Thursday, March 28, 2024

Southlake Celebrates National Community Planning Month

October is Community Planning Month! In celebration with our Planning and Development Services Department, we’re highlighting the importance of comprehensive planning and community-focused initiatives that enhance the spaces where people work, live, and play.

The American Planning Association recognizes how planners work to improve the well-being of all people living in our communities by taking a comprehensive perspective. The City of Southlake values quality development and providing residents with a sustainable built environment, which leads to a safer, more resilient, more equitable, and more prosperous community. This October, we celebrate the role that planning plays in creating great places for all!

The Planning and Development Services Department strives for excellence in planning the Southlake community. Beginning in September, our department began work on updating the City’s Land Use Plan, which is an element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Future Land Use Plan is Southlake’s vision for future development that serves as a guide for land use decisions. The plan is a policy document that allocates the general location, concentration, and intensity of future development within the City by land use categories. The plan also serves as a foundation for Southlake’s zoning and subdivision regulations.

We encourage interested residents to attend Planning and Zoning Commission’s work sessions to provide feedback and input throughout the update process. These work sessions typically begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Southlake Town Hall Council Chambers (1400 Main Street) prior to the regularly scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.

Our building inspections division continues to provide exceptional customer service through the permitting and inspections process. The City uses an online permitting portal, EnerGov, which allows residents to apply for permits online, pay building fees, schedule building inspections, and review inspection results. EnerGov is an essential tool for residents, developers, contractors, and city staff alike. The Planning and Development Services Department plans to continue improving the EnerGov system and interface to streamline and simplify operations and processes for a more user-friendly permit process for first-time and recurring customers.

To learn more about Community Planning Month, please visit the  American Planning Association’s website. For more information about the City of Southlake’s planning efforts, visit our website or call 817-748-8621.

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