McKinney’s Unified Development Code is being updated to conform with new state development regulations issued earlier this year.
The modifications were authorized by the McKinney City Council at a meeting on September 16, after three laws passed through the Texas Legislature and became law earlier this month. The legislation restrict the city’s power to regulate multifamily developments and single-family lot sizes.
A brief summary
Less than a week after McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, council members took up the revisions. During the September 16 meeting, City Planning Manager Hayley Angel again presented the suggested amendments.
Several adjustments were enacted to comply with three bills: Senate Bill 840, Senate Bill 15, and House Bill 24. SB 840 and SB 15 only apply to cities with populations greater than 150,000 that are part of a county with a population greater than 350,000.
In response to SB 840, council members accepted adjustments that included
Changing the name of the “MF-30” multifamily district to “MF-36” to reflect the revised density limits.
Removing the “FR” flexible residential zoning district
Changing the definitions, requirements, and allowed zoning districts for multifamily conventional and multifamily cottage uses
Changing parking regulations for multifamily projects.
In response to SB 15, the following adjustments were made:
Introducing a “R3” residential zoning district with minimum dimensional requirements for small-lot single-family building
Including single-family attached and detached usage in small-lot residential development.
In response to HB 24, modifications included:
Increasing the number of days from seven to ten for posting a zoning notification sign prior to a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting
Requiring an internet notice for specific zoning amendments.
Council members also approved language modifications proposed by staff in response to two proposals, House Bill 2464 and Senate Bill 1567.
Notable quotes
Before the council voted, Councilmember Michael Jones briefly explained each bill. He stated that the changes to residential development are coming from the state, not the City Council. SB 840, for example, will allow apartments to be built outright in commercial sites, he said.
“These are the people you elected from the state,” he explained. “When you see these appear now, it is not because of us. It’s because of the elected authorities in your state.”
