From
Chris Hartmann
Title
Unified Development Code updates to comply with recently-passed state legislation regarding regulation of building materials and approval process for site plans and plats.
Presenter
David P. Jones, AICP, Chief City Planner
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
In July, staff updated the Committee regarding legislative bills that would impact development. At that meeting, staff mentioned that several amendments to the Unified Development Code would be brought forward in September.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
HB 3167
Requires "municipal authority responsible for approving plats" (the Planning Commission) to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a plan or plat within 30 days of filing. If the governing body (City Council) is also required to approve the plan or plat, they must do so within 30 days of Planning Commission action.
If a plan or plat is approved with conditions or disapproved, each condition or reason for disapproval must be provided in writing to the applicant. No deadline can be imposed for resubmittal, and the approving authority must approve or disapprove the resubmittal no later than the 15th day after the resubmittal is given to the approval authority. If the approval authority does not approve or disapprove within 15 days, the resubmittal is considered approved.
Impacts:
There are several potential impacts to existing city processes. Like most cities, Grand Prairie reviews plans and plats at the staff level through its Development Review Committee prior to submitting the application to Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for final approval. P&Z and Council rely heavily on staff's assessment and base their decisions regarding plans and plats on the assurance that they have been thoroughly reviewed by staff. Typically, the DRC process consists of a minimum of two meetings over a roughly 4 week period (see attached calendar). By imposing a 30 day deadline for Planning and Zoning Commission...
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