Richardson council approves TIRZ agreement with DART
The city of Richardson will start sharing a portion of sales tax revenue growth with Dallas Area Rapid Transit to help fund DART’s economic development efforts in the city.
Council authorized City Manager Don Magner to execute the interlocal agreement with DART during the Sept. 8 meeting.
In a nutshell: The agreement allows both entities to participate in a tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, a finance tool cities can use for improvements. A TIRZ is also called a tax increment finance district, or TIF, the language Richardson officials use. Magner previously presented the plan to council in April.
BASIS Texas Charter School offers classes in Richardson
BASIS Texas Charter School is now open in Richardson.
The details: The charter school offers tuition-free “engaging and challenging but age appropriate” curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, according to the website.
More notice required for public meetings under new Texas law
Cities, counties and school district boards across Texas are required to provide more notice for public meetings under a new state law aimed at increasing public participation in government affairs.
The details: Local government agencies must post meeting notices at least three business days in advance of the meeting, meaning weekends and holidays do not count toward the minimum posting period.
House Bill 1522, which became law Sept. 1, increases the notice requirement from 72 hours.
The law change is part of “an effort to promote government transparency and citizen participation,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said during a May 13 legislative hearing.
The local impact: Some city and county governments across Community Impact’s coverage areas are changing their meeting schedules to comply with the new law, including:
Bastrop City Council
Conroe City Council
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court
Montgomery County Commissioners Court
The Woodlands Township
The new law does not dictate when local governments hold meetings, as long as they meet the three-day posting requirement.
Check out some recent development updates coming out of Plano, including a proposed townhome subdivision off Windhaven Parkway and a proposed Watermere independent living facility at Park Boulevard and Preston Road. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.
1. Plano commission tables vote on proposed townhomes at Austin Ranch Plans for a proposed townhome development at Austin Ranch remain under review after Plano Planning and Zoning Commissioners postponed a zoning change request required for the development. The development, located near the southwest corner at Windhaven Parkway and Midway Road, was initially proposed to include 16 single-family townhomes, according to city documents.
2. Plano officials to consider senior living development at Park Boulevard, Preston Road A new senior independent living facility could be coming to west Plano, pending a rezoning request and public hearing. At their Sept. 2 meeting, Plano Planning and Zoning commissioners voted to call a public hearing for items tied to a proposal to redevelop the former Plano Athletic Center site, which closed June 30.
