Fulshear adopts CDO changes to widen downtown setbacks, add LID option and require greener building clusters

The Fulshear City Council on April 21 approved updates to the city’s Coordinated Development Ordinance aimed at improving downtown streetscape, drainage and internal development areas.

Planning staff described three primary changes: a single 10‑foot front setback for downtown buildings (replacing the previous 0–5‑foot option) tied to an 8‑foot sidewalk and landscaping requirements; an expanded low‑impact development option (referred to in discussion as a grama‑water irrigation approach) that reduces dual stormwater feature requirements if selected; and new expectations that building clusters provide more internal green space and pedestrian connections rather than large internal parking expanses.

Council discussion ranged over preserving mature trees, sidewalk placement relative to curbs and property lines, the potential visual inconsistency if adjacent properties choose different sidewalk options, ADA and drainage constraints and the possibility of credits if developers build to the city’s future streetscape standards. Staff said the changes are intended to produce a more activated, pedestrian‑friendly downtown while addressing drainage and design constraints developers have raised.

Council voted to adopt the ordinance changes after a multi‑member exchange of technical questions and assurances that staff would consider credits or coordination where developers already meet the city’s standards.