This agenda is tentative and subject to change.
Thursday, August 21
Land Use Essentials
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 a.m.
Welcome
9:05-9:50 a.m.
Regulatory Jurisdiction: City Limits, ETJ, and Annexation
Cities in Texas exercise land use authority within their incorporated limits and, to a more limited extent, within their extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). This session will explain where cities can regulate land use and how annexation affects regulatory reach. It could also address legislative limits placed on annexation in recent years.
Tad Cleaves, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Municipal League
9:55-10:40 a.m.
Regulation of Uses: Zoning
Zoning is a foundational land use tool that governs how property may be used within a city. This session will cover zoning classifications, map amendments, and zoning procedures. It will also address legal limits on zoning authority.
Skye Masson, City Attorney, and Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director, City of Georgetown
10:40-10:50 a.m.
Break
10:50-11:35 a.m.
Ensuring Connectivity: Subdivision and Platting
Subdivision regulations ensure orderly development by governing how land is divided and connected to public infrastructure. This session will focus on the city’s authority to require plats and regulate street and utility layout. It will also touch on statutory deadlines and the “shot clock” for plat approval.
Laura Mueller, City Attorney, and Tory Carpenter, Planning Director, City of Dripping Springs
11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
Exactions
Exactions are conditions placed on development to offset its impact, such as dedications of land or fees in lieu. This session will explain the legal framework governing exactions, including the “rough proportionality” standard established by Texas law. We’ll also review common pitfalls and how to document findings.
Aliceson Cotton, Senior Attorney, Messer Fort, PLLC
12:10-1:10 p.m.
Lunch
12:25 – 1:10 p.m.
Water Rights (working lunch presentation)
Water availability is central to land development, but the rules governing water rights vary by source and region. This session will give an overview of surface and groundwater rights, including the role of groundwater conservation districts. It will also address how cities interact with utilities and state regulators to ensure supply.
Jim Bradbury, Managing Partner, James D. Bradbury PLLC
1:20-2:05 p.m.
Vested Rights and Grandfathering
Texas law protects certain projects from changes in land use regulations once development has started. This session will explain when a project becomes “vested,” what protections apply, and how cities can comply with Chapter 245 of the Local Government Code. Real-world scenarios will illustrate how cities balance flexibility with legal limits.
Tyler Stevens, Shareholder, Sheets & Crossfield, PLLC
2:10-2:40 p.m.
Intergovernmental Relations and Regulation
Land use often involves overlapping jurisdictions, including counties, school districts, and special districts. This session will explore how cities coordinate—or clash—with other entities on land use matters. Topics could include service agreements, overlapping regulations, who wins in a fight, and strategies for collaboration.
Stephanie Huser and Sarah Tompkins, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League
2:40-2:55 p.m.
Break
2:55-3:40 p.m.
Development Financing Tools: PIDs, MUDs, and Chapter 380 Agreements
Cities and landowners can use financial tools to encourage or manage growth. This session will introduce Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), and Chapter 380 economic development agreements. We can discuss when and how cities use these tools to support infrastructure and attract investment.
Robyn Claridy-Miga, Director of Development Engineering, City of Pflugerville, and Julie Fort, Partner, Messer Fort, PLLC
3:45-4:30 p.m.
Legislative Update
TML staff will discuss outcomes from the 2025 Texas legislative session related to land use and zoning, and the impact on cities.
Texas Municipal League Legislative Team
Friday, August 22
Applying the Law to Practice: Working Through a Development Hypothetical
This half-day session will feature a panel of experienced development professionals who will walk through a hypothetical project from raw land to built-out development. Using a fictional scenario, the panel will illustrate how legal, regulatory, and practical considerations interact at each stage of the process. Attendees will gain insight into real-world problem-solving, interdepartmental coordination, and decision-making from multiple perspectives. The session is designed to reinforce the legal concepts discussed on Day 1 with applied, hands-on application.
Tad Cleaves, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Municipal League; Skye Masson, City Attorney, Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director, and Ryan Clark, Senior Planner, City of Georgetown
9:00-9:10 a.m.
Welcome and Overview of the Hypothetical Scenario
9:10-10:25 a.m.
Part One: Planning and Initial Entitlements
The panel will explore early-stage development decisions, including site selection, zoning compatibility, annexation potential, and utility availability. Discussion will also cover coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, infrastructure planning, and early public engagement.
10:25-10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40-12:00 p.m.
Part Two: Subdivision, Financing, and Final Approvals
The panel will walk through subdivision requirements, exactions, plat approval timelines, and possible use of development agreements or incentives such as PIDs or MUDs. They’ll conclude by addressing vested rights, permit sequencing, and interlocal considerations.