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Farmers Branch council raises zoning-notification boundary from 200 to 300 feet
Summary
The Farmers Branch City Council on June 3 adopted Ordinance No. 39‑27 to expand the required mailed-notice boundary for zoning cases from 200 feet to 300 feet after a public hearing and Planning and Zoning recommendation.
The Farmers Branch City Council voted June 3 to adopt Ordinance No. 39‑27, amending Article 6 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to increase the mailed-notification boundary for zoning hearings from 200 feet to 300 feet.
City planning staff said the change responds to council direction from March and aims to increase public awareness of proposed zoning changes. "Currently, Farmers Branch aligns with state law, meaning that anytime a zoning change is requested, letters are mailed to all property owners within 200 feet of that site at least 10 days before the hearing," said Sarah Bergman, deputy director of planning. She told the council the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval on May 12.
The nut of the change is procedural: the ordinance modifies the radius used to determine which property owners receive mailed notices and supplements other notification tools, including on-site signs, website case information and notices placed in the Dallas Morning News. Bergman cautioned that the cost of mailings would rise with a larger boundary but said staff had run test cases and could accommodate the increase "with a slight budget adjustment."
Councilmembers debated whether to allow staff discretion to notify additional parties — for example, hospitals or schools located just outside the proposed 300‑foot radius. Councilmember Neil urged flexibility so staff could notify an interested party located farther away, but the City Attorney cautioned against discretionary carve-outs, saying adherence to a clear, objective standard reduces legal risk. Several councilmembers also suggested improving sign visibility and creating an opt‑in online notice for anyone who wants automatic updates on zoning cases.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Following discussion, a motion to close the public hearing and approve Ordinance No. 39‑27 passed unanimously.
The change applies to any case considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Zoning Board of Adjustment and takes effect as provided in the ordinance. Councilmembers and staff said they will continue efforts to expand online notification options in parallel with the code change.
