Duties & Responsibilities:

The Planning and Zoning Commission, authorized under Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code, and has two roles: 1) to make recommendations concerning the use of land; and 2) make decisions on the division of land. 

The Commission hears cases regarding:

• Rezoning (land use)
• Conditional Use Permit (land use)
• Zoning Regulation Amendment (land use)
• General Plan (land use and division of land)
• Preliminary Plat (division of land)
• Final Plat (division of land)

Recommendations on land use cases go to the City Council for final approval.  Cases involve public hearings and the Commission has a considerable level of discretion.  Cases have the potential to be controversial in that approval could impact private property and public systems such as roads and utilities.  Commission recommendations assist the City Council in reaching decisions that are both reasonable and beneficial to the City.

The Commission discretion and actions is limited by state law on final decisions on preliminary and final plats. 

The commission meets twice a month on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday; meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours.  About 25% of the meetings include a workshop for training or to allow in-depth discussion of special projects; workshops begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular meeting.  Before each meeting, city staff provides each commissioner with an information packet which will take about an hour to review in preparation for the meeting.  A member can expect to devote at least six (6) to seven (7) hours a month to commission service. 

Commissioners are required to attend an annual two-day training conference generally held in October at the end of a work week in a host city in Texas; expenses are covered by the city.