Landscape Ordinance Update
Thanks to everyone who attended the Landscape and Tree Preservation Ordinance Open House on May 9. Staff has compiled the public input and identified several trends. These trends are:
- Existing and newly planted trees are an important component of a development site.
- Incentives and/or alternatives should be made available to developers that preserve existing trees.
- Building foundation plantings are desirable.
- Trees should be distributed throughout a site and not grouped together in front of a building.
- Earthen detention ponds do not need heavy landscape screening.
- Parking lot shade is highly desirable and more trees are needed in the parking lots.
- Moderate to low landscaping is desirable around the perimeter of a site.
- Xeriscaping and water conservation principles are highly desirable.
- Roadway beautification is desirable.
Staff is drafting an ordinance to reflect the input received to date. This input includes: comments from the May 9 open house; 2009 Development Survey (PDF); City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission; and Technical Advisory Committee. The Technical Advisory Committee includes development professionals from the community. The first draft of the ordinance will be made available for review this August.
Development Packet updated
The City of Round Rock's Planning and Development Services Department has been working diligently to update our development packets to reflect the recent Development Services Office and Planning Department merger. Make sure you check this webpage to ensure you are using the most recent development packet prior to beginning your project.
We'll allow delay of installing trees, shrubs during drought
As you are aware, the City is experiencing extreme drought conditions. Establishing trees and shrubs in this environment is obviously difficult. If you have a project under construction, or one in the near future, you may want to delay installation of the trees and shrubs. A bond or letter of credit will be needed and a commitment to plant once the heat decreases. Please notify our development staff if they can assist you in this endeavor.
Development Services Performance Measures
The City Council has conveyed the importance of establishing targeted performance measures for development staff. The intent is to set high goals and identify areas where improvements can be made. Below are the target measurements and performance of Development Services for the past 10 plus months. This info has been assembled from surveys, standard site plans, small project site plans, and subdivision improvement plan submittals.
| | Target | Performance |
| Would you recommend Round Rock as a place to do business? | 90% | 100% |
| Did City staff administer the development process fairly? | 90% | 100% |
City Council approves new Erosion and Sediment Control chapter in Drainage Criteria Manual
The City Council on July 28 approved a new chapter to the Drainage Design and Construction Standards Manual to develop erosion and sediment control standards for construction site storm water runoff. This chapter will assist design engineers and contractors in the selection, installation, and maintenance of appropriate erosion and sediment control best management practices. It will give guidelines on the most commonly used erosion and sediment control practices for temporary and permanent erosion controls.
This new chapter is required by the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit the City has with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to address storm water runoff from development and re-development construction sites.
