On Tuesday, the Bastrop City Council finally pulled the plug on the B3 form‑based code, voting to repeal it and adopt the new Bastrop Development Code, a full zoning overhaul that city leaders say should be easier for everyone to navigate. Council members and staff said the change is meant to fix day‑to‑day headaches that had made B3 tough to use, including drainage, parking, and site‑design conflicts, just as several large projects move forward around town.
What the new code does
The Bastrop Development Code replaces B3’s placetype‑and‑form system with a more traditional Euclidean zoning setup that relies on clearly named districts, a consolidated table of permitted uses, and simpler dimensional standards, according to the City of Bastrop. The executive summary explains that the rewrite moves subdivision regulations into Chapter 10, keeps planned‑development tools available for large projects, and carries over B3’s walkability goals while trying to cut down on ad‑hoc variances and inconsistent reviews.
Grandfathering, appeals and the council vote
Council members stressed that a grandfather clause will shield projects already moving through the system and urged applicants to sit down with staff to see how their plans line up under the new rules. As reported by Community Impact, Mayor Pro Tem John Kirkland described the April 14 vote as the final step in retiring the B3 code, and Council member Kerry Fossler added, “Please have that conversation,” so city officials can keep an eye on variances and appeals.
What it means for builders and neighborhoods
Local development officials say the new code should help speed up permit reviews and give builders a clearer sense of the rules as Bastrop absorbs growth from several master‑planned neighborhoods. The Bastrop Economic Development Corporation released a plain‑language guide earlier this year explaining that the change is meant to better align the development rulebook with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and offer more predictable standards for both small infill projects and larger planned developments, which could help streamline reviews and cut down on surprise variance requests.
Next steps and where to get information
The ordinance is now on the books as Chapter 14 of the City of Bastrop ordinances, and staff says it will track variance and appeal activity as the new rules roll out. Residents and developers who think their projects could be affected are encouraged to contact the Development Services department. The city’s planning pages host the full draft, the proposed zoning map, and staff contact details for follow-up, according to the City of Bastrop.
