Irving staff lay out code changes and infrastructure checks as Texas Senate Bill 840 takes effect Sept. 1

City of Irving planning staff on July 14 told the Planning & Zoning Commission they are preparing amendments to the Unified Development Code and building codes and will create an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to implement Texas Senate Bill 840, the state law that requires many cities to accept multifamily and residential mixed-use in most nonresidential districts.

Jocelyn, planning staff, said SB 840 "requires that cities accept multifamily and mixed use, residential mixed use development in most, the non residential districts" and that eligible projects will generally proceed directly to the building-permit stage rather than a discretionary zoning process. She told commissioners that the city is revising chapter 3.13 (the multifamily concept plan section), adding a clear Mixed Use definition, preparing an application form for building permits that documents required capacity studies, and updating the consolidated fee schedule so the city can recover review costs.

Wayne Snell, director of inspections, outlined proposed building-performance standards intended "to help our city grow responsibly, protect the infrastructure we have, and create a…