What to watch: The Midland City Council will meet Tuesday, Dec. 16, for a packed agenda of more than 50 public items. Because of the size and breadth of the agenda, The Permian Press has split its preview into two parts.

This article focuses on the proposed 1,500-foot sex offender buffer zone, the contested rezoning of Jadan Kate Road, the Austin Street rezoning request, and updated airline agreements that would shift the airport to a self-sustaining financial model. You can read the companion article here.

Key points:

  • Sex offender regulations: Council will vote on adding a new chapter to the city code that would bar sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet of places where children commonly gather and from entering those locations. “Child safety zone” would include schools, day cares, parks, playgrounds, youth centers, public pools, stadiums, and video arcades.

The ordinance includes exceptions for circumstances such as existing residences, court-ordered permissions, or a parent briefly picking up a child. Violations could bring fines of up to $500. If approved, the rule would take effect Feb. 1, 2026. The city has provided no public explanation for why the proposal is coming forward now, but we expect more details at Tuesday’s meeting.

  • Jadan Kate Road: Council will consider rezoning 3901 Jadan Kate Road from Agricultural Estate to Manufactured Housing. The owner placed a manufactured home on the property after relying on a city zoning chart that they believed allowed modular housing. Crews completed surveys and foundation work before city staff halted the project.

The owner argues the home fits the area’s character and will not affect nearby traffic, the environment, or property values. Nineteen nearby residents, some three-quarters of a mile away, filed objections citing property-value concerns and subdivision restrictions.

Planning staff recommend denial, saying the Tall City Tomorrow plan shows the area as future employment-focused rather than residential. Because of the level of protest, council must have a supermajority vote to approve the rezoning. The case adds to a growing number of recent council discussions involving individual property rights and neighborhood expectations.

  • Austin Street: Council will also revisit a zone change at 1110 Austin Street after twice deferring the request. The applicant seeks to rezone a two-acre vacant tract from Multiple-Family Dwelling an Office District to allow a five-unit shopping center. This is the applicant’s third revision, scaled down from a Regional Retail request to Local Retail and now to office.

    During the previous discussion, council questioned how the project might affect nearby school-hour traffic. Councilwoman Robin Poole suggested office zoning, and the applicant replied, “I don’t really have a choice, do I, if I want the project to go forward?” The request has received no letters of objection from nearby residents.

  • Airline agreements: Council will consider new long-term use and lease agreements with American, Southwest, and United airlines at Midland International Air and Space Port. Council members have repeatedly stated their goal of making the airport self-sustaining and eliminating reliance on the city’s general fund.

Staff say Midland has historically charged some of the lowest airline fees among peer airports. Under the proposed structure, airline payments would increase gradually, allowing the airport to cover more of its operations and capital costs. The city projects the agreements would generate up to an additional $10.9 million per year by 2029 while keeping Midland in alignment with what Lubbock and Amarillo charge airlines.