Council votes to rezone southern downtown to 'mixed use downtown' to spur infill after flood plain work

The council voted to rezone approximately 43.7 acres in southern Downtown Denton from mixed‑use neighborhood and public facilities districts to the mixed‑use downtown (MD) district, a city‑initiated action intended to encourage greater infill redevelopment and mixed‑use housing and commerce now that floodplain constraints in the area have been addressed.

Planner Shawn Jacobson explained that the southern downtown area had been excluded from downtown zoning previously because of floodplain limitations. After the city completed a multimillion‑dollar project to remove the floodplain barrier and following community input through the Design Downtown Denton plan, staff recommended rezoning much of the area to MD to unlock compact development, reduce minimum parking burdens for walkable districts and encourage more mixed‑use projects along Elm and Locust corridors.

Kristen Kendrick Bigley, president of Denton Main Street Association, told council the Main Street board supports the rezoning to encourage “a better, vibrant community” and to help existing downtown businesses by adding residents and customers in walking distance. Local commercial broker Brad Andres said the floodplain work and rezoning “will help enable redevelopment” and expand housing and retail options close to the square.

Staff noted protections remain: a height‑transition buffer will limit impacts on adjacent single‑family zoning, standard use buffers and screening requirements will apply, and the ordinance explicitly preserves existing single‑family homes as conforming where listed. Planning & Zoning recommended approval after two outreach meetings; council approved the zoning ordinance on the council vote at this meeting.