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    Construction plans for housing developments line-up around the walls of Dripping Springs City Hall. CENTURY NEWS PHOTO BY SHARON CARTER

City plans to alter development notices process at Tuesday Meeting

The proposed amendments to the City’s site development ordinance will move forward to City Council after the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its August 28 meeting, which will include a change to public notification procedures.

Site development entails horizontal improvements to the land prior to commencement of building construction and includes site grading, parking and driveway paving, drainage improvements, sedimentation and water quality controls. The City reviews site development permit applications in both the city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Due to limitations by State law, the City can only enforce certain aspects of the Site Development Ordinance in the ETJ. The goals of the proposed amendments are to streamline the review process; clarify standards that have been a source of confusion; and ensure the City is enforcing up-to-date standards.

The proposed amendments include: creation of a site development review committee to consist of the city administrator, city engineer, and city planner; administrative review and approval by the site development review committee for variances; clarifications to application requirements and review criteria; addition of language for required signature blocks on the cover sheet; delineation of separate standards for projects in the city limits versus the ETJ; and updating of various standards and procedures based on current planning and engineering practices.

The proposed amendments will also include a change to public notification procedure. Currently, the City’s ordinance requires notification of a site development application. 

The amendments will eliminate the property owner notice letter requirement when permit applications are submitted for administrative review. If the amendment is adopted, property owners will not receive notice letters when permit applications are submitted for administrative review. However, if public hearings are scheduled, notice letters will be sent to all property owners immediately abutting the boundary of the proposed project. Other public notification procedures will remain in effect, including notice on the City’s website, sign placement on the property under application, and newspaper notices if public hearings are held.

The City Council will consider taking action on the proposed ordinance amendments during its meeting on September 18, 2018. The City encourages attendance during the public hearings to voice concerns or support for the proposed changes and welcomes feedback prior to the meetings. If you would like to provide written comments, please send them to City Secretary Andrea Cunningham at [email protected]. For specific questions, please contact City Planner Anjali Naini at [email protected], or Development Coordinator Molly Mulloy at [email protected]. To view the draft ordinance amendment, please visit http://www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/page/tab.notices.

 

Dripping Springs Century-News

P.O. Box 732
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

Phone: (512) 858-4163
Fax: (512) 847-9054