Up-to-date Code of Ordinances now on City website

Starting in November, the City began using Municode.com to host its Code of Ordinances online.  Municode will enable the City to have a much more up-to-date version of the Code available to web users.

The Code has also been reorganized and the section numbering system has changed.  In addition, Code amendments adopted by Council will be updated by Municode on a monthly basis, thus keeping the Code current.  Should you need assistance in navigating the Code, do not hesitate to contact City Secretary Sara White at 218-5404.

General Plan 2020 adopted

After many exciting months of working with individuals and organizations across the City, Places and Spaces: General Plan 2020 was approved by the City Council on July 22.

The General Plan is the official policy document guiding long-range planning and community development in the City of Round Rock.  Accordingly, it contains numerous land use recommendations that will assist in shaping our community over the next ten years.  A key component of the Plan is the future land use map which serves as the basis for the City’s zoning recommendations. 

In the Fall of 2008, the Planning Department launched a comprehensive process to update the Plan.  The last full revision of the plan took place in 1999.  With the City’s dramatic growth over the past decade, a broad range of issues ranging from historic preservation to environmental protection needed to be addressed in the Plan.  Integral to the update process was gathering community feedback on the proposed Plan topics.  This occurred through two major initiatives: a communitywide phone survey and a series of community focus group meetings.

A paper copy of the Plan is available at the City library.

Land Management System software update

The New Land Management System (or LMS) software kick-off meeting was held Nov. 9.  The city has acquired the software and began implementation with the vendor, CRW.  This new software will completely overhaul how the city maintains its development, permitting and code enforcement information by providing a dedicated software system exclusively for this use.  Actual live use of the software will be June or July next year after all of the necessary information is imported into the new software and it gets customized.  Then a trial run of the software will take place internally.

This software was selected from 11 different software packages submitted to the City’s request for proposals.  The new software is both Windows and web-based which will allow anyone to be able to access certain information on-line, and allow contractors the ability to schedule inspections on-line in which case the inspection will drop right into the inspector’s calendar.  Expectations of what this new software will do are high right now, and like all new software it will take some time to fully learn and use. 

Landscape and Tree Ordinance

City staff is currently analyzing the Landscape Section of the Zoning Ordinance and Tree Protection Ordinance.  The goal of this task is to evaluate the effectiveness of these ordinances and identify potential for improvement.  There are two key policy documents that will guide the direction of this code amendment: the City’s Development Philosophy and Strategic Plan. For example, the Strategic Plan included sustainability, water conservation, and aesthetics as vital elements to improving the built environment.  Staff will consult the Development Philosophy to formulate recommendations that are common sense based and sensitive to economic realities. This process will include many opportunities for the development community and general public to have their ideas incorporated.  If you would like to be involved, or offer your recommendations, please feel free to contact Brad Wiseman at (512) 341-3321 or Taylor Horton at (512) 341-3175. Staff looks forward to working with all members of the community to improve these ordinances while fostering Round Rock’s competitiveness!

Legal matters

The DSO and Planning Department have reached a Service Level Agreement (PDF) with the legal department. The overall goal of this SLA is to provide a clear level of predictability when items such as easements or agreements need legal review. As such, this agreement provides written timelines for reviewing legal documents. Staff, as well as the development community, can utilize this agreement to ensure an efficient processing of legal documents and requests.

Water, wastewater details updated

Many of the City’s water and wastewater details have been updated on the web site.  The updated details have a date of April 2010 on them, however not all of the details were updated. 

Email shortcut

Should you desire information from the City of Round Rock on developing property within the city limits, there is now a short-cut available.  Just e-mail the City at development-info@roundrocktexas.gov and put “dso” in the Subject heading.  You will receive an auto-reply email that includes links to help you answer many of your development questions. 

DACS review under way

The City’s Design and Construction Standards (DACS) are all currently being reviewed internally, and will be put out for public review and comment once the internal review is complete.  If you have comments, questions or want to recommend changes to the DACS please email David Freireich.

New building permit packet

A new development packet (PDF) has been created providing guidance for Building Permits.  The new Building Permits Packet provides guidance and information for those looking for building permits.  Information including fees and expected plan review times are provided.  The packet also explains the City’s permitting philosophy and provides applicants with review options depending on their specific need.  Finally, to help avoid common inspection issues, the City has provided the opportunity for applicants to request a mid-construction meeting.  This process improvement is discussed on page 6.