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Benbrook adopts ordinance assigning on-site notice signs to applicants, extends posting deadline
Summary
City Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 17.12 to implement House Bill 24 requirements, delegating on-site sign posting to applicants and extending the posting deadline from 10 to 21 days; Planning & Zoning recommended the change 5–0 and council approved it 6–0.
Benbrook City Council on Thursday adopted an ordinance (agenda item PZ2025.04) to amend Chapter 17.12 of the zoning code to implement House Bill 24’s on-site notice requirements and to add local standards, including a 21‑day sign-posting deadline.
City Planner Howard said HB 24 requires municipalities to post on-site signage for zoning map amendments and authorizes cities to assign the responsibility to applicants. "HB24 requires signs to be posted 10 days before a public hearing. The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending extending that to 21 days," Howard said, explaining the local timeline aligns with newspaper notice and staff verification steps.
The ordinance delegates sign‑related responsibilities to applicants but builds in local standards covering visibility, placement, durability and appearance. Howard told council staff will supply templates and require applicants to include the sign design in the application packet so staff can approve it before signs are installed. "By a vote of 5 to 0, the commission recommends that City Council adopt the proposed zoning ordinance," Howard said.
Councilmember Franklin sought clarification about enforcement. "So one, it puts the onus on the property owner to do the posting. However, the city will follow up to make sure they're in compliance with that ordinance as well," she said; Howard confirmed the city will inspect posted signs and will postpone hearings if required notices are not in place.
Mr. Phillips moved to adopt the ordinance; Ms. Mackey seconded. The motion carried 6–0.
Planning & Zoning’s recommended changes include: delegating posting responsibility to applicants, requiring applicants to submit a proposed sign with the application, providing staff‑approved templates, and increasing a minimum posting window to 21 days to allow staff time to verify compliance before newspaper notices and mailings are sent.
The ordinance amends local zoning code language to incorporate the state requirements in HB 24 while adding the local clarifications. The council did not specify an ordinance number in the meeting record; the item was listed as PZ2025.04 on the agenda.
Council members said the changes are intended to improve transparency and reduce hearing postponements caused by missing or noncompliant signs. The ordinance was adopted at the meeting and will be implemented as described in the staff report.
