Bill Text: TX SB2370 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the procedure for approval of certain land development applications by a political subdivision.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-09 - Left pending in committee [SB2370 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB2370-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Hughes S.B. No. 2370
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the procedure for approval of certain land development
  applications by a political subdivision.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 212.009, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections
  (c-1), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows:
         (a)  The municipal authority responsible for approving plats
  shall approve or disapprove [act on] a plat within 30 days after the
  date the plat is filed.  A plat is considered approved by the
  municipal authority unless it is disapproved within that period and
  in accordance with Subsection (c-1)(1).
         (b)  If an ordinance requires that a plat be approved by the
  governing body of the municipality in addition to the planning
  commission, the governing body shall approve or disapprove [act on]
  the plat within 30 days after the date the plat is approved by the
  planning commission or is considered approved by the inaction of
  the commission.  A plat is considered approved by the governing body
  unless it is disapproved within that period and in accordance with
  Subsection (c-1)(1).
         (c-1)  If a plat is disapproved:
               (1)  the municipal authority or governing body of the
  municipality, as applicable, shall provide the applicant a written
  statement of the reasons for disapproval that:
                     (A)  is provided with the notice of disapproval;
  and
                     (B)  lists each reason for the disapproval, which
  must:
                           (i)  be related to the requirements under
  this subchapter; and
                           (ii)  not be arbitrary or intended to delay
  approval; and
               (2)  the applicant may submit a written response to the
  municipal authority or governing body of the municipality, as
  applicable, that remedies each reason for disapproval.
         (f)  A municipal authority or the governing body of a
  municipality, as applicable, shall determine whether to approve an
  applicant's previously disapproved plat application not later than
  the 30th day after the date the municipal authority or governing
  body, as applicable, receives the applicant's response.
         (g)  A municipal authority or the governing body of a
  municipality, as applicable, shall approve a previously
  disapproved plat application if the applicant's response
  adequately addresses each reason for the disapproval. If the
  authority or governing body disapproves a response, the authority
  or governing body:
               (1)  must comply with Subsection (c-1)(1); and
               (2)  may disapprove only for a reason provided to the
  applicant for the original application under Subsection (c-1)(1).
         (h)  A previously disapproved plat application is considered
  approved if:
               (1)  the applicant filed a response that meets the
  requirements of Subsection (g); and
               (2)  the municipal authority or governing body does not
  disapprove the application on or before the date required by
  Subsection (f) and in accordance with Subsection (g).
         (i)  This section applies to a municipality regardless of
  whether the municipality has entered into an interlocal agreement.
         SECTION 2.  Section 232.0025, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (i) and adding
  Subsections (g-1), (g-2), (g-3), and (j) to read as follows:
         (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), the commissioners
  court or the court's designee shall approve or disapprove [take
  final action on] a plat application, including the resolution of
  all appeals, not later than the 60th day after the date a completed
  plat application is filed with [received by] the commissioners
  court or the court's designee.  A plat is considered approved by the
  commissioners court or the court's designee unless it is
  disapproved within that period and in accordance with Subsection
  (e)(1).
         (e)  If the commissioners court or the court's designee
  disapproves a plat application:
               (1)  the commissioners court or the court's designee
  shall provide [,] the applicant with a written statement [shall be
  given a complete list] of the reasons for the disapproval that:
                     (A)  is provided with the notice of disapproval;
  and
                     (B)  lists each reason for the disapproval, which
  must:
                           (i)  be related to the applicable
  requirements under this subchapter; and
                           (ii)  not be arbitrary or intended to delay
  approval; and
               (2)  the applicant may submit a written response to the
  commissioners court or the court's designee that remedies each
  reason for disapproval.
         (f)  The 60-day period under Subsection (d):
               (1)  may be extended for a total of 30 days [reasonable
  period], if:
                     (A)  agreed to in writing by the applicant and
  approved by the commissioners court or the court's designee; or
                     (B)  [(2) may be extended 60 additional days if]
  Chapter 2007, Government Code, requires the county to perform a
  takings impact assessment in connection with a plat application;
  and
               (2) [(3)]  applies only to a decision wholly within the
  control of the commissioners court or the court's designee.
         (g-1)  The commissioners court of a county or the court's
  designee shall determine whether to approve an applicant's
  previously disapproved plat application not later than the 30th day
  after the date the commissioners court or the court's designee
  receives the applicant's response.
         (g-2)  The commissioners court of a county or the court's
  designee shall approve a previously disapproved plat application if
  the applicant's response adequately addresses each reason for the
  disapproval. If the commissioners court or the court's designee
  disapproves a response, the commissioners court or the court's
  designee:
               (1)  must comply with Subsection (e)(1); and
               (2)  may disapprove only for a reason provided to the
  applicant for the original application under Subsection (e)(1).
         (g-3)  A previously disapproved plat application is
  considered approved if:
               (1)  the applicant filed a response that meets the
  requirements of Subsection (g-2); and
               (2)  the commissioners court or the court's designee
  does not disapprove the application on or before the date required
  by Subsection (g-1) and in accordance with Subsection (g-2).
         (i)  If the commissioners court or the court's designee fails
  to comply with [take final action on the plat as required by]
  Subsection (d), (e), (g-1), or (g-2):
               (1)  the commissioners court shall refund the greater
  of the unexpended portion of any plat application fee or deposit or
  50 percent of a plat application fee or deposit that has been paid;
               (2)  the plat application is granted by operation of
  law; and
               (3)  the applicant may apply to a district court in the
  county where the tract of land is located for a writ of mandamus to
  compel the commissioners court to issue documents recognizing the
  plat's approval.
         (j)  This section applies to a county regardless of whether
  the county has entered into an interlocal agreement.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 245, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 245.0025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 245.0025.  DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION APPROVAL
  PROCEDURE. (a)  A political subdivision that adopts a permit
  regulation requiring regulatory agency approval for proposed land
  development shall determine whether to approve or disapprove the
  development application not later than the 60th day after the date
  the application is filed with the agency.  An application is
  considered approved by the agency unless the agency disapproves of
  the application in that period and in accordance with Subsection
  (b)(1).
         (b)  If a land development application under Subsection (a)
  is disapproved:
               (1)  the regulatory agency shall provide the applicant
  a written statement of the reasons for disapproval that:
                     (A)  is provided with the notice of disapproval;
  and
                     (B)  lists each reason for the disapproval, which
  must:
                           (i)  be related to the requirements of the
  permit regulation; and
                           (ii)  not be arbitrary or intended to delay
  approval; and
               (2)  the applicant may submit a written response to the
  agency that remedies each reason for disapproval.
         (c)  A regulatory agency shall determine whether to approve
  an applicant's previously disapproved development application not
  later than the 30th day after the date the application was filed.  
  If the agency disapproves a response, the agency:
               (1)  must comply with Subsection (b)(1); and
               (2)  may disapprove only for a reason provided to the
  applicant for the original application under Subsection (b)(1).
         (d)  A regulatory agency shall approve a previously
  disapproved development application if the applicant's response
  adequately addresses each reason for the disapproval.
         (e)  A previously disapproved development application is
  considered approved if:
               (1)  the applicant filed a response that meets the
  requirements of Subsection (d); and
               (2)  the regulatory agency does not disapprove the
  application on or before the date required by Subsection (c) and in
  accordance with Subsection (d).
         (f)  This section applies to a political subdivision
  regardless of whether the political subdivision has entered into an
  interlocal agreement.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a development or plat application filed on or after the effective
  date of this Act.  A development or plat application filed before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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