Garland council adopts GDC changes to make alley and sidewalk waivers administrative

Garland’s City Council unanimously approved GDC Amendment Ordinance 206-2 on June 2, moving alley-waiver and sidewalk-waiver decisions from planning commission to the director of engineering, while preserving an appeal right to the planning commission.

City planning staff (Nabila) told the council that the change follows a 2023 state law shift that allowed more plats to be processed administratively and that aligning waiver authority with the administrative plat process reduces duplication. "We propose that we take out that 4 or fewer lots or 5 plus lots designation, and we make the whole alley waiver process administrative," Nabila said during the presentation. Staff also proposed that decisions on sidewalk waivers be determined by the director of engineering, with an appeal available to the plan commission.

Staff recommended replacing the code’s two-year sidewalk reimbursement window with a five-year sidewalk improvement forecast so staff can assess whether the sidewalk is likely to be designed as part of a city project within five years before requiring fees. "We propose that the director of engineering shall conduct a sidewalk improvement forecast evaluation to determine if that sidewalk is projected to be designed as part of the city project within 5 years," Nabila said. The five-year window reflects typical public-works planning horizons, staff said.

The amendment also clarifies the city’s 'working plat' guidance: staff encouraged, but would not require, developers to submit working plats in advance so formal plat submittals are less likely to be denied under the state's 30-day 'shot clock.' The council opened the public hearing and received no public comment before voting to approve the ordinance unanimously.