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Council okays UDC amendment to let staff approve plats, citing HB 3699 efficiency changes
Summary
The council approved ordinance M26-01 to amend the Unified Development Code so staff can administratively approve subdivision plats that meet city requirements, aligning with Texas House Bill 3699 and reducing developer wait times.
The City Council voted to adopt ordinance M26-01, amending the Unified Development Code to delegate certain subdivision approval responsibilities to city staff. Planning staff said the change aligns the city's process with Texas House Bill 3699 (2023) and will cut waiting time for developers whose plats meet city standards.
Angela Choi, a planning staffer, told the council that state law expanded cities’ authority and allowed councils and planning commissions to delegate plat approvals to staff for administrative efficiency. "Delegating subdivision approval authority to the city planner promotes administrative efficiency and aligns with local procedures with state law," Choi said. Planning and zoning recommended approval.
Council opened and closed a public hearing (no speakers) before voting to approve the ordinance. Choi emphasized that the amendment applies to division of land only and not to rezoning, which still requires planning commission and council hearings.
Next steps: staff will implement the administrative approval process consistent with the ordinance and continue to require public hearings for zoning changes.
