As I noted in my last update (The Coming Year), there are a number of significant issues that will be dealt with by the City of Temple this year.  In effort to keep our members aware of how these events will progress, the Government Affairs Committee recently met with members of the Temple City staff to receive an update on the progress of a number of projects that we will be monitoring and participating in throughout 2007 and into 2008.

TABA GAC meets with Temple City staff.

The staff at the planning and public works departments are both off and running.  The projects that they are working on will shape development in Temple for years to come.

The Temple Planning Department, now directed by Tim Dolan, will work on a project to develop specific criteria for an overlay zoning district for the entire portion of I-35 that exists inside the Temple city limits.  The City Council will begin reviewing the project this month. 

In March and April respectively the department plans to take revisions to the metal buildings and signs ordinance to the Council—some of these revisions will be extensive, others are meant only to make clarifications to the current ordinances.  Metal buildings will receive a great deal of attention throughout the summer and some significant changes to this ordinance could emerge by July.

A Unified Development Ordinance will be presented to the Council in May.  This document will serve to “clean-up” conflicting language that exists in the zoning and subdivision ordinances.  Later, it will take into account the Temple Comprehensive Plan that the City will also be working to update this year.

Further, a rewrite of the commercial landscape ordinance is in the works.  The first phase of this project, due for Council review in June, is designed to clarify the current document by adding language that will make clear current irrigation requirements and provide a tree and shrub standards plant list.  This document will be mulled over throughout the year and it is likely that there will be a push for it to undergo substantial changes (in terms of increased requirements) by 2008. 

The Public Works Department will also be doing some major planning this year as they are currently in the middle of updating the six year old Water and Sewer Master Plan. 

Components of this plan include data about where current lines are, how big they are, and how adequate they are.  The document will also provide statements and maps that will indicate when and where services will be extended in the future.  Additionally, in updating the plan, the City will consider extension policies for bringing water and sewer lines to new developments.

Finally, the Planning and Public Works departments will work with a recently selected consultant, Kendig Keast Collaborative, to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan.  This will be a key document in planning for and managing the growth and development of the city over the next five years or so.

TABA will work as closely as possible with the City to assure that the interests of the homebuilding industry are given plenty of consideration in each of the projects listed above.  In doing so, we will need the support of our members to make sure that our voice is heard.  Should you have interest in working with the City on any of these projects, please let me know and I’ll work to get you involved. 

I can be reached at 254-773-0445.

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