§ 1.5. Consistency with Comprehensive Master Plan

This UDC is intended to implement the policies and objectives contained in the Comprehensive Master Plan and Master Thoroughfare Plan for the City and to affect the City's plan for provision of public facilities and service within the City limits and within the City's ETJ. Any application for development shall be consistent with the City's Comprehensive Master Plan, Future Land Use Map and Future Thoroughfare Plan, as each may be amended from time to time. The following General Land Use Policies have been used in the development of this UDC in order to ensure that land development within the City's jurisdictional area is in accordance with the City's Comprehensive Master Plan, Future Land Use Map and Future Thoroughfare Plan. These policies act as a guideline and should not be construed as development regulations.

A.

Growth Management

1.

New development should be compatible with existing development and community character.

2.

New development should maintain the character, look and feel of the City.

3.

New development should occur in a fiscally responsible manner for the City.

B.

Environmental Protection

1.

Development should preserve and protect waterways and floodplains.

2.

Development should preserve and protect surface and ground water resources and active hydrologic areas.

3.

Developers should cooperate with local governmental entities to ensure water quality.

4.

Development should promote and encourage water conservation practices.

5.

Development should preserve and protect air quality.

6.

Development should seek public acquisition of open space or develop conservative development options for areas of environmental concern.

7.

Agricultural and ranch lands should be priority areas for open space preservation.

8.

Development should promote awareness and implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for purposes of water quality and land conservation.

9.

Development should preserve and protect unique species of wildlife habitat and shall employ appropriate measures to minimize disturbances to wildlife habitats on surrounding properties and properties that will be preserved for conservation or floodplain management purposes.

C.

Housing

1.

Development should provide housing alternatives for all income levels within the City's jurisdiction.

2.

Development should encourage housing that is compatible with existing neighborhoods and land uses.

3.

Development should promote cluster development when and where appropriate.

D.

Economic Development

1.

Development should promote economic development along I-35, I-10, FM 3009, FM 1103, FM 465, Loop 539, Main Street and other arterials identified by the Future Thoroughfare Plan.

2.

Development should promote economic development consistent with other land use policies.

3.

Development should promote quality development that is compatible with neighboring areas.

E.

Historic Preservation

1.

Development should preserve and enhance historic areas of the City's jurisdiction.

2.

Development should preserve significant archaeological sites throughout the City's jurisdiction.

3.

Development should use community history to promote tourism and economic development.

F.

Parks and Recreation

1.

Development should connect existing and future parks in accordance with the Park Comprehensive Master Plan.

2.

Development should provide and preserve open space and parkland in new neighborhood.

3.

Development should encourage maintenance and safety of parks and recreation resources.

G.

Circulation

1.

Development should improve access to major thoroughfares identified by the City.

2.

Development should encourage streets and street network designs to be interconnected to provide ample, safe, and appropriately scaled access through and between neighborhoods and to commercial centers.

3.

Development should provide safe and efficient vehicular connectivity.

4.

Development should provide for safe and effective hike and bike trails.

5.

Development should ensure that access is safely managed and integrated into land use and site designs.

6.

Development should encourage adequate parking and layouts of parking to be provided for new commercial, office and retail development, provided that the parking fields do not deter ease of pedestrian access into and through new developments, and do not deter or detract from community character.

7.

Development should provide for safe and ample pedestrian connectivity throughout new and/or existing developments, including schools, park sites, and commercial areas.

H.

Urban Design

1.

Development should encourage and provide incentives for blending of land uses and mixed-use development.

2.

Development should utilize streetscape design criteria to encourage safe and desirable pedestrian access and community attractiveness.

3.

Development should utilize appropriate building area and bulk regulations, configurations, project scales and architectural design for new developments within the community.

4.

Signage should not detract from the visual integrity of the community.

5.

Lighting associated with signage, buildings or area-wide development should not pose a safety or environmental concern, and should be addressed in an aesthetically pleasing manner, when possible and appropriate - particularly as it relates to the impact on existing or new residential development.

I.

Civic and Public Spaces

1.

Civic buildings and civic spaces should be given prominent sites.

2.

School sites should be provided as new neighborhood developments are approved, so as to be within walking distance of a majority of the dwelling units in adjoining neighborhoods. This should be coordinated with the appropriate school district.