SRC-JEC H.B. 2951 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2951
By: Walker (Sponsor Unknown)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/11/2001


This analysis is based on the House Committee Report, which is the most
recent version available to the Senate Research Center. 

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, planned unit developments affected by municipal zoning
regulations are not exempt from provisions relating to the issuance of
local permits. If a project takes several years to complete from the
initial purchase to a finished building site, a municipality may change its
zoning codes to restrict the previously planned project before it is
completed. This may significantly change the economics of a project.  H.B.
2951 exempts such planned developments from municipal zoning regulations
which are enacted after the issuance of an initial permit for the
development.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 245.001, Local Government Code, by defining
"development permit" and redefining "project." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 245.002, Local Government Code, by amending
Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e), as follows: 

(b) Provides that all development permits required for the development of
land are considered collectively to be one series of permits for a project.
Deletes text regarding certain plans and plats. 

(e) Provides that if a development permit for land is issued by a political
subdivision, any subsequent permit for the same land or a portion of the
same land is considered to be issued in connection with the same project
for which the earlier development permit is issued if the use identified in
the subsequent permit is permitted on the land under the applicable land
use regulations.  Provides that if a change in a development permit is
requested and approved in connection with the development of any of the
land subject to the original development permit, the project subject to the
amended development permit is not considered to be a new project solely on
the basis of the requested change in the development permit.  Provides that
if any portion of the land or any portion of an interest in the land
subject to the development permit is conveyed, the project subject to the
development permit is not considered to be a new project solely on the
basis of the conveyance of the land or interest in the land. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 245.004, Local Government Code, to modify
exemptions to this chapter. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.