Zoning & Planning Gonna Get Really, Really Wild, Ya’ll
A stampede is coming! Texas’ new zoning laws (SB840) could change everything, everywhere. For example, this large civic property could become commercial property. Think BIG and TALL.
Leigh Budlong — October 16, 2025
Imagine SB840 applying to that large civic property right in the middle of the photo - if the dirt is zoned for “commercial” it would be conceivable. Think BIG and TALL.
Welcome to the Rodeo, Cowpokes!
The Drive Begins: City Councils are meeting and details are starting to come out regarding their interpretation. Let’s take Grand Prairie, TX for example. The city looks to be adding some requirements for SB840. The details are just coming out but a land broker let me know it isn’t good for them.
The Round-Up: Today’s Land Use & Zoning News
Houston is getting “the largest investment in API manufacturing in Texas to date. Lilly stressed that the move was necessary to avoid tariffs on foreign-made drugs.” This is part of an on-shoring movement whereby manufacturing will be done in the US rather than overseas. The question I ask is how rezoning land from industrial to housing will impact this movement. I am not referring to heavy manufacturing as that is SB840 exempt. Read more.
Federal funding is getting yanked. The Austin Monitor reports federal funding remains unpredictable which puts more responsibility on state and local leaders to find resources for major initiatives. Read on
“We don’t need no stinkin’ fees? Wait…maybe we do…”-Speaking of losing federal funding, how are the impacts of the new zoning laws going to be paid for? Here’s a letter to the Senator who sponsored SB2477 asking about who’s going to pay for all of this? Read more.
Hold your horses! Who is going back to the well for more millions? There’s a sweet new deal in Austin for Australia: A 3-year deal at $3.5 million—with potential to go up to $6 million—using AI-driven workflow owned and operated by Archistar, an Australian company. Read more
Think comprehensive plans are “done”? Nope. The City of Austin has already earmarked $3 million for its new comprehensive plan update/rewrite. Expect more across the state to “catch up” to SB840 Read more.
Who’s taking the short cut for Site Plan Reviews? For those wanting to read how to participate in the City of Austin’s auto-pilot Read here.
Got wind of it?
There was a recent rezoning case in Austin whereby a property owner was asking to rezone a MF-1 zoning property to MF-3. There was a great analysis done by the consultant hired to represent the owner on just how close SF-3 and MF-3 zoning are now that Home 1 & 2 are in place. Also, I appreciated hearing this tidbit: “you can’t get permits in the city of Austin when you have development that is non compliant with the zoning,” per the land-use consultant.
The video is titled “I Can’t Believe It.” Here’s a link to that video to make it easy to learn how single family zoning is now truly sounding like multifamily zoning - the only real difference may be in retaining the name “Single Family Residence.”
Keep your ears to the ground at TXZoning.com
Read more on our blogs:
“Will neighborhood involvement become a spectator sport with power shifted from local to the State of Texas?”
More Content On TXZoning.com
Watch more on our YouTube:
The One Minute on SB840 & Building Size Impacts is sure to give you a quick start on what to expect.
