Liberty Hill council accepts UDC diagnostic as informational, schedules public outreach

The Liberty Hill City Council accepted a diagnostic report for a rewrite of the Unified Development Code (UDC) as an informational document and directed staff and the city's consultant to continue drafting updates with public input before any adoption.

Mayor Pro Tem Diane Williams and staff repeatedly emphasized the presentation was a high‑level assessment, not final code changes. "This is not final approval of any changes to the unified development code," Williams told residents, and staff announced the first public input meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Consultant Chance Sparks of Friese and Nichols described the diagnostic as the first step in translating the city's comprehensive plan and other policy documents into code language. "We start from the most recent policy documents...and pull in stakeholder input," Sparks said, outlining topics the diagnostic highlights, including water and wastewater capacity, thoroughfare planning for the large extraterritorial jurisdiction, and how to memorialize the city's recent dark‑sky designation.

Residents and business representatives offered early feedback. Tripp Horlock, who identified himself as active in development, said the draft could deter investment without more developer engagement: "I think it would be unwise to move forward with this new UDC draft, without more input from the development community," Horlock said.

Council members asked staff and the consultant to track stakeholder participation and provide lists of meeting attendees. Councilmember Wade Ashley moved to accept the diagnostic report "as an informational document identifying areas of improvement in the current code and to direct staff and the consultant to continue development draft updates with opportunities for public input and council direction before any adoption." The motion passed.

The report recommends drafting the UDC in modules, running internal and advisory reviews, and staging public hearings for each module. Staff said the project will include additional public engagement channels beyond social media, including a developer roundtable and an April open house. The council directed staff to ensure timely notice and to bring module drafts to Planning & Zoning and the council for public hearings before adoption.

Next steps: staff and the consultant will continue module drafting, document stakeholder input, and present drafts to Planning & Zoning and the City Council with public hearings scheduled before any formal adoption.