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Bringing Activity Centers to Life through Mixed-Use Zoning
The City of Sugar Land is actively working on ways to enhance our community’s quality of life through the creation of new mixed-use zoning regulations. These mixed-use zoning regulations are especially important as the City finds the best way to respond to long-term shifts in market demands and demographic trends. Implementing Activity Centers combines offices, housing, retail, entertainment, and civic uses, which were identified in the 2018 Land Use Plan (LUP).
When we updated the Land Use Plan (a component of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a guide to how the City should develop and redevelop and evolve over time to reflect changing conditions) in 2018, we heard through that process that residents wanted mixed-use type areas in our community. They wanted not just a mix of uses, but they want us to create places where people can gather outside of work, school and their homes.
About the Mixed-Use Zoning Code
Sugar Land is updating its Development Code to adopt two mixed-use zoning districts in support of the Land Use Plan (LUP).
The proposed new districts are:
Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MU-N)
Intended to accommodate primarily residential uses with limited community, educational, commercial uses, and incidental or accessory uses. Residential uses in the MU-N district are intended to offer a diverse mix of housing opportunities at varied densities consistent with the Land Use Plan’s Neighborhood Activity Centers (NACs).
Mixed-Use Regional (MU-R)
Intended to provide for pedestrian-friendly areas of medium- to higher-density residential development and compatible nonresidential uses such as lodging, offices, supporting commercial and service uses, other civic and community uses, and incidental or accessory uses consistent with the Land Use Plan’s Regional Activity Centers (RACs).
For a summary of all the changes included in the draft mixed-use zoning code, please click here.
Milestones
Please note: timeframes are subject to change and will be updated when available
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Joint Planning & Zoning Commission / City Council Workshop #1 | Tuesday, May 9 |
| Joint Planning & Zoning Commission / City Council Workshop #2 | June / July |
| Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing and Recommendation | August / September |
| City Council Public Hearing & 1st Reading & 2nd Reading | September |
Six Essential Elements for Mixed-Use Districts
Click on each numbered item below to learn more.
- What the Mixed-Use Code Does
- 1. Provide A Home Nearby For Family
- 2. Enable Walkable Places For People
- 3. Facilitate Less Driving And More Living Through Reduced Parking
- 4. Respect Adjacent Neighborhoods
- 5. Streamline And Reward Innovative Development
- 6. Accelerate Redevelopment
What will the Mixed-Use Code Do?
- Provide A Home Nearby For Family
- Enable Walkable Places For People
- Facilitate Less Driving, More Living: Reduced Parking
- Respect Adjacent Neighborhoods
- Streamline and Reward Innovative Development
- Accelerate Redevelopment
For a summary of all the changes included in the draft mixed-use zoning code, please click here
Public Engagement
On Monday May 8th at Sugar Land City Hall, the City hosted a mixed-use town hall to introduce the new mixed-use zoning regulations and get initial feedback from residents. About 30 attendees learned more about City Council’s redevelopment priority as well as information from our guest speakers Dr. Jeronimo Cortina, Shana Hardin and Matt Goebel. Shortly afterwards, attendees had an opportunity to learn more about the draft mixed use zoning code and chat with staff.
Couldn't make it? No worries. You can see photos from the town hall and view the recorded presentation in its entirety below.
Want more information about the Land Use Plan?
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- What is the Land Use Plan?
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The Land Use Plan is a guiding document that outlines policy direction and guidance for development, redevelopment and land use decisions. The plan is not a regulating document. The Land Use Plan furthers the Comprehensive Plan’s overall vision and sets out a specific land use vision and goals for the city and outlines actions that will achieve those goals to ensure Sugar Land continues to thrive.
- What is mixed-use zoning and what does the Land Use Plan say about it?
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Mixed-use zoning brings together residential and nonresidential uses in walkable, pedestrian districts. Examples of mixed-use places include office, residential, retail, and restaurants.
The Land Use Plan states that mixed-use development is a critical factor in maintaining the City's ability to continue to provide first-rate city services at one of the lowest property tax rates in the state. Continued commercial development is vitally important to Sugar Land from both an economic perspective as well as the civic services and amenities it provides to residents and visitors. The success of Sugar Land Town Square is a model for future walkable, mixed-use Regional and Neighborhood Activity Centers.
- Is there public support for mixed-use zoning?
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Yes. When we updated the Land Use Plan (a component of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a guide to how the City should develop and redevelop and evolve over time to reflect changing conditions) in 2018, we heard through that process that residents wanted mixed-use type areas in our community. They wanted not just a mix of uses, but they want us to create places where people can gather outside of work, school and their homes.
- Why are we going through an update of the development code?
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The City of Sugar Land is actively working on enhancing our community's quality of life through the implementation of new mixed-use zoning regulations. Amending the development code to allow for mixed-use areas within the City is an action step included in the Land Use Plan to accomplish this goal. These regulations are a direct response to the long-term shifts in market demands and demographic trends, as well as the desires expressed by our residents during the Land Use Plan update in 2018. These regulations aim to create vibrant Activity Centers that integrate offices, housing, retail, entertainment, and civic uses, providing spaces where people can gather outside of work, school, and their homes. With the introduction of two new mixed-use zoning districts, we strive to bridge the gap between residential and commercial land uses.
- Are you looking to change the entire development code?
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No. These proposed changes are only meant to create mixed-use Activity Centers as identified in the 2018 Land Use Plan approved by City Council.
- What is an activity center?
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An activity center is an area with a mix of uses, such as office, retail, residential and civic institutions, integrated together in a compact walkable area.
- How many activity centers are there and where are they located?
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The Land Use Plan identifies:
- Five (5) Regional Activity Centers (RACs) strategically located along regional highways to ensure intense commercial, retail and other high-traffic destinations are contained within designated areas and separated from single-family residential neighborhoods. Each RAC is intended to have its own unique identity providing different amenities for both residents and employees for entertainment, dining and shopping
- Nine (9) Neighborhood Activity Centers (NACs) located on arterial streets, which are envisioned to be small mixed-use centers that act as a “Main Street” for nearby neighborhoods. These will largely be created through the redevelopment of older commercial areas and will minimize impacts on adjacent single-family neighborhoods by providing buffers and smooth transitions
- What does the mixed-use zoning code aim to do?
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The goal of the mixed-use zoning code and the proposed mixed-use districts is threefold. The mixed-use zoning code aims to:
- Create Vibrant Activity Centers: We are committed to developing Activity Centers that blend offices, housing, retail, entertainment, and civic uses, promoting a dynamic and engaging community environment - as envisioned by the Land Use Plan.
- Integrate Residential and Commercial Uses: The introduction of two new mixed-use zoning districts will enable the integration of residential and commercial land uses, fostering a cohesive environment where both can coexist and complement each other.
- Follow a Transparent and Fair Process: Creating these two mixed-use zoning districts does not automatically place this zoning on any property – that requires rezoning. All rezoning requests must go through a transparent, public, process that involves Planning & Zoning, and City Council approval. Once the mixed-use zoning is in place, staff ensures development applications are compliant and achieve City Council’s vision.
Stay in Touch
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If you’d like an opportunity for us to walk you through the draft mixed use zoning code or answer questions you may have, please let us know by sending us an email and a staff member will reach out to set up an appointment.
Contact Us
Planning & Development Services Department
2700 Town Center Blvd. N.
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Email: longrangeplanning@sugarlandtx.gov