City Councilwoman Amy Torres-Lepp voted for a development in which her husband owned the property being rezoned and developed during a November Southlake City Council meeting.
Southlake City Council voted unanimously on November 19, 2024, to pass the first reading of 7B Ordinance No. 480 825 ZA24-0059.
The agenda item states, “Requesting approval of a Zoning Change and Development Plan for Carroll Crossing on property described as Tracts 3D and 3C02, W. R. Eaves Survey Abstract No. 500, and located at 1963 W Southlake Blvd., and 200 S. Peytonville Ave. Current Zoning: “S-P-1” Detailed Site Plan District and “O-1” Office District. Requested Zoning: “TZD” Transition Zoning District. SPIN Neighborhood #10.”
According to the city council agenda item, the owner is “Gans TX Re Southlake, LLC & Olerio Interests, LLC.”
According to tax rolls and other documents provided to The Dallas Express, Mrs. Torres-Lepp voted for the zoning change in which her husband, Scott Lepp, was the property owner despite a clear personal conflict of interest and violating the state local government code.
Raising even more questions, the same day Mrs. Torres-Lepp voted for the project, her husband, Scott Lepp, executed a lien release to Olerio on the property, according to documents from the Tarrant County Clerk’s office.
On January 7 this year, Mrs. Torres-Lepp claimed to have realized her conflict of interest. She recused herself from the second reading of the zoning and development vote that involved Olerio Interests LLC.
“I want to address the public. Since the first reading, I have become aware of a legal conflict of interest related to this matter, and as required by law, I must recuse myself from participating in deliberation and vote on this item. Our duty as public servants includes adhering strictly to the legal standards that govern our roles, and I take this responsibility very seriously. For this reason, I will step away from the dais during this discussion,” Mrs. Torres-Lepp said at the January 7 meeting.
Southlake residents have been vocally opposed to the proposed development.
“Thank you Hilary Rabeler for all the work you put into this… your research, readings hundreds of pages of documents, knocking on neighbors’ doors, educating residents, etc…. This dangerous, inadequate development would’ve passed without YOUR work to raise awareness & get people involved,” Jo Lyn wrote on the Facebook group page Southlake Conservative Values.
The motion to approve the development failed as the final vote was 3-3.
Texas Chapter 171 of the local government code prohibits conflict of interests.
“It prohibits a local public official from voting on or participating in a matter involving a business entity or real property in which the official has a substantial interest if an action on the matter will result in a special economic effect on the business that is distinguishable from the effect on the public, or in the case of a substantial interest in real property, it is reasonably foreseeable that the action will have a special economic effect on the value of the property, distinguishable from its effect on the public,” Texas Municipal League states.
The Dallas Express reached out to Councilwoman Torres-Lepp for comment but did not receive a response.