Staff Report
Dripping Springs has reached its wastewater capacity, among other issues, that caused the city to enact a temporary development moratorium.
“The city’s responsibility is to protect how our community grows, and sometimes, that requires us to make tough, but necessary decisions,” said Dripping Springs Mayor Bill Foulds. “It’s no secret how quickly we are growing.”
This will affect permits for new development related to subdivision, site planning, development, land use and construction in the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction for residential and commercial projects. No permit applications for development will be accepted by the city. If the moratorium is extended, applicants will be able to apply for exception waivers.
The moratorium will take effect Nov. 18 and continue until Nov. 27, unless the city council decides on an extension.
Dripping Springs is undergoing rapid growth and recognizes that it should provide responsible development as it relates to density, transportation and wastewater provisions. The city is updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to accommodate land-use regulation issues.
If the ordinance is approved, Dripping Springs will use the moratorium to give the city time to plan for responsible development and future planning. These ordinances, regulations and laws will prevent new developments from being detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare of residents, but will also address the need for sustainable infrastructure.
“Enacting the temporary moratorium and giving serious consideration to an extension of that moratorium would allow us the needed time to update the city’s comprehensive plan and ensure our ordinances and regulations are appropriate for addressing this growth now and in the future,” Foulds said. “Our goal is to protect the treasured quality of life we have all come to know and love.”
Public hearings will be held for residents and affected parties to provide comments regarding the moratorium extension. These meetings will be held at City Hall, located at 511 Mercer Street in Dripping Springs.
These meetings will occur on the following dates and times:
- Planning and Zoning Commission, Monday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m.
- City Council, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m.
- City Council, Monday, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. The council will vote on the extension of the moratorium at this meeting.
