotel accommodations to support growing economic development.
Landfill Expansion and Engineering Services
The city is establishing formal franchise agreements with waste haulers like Eco-waste Solutions to monitor waste entering the city landfill, control county waste, and preserve landfill lifespan.
Water Infrastructure Grant Application
The city is pursuing a $21 million state grant from the Texas Water Development Board to fund major water transmission and infrastructure projects before the 2031 deadline.
Summer Hill Drainage Improvements
The city approved a $671,363 contract with TWDirt to fix chronic flooding and property damage in the Summer Hill subdivision.
North Street Mobility Planning
Nacogdoches is putting a new fire station right inside a local park to help emergency crews get to you faster. It’s a major win for public safety, but it means you’ll have a little less green space to hang out in.
Substandard Structures Code Enforcement
The Building Standards Commission evaluated multiple properties flagged for code violations under local urban standards ordinances. These hearings address unsafe structures to improve neighborhood safety and community appearance.
Road Construction
Nacogdoches is planning a $2.1 million facelift for our local streets to fix up the pavement. Expect some annoying traffic delays around town if the city council moves forward with the project.
Park Restroom Improvements
The city is investing over $1.26 million to upgrade park facilities, buying four prefabricated restrooms for Banita Creek, Mill Pond, Robert McCrimmon, and Ritchie parks, and rebuilding a storm-damaged restroom at Lake Nacogdoches West.
Downtown Mural Initiative
The committee approved a barbecue restaurant expansion and a new historical mural downtown, supporting local business and public art.
Capital Improvement Program Funding
City officials planned to review ongoing and future capital improvement projects, but the discussion was called off. Residents will have to wait for a future agenda to hear updates on infrastructure planning.
Housing Gap Analysis and Infrastructure Growth
Following SFA's affiliation with the UT System, Nacogdoches is seeing a surge in demand and site selector interest. To manage this growth, the city is exploring a housing gap analysis to assess housing supply and infrastructure needs, along with potential property transfers to the development corporation.
Oncor Substation Expansion and Upgrades
Oncor is expanding its substation on Southeast Stallings Drive to replace aging 1960s transformers and improve grid reliability. Residents raised concerns about nighttime construction noise, which officials addressed by confirming compliance with city ordinances.
Specific Use Permit for Mineral Extraction North of Powers Street
A request for a specific use permit to allow stone, sand, gravel, and mineral extraction on a 28.2-acre parcel north of Powers Street.
Historic Overlay Designation for 515 Bailey Avenue
A proposal to apply a historic overlay designation to a 0.18-acre residential property to protect its historical characteristics.
Specific Use Permit for RV Park on East Main Street
A developer is seeking a zone change from B-2 and R-1 to R-4 Multi-Family on a 9.88-acre tract at 3607 East Main Street, alongside a specific use permit to establish a travel trailer and RV park.
Type B Corporation Project Planning and Public Hearings
The development corporation is reviewing its internal bylaws to ensure proper legal and operational structure. This housekeeping item helps the organization run smoothly as it handles future economic development initiatives.
Special Event Sound Permitting and Free Speech Areas
The city created a new sound equipment permitting process and designated free speech areas for special events to balance public expression with community noise control.
Solar Project Zoning
Nacogdoches residents are pushing back hard against a new solar farm proposal, setting the stage for a major showdown over how our local land gets used. It’s a classic debate between green energy goals and preserving the character of our community.
Hazard Mitigation Planning
The city is partnering with Nacogdoches County and H2O Partners to update the hazard mitigation plan, funded by a $100,000 GLO grant, to restore eligibility for future disaster recovery funds.
Federal Community Project Funding Requests for FY 2027
The corporation was scheduled to review support for federal funding requests for fiscal year 2027 to help finance local community projects.
Industrial Energy Storage Zoning
The city considered adding new regulations and definitions to the zoning code specifically governing industrial energy storage systems.
Airport and Downtown Development Coordination
Officials reviewed ongoing planning efforts for the A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport and downtown revitalization to determine immediate funding priorities.
Utility Rate Increase
Nacogdoches is looking at bumping up utility rates, which means your monthly bill could get a bit pricier. If you're tired of rising costs, you'll want to show up to the next city council meeting to make your voice heard.
Grant Funding Application
Nacogdoches is chasing a $250,000 grant to pay for local improvements. It’s a smart move that lets us get work done without raising your property taxes.
State of the City address
Nacogdoches just released its annual State of the City update, highlighting the town's current progress and what’s on the horizon. It’s a quick way to see where your tax dollars are going and what projects will actually impact your daily commute or neighborhood.
Floodplain Management Ordinance
Nacogdoches is updating its floodplain rules, which means new construction standards could be coming to your neighborhood. These changes might shift your flood insurance rates, so it's worth keeping an eye on how your property might be affected.
Mayoral Election
Nacogdoches is gearing up for a mayoral showdown between candidates Johnson and Kozash. It’s a pivotal moment to decide which vision for the city’s future aligns with your priorities.
Municipal Policy and Infrastructure
Nacogdoches is shaking up local noise ordinances while simultaneously breaking ground on a new fire station. These moves aim to balance the city's lively nightlife scene with the need for faster emergency response times in your neighborhood.
Short-term Rental Regulation
Nacogdoches is finally looking to set some ground rules for Airbnbs and short-term rentals popping up around town. If you're a host or just tired of noisy neighbors, these new regulations will likely change how these properties operate in your area.
Public Safety Surveillance
Nacogdoches PD is launching a new surveillance program that’s going to change how our neighborhoods are monitored. It’s a big shift in local policing that raises some real questions about how much privacy we’re trading for that extra layer of security.
Bond Election
Nacogdoches is asking voters to approve a $44 million bond to fund city-wide infrastructure upgrades. It’s a big decision on how your tax money gets spent, so make sure you know what’s on the ballot before you head to the polls.
City leadership transition
Nacogdoches might be looking for a new City Manager soon since the current one is a finalist for a job in Prosper. This could lead to a big shift in how City Hall operates, so keep an eye on upcoming council meetings.
Police Leadership
Nacogdoches just brought in a new police chief to shake things up. This hire is a big deal because it sets the tone for how our officers will handle crime and interact with the community from here on out.
Franchise Fee Litigation
Nacogdoches is teaming up with other Texas cities to sue streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ for unpaid franchise fees. If the city wins, it could bring in a new stream of cash to help fund local services without hiking your property taxes.
Police Department Oversight
Nacogdoches is digging into some serious allegations against the police chief, and the new documents released are a major test for city transparency. It’s a wake-up call for how our local government handles accountability when the people in charge might be breaking the rules.