The city of Austin has signed an interlocal agreement with the Round Rock Independent School District (ISD) that will enable the district to accelerate and streamline permitting timelines for construction projects.
The 25-year agreement allows the district to develop property within Austin city limits through a modified administrative code. So long as the district complies with all technical codes, it will benefit from several site plan exemptions that will facilitate faster construction timelines across its 20 campuses.
The exemptions outlined in the approved document include:
- Not requiring a site development plan on an educational facility that disturbs 10,000 square feet of land or less.
- Not requiring a site development plan for adding, removing or relocating a temporary classroom building without a permanent foundation on an educational facility site.
- Not requiring a site development plan for building turning lanes from each side of a a median on a divided arterial.
- So long as no conflict exists between provisions of this agreement and the city’s Land Development Code (LDC), site development on small project sections won’t require site plans.
- Any other minor site activities similar to those listed above as determined by the director of development services.
Austin will designate staff members familiar with the agreement to oversee and review any site plan exemptions. The city and school district will work through liaisons to settle disputes.
Cutting permitting tape is anticipated to not only accelerate construction timetables but save significant amounts of funding that would have otherwise been consumed in lengthy administrative processes and extended project timelines. The new ruling comes at a pivotal time, as the school district prepares millions of dollars in bond-funded projects across its campuses.
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