Consider and take action on the third and final reading of Ordinance 2025-19, amending the Texas City Code of Ordinances Title XV "Land Usage" Section 159.025 Replats, Chapter 159 "Subdivisions", to provide in accordance with state law for the administrative approval of certain minor replats upon the same terms and conditions as the Texas City Commission has allowed for minor plats and minor amending plats.  

Texas Local Government Code Section 212.0065 allows cities to delegate to one or more officers or employees of the city the ability to approve administratively (1) amending plats described in section 212.016, and (2) minor plats or replats involving four or fewer lots fronting on an existing street and not requiring the creation of any new street or the extension of municipal facilities.  In 2008 the City adopted Ordinance 08-29 which made this delegation for amending plats (Section 159.026) and for minor plats (159.027), but did not include the same delegation for minor replats (159.025).  The platting activities of Texas City are vigorous, and applications for minor replats are frequently received.  The minor replats follow the same review process as minor plats, amending plats, final plats, preliminary plats, master subdivision plans, development plans, and rezoning applications.    The administrative approval delegated for amending plats and minor plats increases the efficient use of the time and resources of the Planning Board.  It also allows a quicker and more efficient response time for the applicants.  The delegation of authority allowed by state law specifically excludes the authority to deny a minor plat or amending plat.  This exclusion of authority would also apply to any delegation of administrative approval authority for a minor replat.  The delegation to allow administrative approval of minor plats and amending plats has been effective since its adoption in 2008.  It is unknown why the delegation in 2008 did not include minor replats at the time.  It may have been thought that minor replats could be considered amending plats and handled administratively as such.  However, because the state law refers to replats separately from plats, staff recommend amending Chapter 159 to specifically provide for the administrative approval of minor replats to avoid any question about the effectiveness of an administrative approval.  The Planning Board considered the proposed amendment at its regular meeting on November 3, 2025 and voted 5-0 to recommend the amendment to the City Commission.   

Staff recommend approval of the amendment to Chapter 159 Subdivisions Section 159.025 to delegate the authority to administratively approve minor replats in accordance with state law to the City Engineer/City Planner upon the same terms and conditions as previously approved for minor plats and minor amending plats.  The Planning Board considered the proposed amendment at its regular meeting on November 3, 2025 and voted 5-0 to recommend the amendment to the City Commission.