2018-152 Citizen Participation Efforts in the Development ProcessDate: October 19, 2018 Report No. 2018-152
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide an update on adapting the goals of the Southlake Program for the Involvement of
Neighborhoods (SPIN) into the development process for the City of Denton.
BACKGROUND:
City Council requested information on the SPIN program as an example of citizen engagement
during the planning process during the June 12 City Council meeting. An Informal Staff Report
(Report No. 2018-077) was provided on June 22, 2018, that outlined the goals of the program and
the City of Southlake’s public engagement efforts during the development process.
Staff worked over the following months to find ways that the SPIN program could be adapted into
Denton’s development process. Staff determined that the goals and outcomes of the SPIN program
can be achieved by adding a Citizen Participation procedure to the Denton Development Code
(DDC) through a code amendment. A work session on this topic is scheduled for November 6 to
outline this proposed amendment.
DISCUSSION:
To determine the viability of having a process such as SPIN for the City of Denton, staff identified
the primary goals of the SPIN program as:
Standardized public notification process for public meetings allowing for citizen input prior
to the development being presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Note that the
SPIN program is voluntary, but encouraged, in Southlake.
Standardized reporting of the public feedback about the proposed development so that
Planning and Zoning, and the City Council are aware of public sentiment.
Allows time for developers to react to public feedback, where appropriate, prior to going
before the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Staff believes that these same goals can be achieved through a Citizen Participation procedure in
Denton which will require the applicant to host neighborhood meetings with citizens for the
following applications:
Alternative Environmental Sensitive Area Plan
Alternative Development Plan
Specific Use Permit
Initial Zoning
Zoning Change
As proposed, the Citizen Participation procedure will facilitate resident engagement in the City’s
development procedures and allow them to play an essential role in shaping the direction of future
developments across the City. This will be achieved through requiring applicants to prepare and
execute a Citizen Participation Plan and submit a Citizen Participation Report. The Citizen
Date: October 19, 2018 Report No. 2018-152
Participation Plan will be a part of the developer’s initial submittal, the Citizen Participation Report
will be included as an exhibit to the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council agenda
items.
The Citizen Participation Plan will include:
Schedule of events planned;
Neighborhood meeting details;
Information proposed to be disseminated; and
Applicant contact information.
The Citizen Participation Report will include:
Date and location of all meetings;
Names, addresses, and number of citizens that participated; and
A written summary of the issues and/or concerns raised by citizens and how the applicant
and proposes to resolve these issues and/or concerns.
The Citizen Participation Report will be included as an exhibit in the agenda packet for all
applications listed above.
As is mentioned above, a more thorough overview of the new Citizen Participation requirements
for the development process will be presented during the November 6 City Council Work Session.
STAFF CONTACT:
Ron Menguita
Development Services
940-349-8328
Ron.Menguita@cityofdenton.com
Stuart Birdseye
Public Affairs
940-349-8009
Stuart.Birdseye@cityofdenton.com