By Megan Wehring

DRIPPING SPRINGS — On Monday, the Dripping Springs City Council will consider extending the development moratorium.

Under the moratorium, the city will not accept permit applications for new development in the city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction where a waiver has not been approved. The city will use the pause on development to update land use regulations and address wastewater availability.

“This is not a moratorium that is going to shut down construction,” said Mim James, chair of the planning and zoning commission. “We estimated that there are probably over 5,000 rooftops that are in the mill with various development agreements and ongoing projects. This is a timeout that we are calling to take a look at our Comprehensive Plan and plan for our future in regards to new growth that’s going to come in.”

Exceptions can be made, city attorney Laura Mueller explained. These include projects where wastewater capacity is not impacted and no land use change is requested and projects that have received a Grandfather Status. Waivers would be granted within 10 days of the request.

The city council could also grant waivers for development projects that are considered to not detrimentally affect the city.

At its Nov. 22 meeting, the city council will vote on extending the moratorium for 90 days. The moratorium is set to take effect on Nov. 18 and it will end on Nov. 27 if the council does not approve the extension.

For more information, please visit https://www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/moratorium.