Planning Services

About

The Planning Services Division works together with the community to enhance and maintain quality of life in Abilene by guiding specific use and arrangement of urban development through administration and enforcement of the City’s Land Development Code (LDC) and Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the Planning Services Division encourages proper growth, development, redevelopment, and stabilization of neighborhoods by providing technical assistance to the City’s Council, boards, commissions, developers, and citizens.

The Planning staff provides expertise and policy advice for the following boards, commissions, and committees:

City Council
Planning and Zoning Commission
Tax Increment Redevelopment Zone (TIRZ) Board
Mayor’s Downtown Task Force
Board of Adjustment
Landmarks Commission
Development Review Committee (DRC)
Entertainment District Task Force

Staff also provides other core services such as administering the City’s Facade Improvement and Demolition Assistance Grant Programs.

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission is comprised of seven Abilene citizens who act as an advisory board to City Council in regards to land use and zoning related matters. Members are appointed by the Mayor for three year terms.

The Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council hold public hearings on cases in City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. If you are interested in any case, you have the opportunity to make your opinion known to the appropriate body at that time.

It is also permissible to mail us a signed letter, which will be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council, whichever is hearing the case at that time.

Applications

All Planning Services applications are now online. Apply for Zoning, Plats, Conditional Use Permits, Thoroughfare Closures, and Itinerant Business Permits all from one place.

Did You See a "Zoning" Sign?

Sign Location(s)	Case Number & Manager	Request	Meeting Dates
Lone Star Drive & Loop 322	2021-06 Jared Smith Planner II	Amend terms and conditions of Planned Development District Number 82 (PD 82) specifically as they affect certain commercial properties located directly north of Lone Star Drive and east of Loop 322, to allow use and development in compliance with requirements of General Retail (GR) zoning, instead of specific uses and standards now required by PD 82	P&Z Apr 6 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing May 13
5919 Buffalo Gap Road	2021-07 Brad Stone Planner III	Rezone property from a Neighborhood Office (NO) to a Planned Development (PD) District intended to allow retail sale of apparel and related accessories, in addition to all uses ordinarily allowed in NO Districts	P&Z Apr 6 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing May 13
Maple Street & North from Abilene State-Supported Living Center	2021-08 Jared Smith Planner II	Rezone property from a Residential Medium-Density (MD) to a Planned Development (PD) District intended to allow duplex dwellings as well as townhomes (with no more nor fewer than two dwellings in any one row of attached buildings) on approximately 14 acres of now-vacant land located on the 2000 block (east side) of Maple Street and directly north from the Abilene State-Supported Living Center in southeast Abilene	P&Z Apr 6 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing May 13
1802-1810 Huckleberry Lane	Z-2021-09 Jared Smith Planner II	Change zoning from a Residential Single-Family (RS-6) to an Agricultural Open Space (AO) District	P&Z May 4 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing June 10
2249 Butternut Street	Z-2021-10 Nick Watts Planner I	Change zoning from a Heavy Industrial (HI) to a Heavy Commercial (HC) District	P&Z May 4 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing June 10
South 11th Street	TC-2021-04 Brad Stone Planner III	Abandon the complete 80-foot width of public right-of-way available for China Street as it extends 200 feet north from South 11th Street’s right-of-way	P&Z June 1 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing July 8
South 9th Street	TC-2021-05 Brad Stone Planner III	Abandon the complete 80-foot width of public right-of-way available for South 9th Street as it extends 140 feet east from South Treadaway Boulevard’s right-of-way	P&Z May 4 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing June 10
Beech Street	TC-2021-06 Jared Smith Planner II	Abandon the complete 60-foot-width of public right-of-way available for Beech Street as it extends 160 feet south from Sandefer Street’s right-of-way	P&Z May 4 City Council Final Reading & Public Hearing June 10