Abilene City Council considers giving food approval authority to one person

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — Should the City of Abilene transfer the authority to approve municipal plans to one person? The municipality is reluctant to do so.

A plat shows the divisions of land for future development and is currently approved or denied by the Planning and Zoning Board. In an effort to speed up the development process, the City Council is considering delegating this power and responsibility to a single person within the city.

However, the problem is that if the project is not approved by this person, the developer has no appeal process. The only option would be to resubmit the plan for approval a year later.

“I welcome a discussion about who this appeal process should (go to). Whether it’s P and Z, whether it’s us, whether it’s Robert…a citizen should have the right to disagree with the city official and have an appeal process,” said Councilor Lynn Beard.

After expressing concerns, City Manager Robert Hanna said staff would add language to the change to allow for an appeals process. However, Hanna added that most dishes are approved and if there is a problem with a dish, it is approved with conditions.

Hanna also added that the flat process is not very subjective. The proposed change would also reduce the cost to the city of approving a deck, so the city will charge the developer less to approve a deck.

The council agreed to bring this issue to second reading, which will be revisited at the next city council meeting.