Dripping Springs extends moratorium on development for additional 90 days

DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS – November 23, 2021 – The Dripping Springs City Council last night voted to extend the Temporary Development Moratorium through February 20, 2022. The Moratorium will affect permits for new development related to subdivision, site planning, development, land use, and construction in the City Limits and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction for both residential and commercial projects.

During the Moratorium, no City department will accept permit applications for development where a waiver or exception has not been approved.

The Temporary Development Moratorium was enacted on November 18, 2021, and was scheduled to run through November 27, 2021.

Over the past week, three public hearings were held to get input from residents and businesses. City leaders also met with developers and builders who had questions or concerns.

Following the final public hearing and the second reading of the ordinance last night, the Council extended the Moratorium, stating it is an important step in maintaining responsible growth in the City.

The Council recognized the impact of rapid growth on providing for responsible development, especially as it relates to density, transportation, and the provision of wastewater.

Currently, the City has reached its wastewater capacity. It is also in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to accommodate land-use regulation issues.

Now that the Development Moratorium has been extended, Dripping Springs will use the time to prepare for responsible development and future planning, so that development ordinances or regulations and other applicable laws are adequate to prevent new development from being detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the city, while also addressing the need for sustainable infrastructure.

During the Development Moratorium, each department of the City will only accept applications or plans that include a request for a waiver or exception, or for projects where an exception or waiver has already been approved.

The City has set up a section on its website where developers and citizens can go for up-to-date information: cityofdrippingsprings.com/moratorium. Exception and waiver forms can also be found in this section.

Developers or citizens with questions should contact the Planning Department at moratorium@cityofdrippingsprings.com. Due to the anticipated high volume of inquiries on this matter, we request that all questions be submitted in writing.