Abilene City Council considers giving plat approval authority to one person

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — Should the City of Abilene transfer the authority to approve city plats to just one person? The City Council is hesitant to do so.

A plat shows the divisions of a piece of land for future development and is currently approved or denied by the Planning and Zoning Board. In an effort to expedite the development process, the city council is considering delegating this power and responsibility to one individual within the city.

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However, a concern is that if the plat is not approved by this individual, there is no appeal process available to the developer. The only option would be to resubmit the plat for approval one year later.

“I welcome discussion on who that appeal process should [go to]. Should it be to P and Z, should it be to us, should it be to Robert… a citizen should have the right to disagree with the city official and have an appeal process,” Councilman Lynn Beard said.

After voicing their concerns, city manager Robert Hanna said staff would add language in the change to allow for an appeals process. However, Hanna added that most plats are approved, and if there is a problem with a plat, it is approved with conditions.

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Hanna also added that the plat process is not very subjective. The proposed change would also lower the city’s cost in approving a plat, so the city will charge the developer less to approve a plat.

The council agreed to take this matter to a second reading, which will be revisited at the next city council meeting.

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