Development Services

Mission Statement

To educate, support, and execute the building of a better community by providing our customers and the citizens of Marble Falls the resources, knowledge, and professional expertise to manage our most important long term investment - our community.

The Development Services Department consists of four divisions, all of which have a correlation to planning, building and maintaining a first class community. These four areas include planning, building inspection, code enforcement, and geographic information systems (GIS). The Department staff serves developers, builders, contractors, customers, visitors and citizens of Marble Falls, by supplying information, expertise, resources, and enforcement of adopted regulations pertaining to land use, signs, building and site construction, water quality, and property maintenance. The Planning division goal is to abide by and implement the City comprehensive plan, land use regulations, subdivision regulations, and general development ordinances relating to site development and provide support in the short term and long term urban planning of the City environment. The Building Inspection division purpose is to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare through compliance with the adopted building codes to minimize hazards affiliated with the built environment, and ensure that an owner's investment in a site and/or building is constructed to minimum code standards. This includes a timely plan review and inspection processes, as well as maintaining records of all construction activity. The Code Enforcement division is responsible for enforcement of the City's codes, ordinances, and state laws, in a fair and equitable manner, to establish and maintain a positive and esthetically pleasing community. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) division has the objective of capturing and representing the City in a digital mapping environment to provide more accurate and comprehensive information for decision making within the organization, as well as digitally archiving institutional knowledge for future generations. Customer service and satisfaction, life safety, education, and community welfare are the daily operational goals of the Development Services Department.

• To propagate the building of a better community while protecting, promoting, and improving the health, safety and welfare of citizens and visitors of Marble Falls, while preserving the foundation of the past
• To provide quality customer service to our community, developing creative solutions for our patrons, and demonstrating the City core values in the execution of our duties
• To work as a team, supporting each department division, City department, and our City in accomplishing strategic goals
• Whether a first time home builder, experienced contractor, subdivision developer, or citizen assurance of a timely, professional, respectful, and high quality development process to include zoning, platting, plan review, permitting, inspection, and occupancy
• Progressing community sustainability for future generations and addressing the needs of the City through quality service by focusing on service delivery to each customer, each project, each violation and each issue
• Comprehensive code compliance that fosters compliance with a "can do" attitude, applying common sense to solutions, effecting prompt correction of noted violations, and swiftly addresses all citizens complaints to maintain and bolster community pride and respect
• To improve the relationship and productivity within the community and Code Enforcement Division
• To enhance the character and appearance of the community through private and public sector actions

• Maintained timely City development review, processing, permitting, and inspection services
• Coordinated with the Administrative Staff regarding the implementation of a Short-Term Rental ordinance
• Continued staff support for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the goal of consistent on-time agenda postings with no incidents of delayed applicant items due to staff error(s) or omission(s)
• Continued staff support for the Impact Fee Advisory Committee including biannual reporting and monitoring of impact fees and land use assumption and Capital Improvement Plan changes
• Continued staff support for the Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Established and began utilizing a multi-department Development Review Committee
• Continued to implement development regulations by updating and creating forms/applications as necessary
• Maintained consistent and quality administration, management, permitting, enforcement, and regulation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplains to maintain the City's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) membership thereby guaranteeing affordable flood insurance for property owners
• Continued to effectively accomplish Code Enforcement through community outreach and education, communication and collaboration with property owners/residents, and implementation of community programs and initiatives
• Coordinated a site clean-up of illegal dumping on a property off of Jackson Road. Clean­up consisted of over 300 tires, 20 refrigerators, and trash and debris
• Organized a neighborhood cleanup on the Westside of town that assisted in bringing properties into compliance
• Identified sites of transient encampments and collaborated with community programs to assist those occupying the encampments
• Identified illegal dumping sites throughout the City; placed "No Dumping" signs and cameras, and collaborated with property owners to rectify the issue
• Identified a list of needed amendments to the Property Maintenance Code to begin moving forward with drafting and Ordinance adoption
• Made progress towards establishing a digital library of approved civil and architectural plans, as-built plans, and plats to improve access and sharing of development plans and information between City departments and the public
• Maintained population estimate database for current and projected population.
• Continued streamlining and seeking enhancements to the MyPermitNow permitting, code enforcement, and project management program to improve operations and utilize the program to its highest potential while facilitating a continued improvement to the user experience
• Assisted in the Economic Development of Marble Falls and overall community prosperity by working with business owners and developers to bring their project to fruition in compliance with all City codes and ordinances
• Maintained jurisdiction of the Non-Point Source (NPS) pollution permitting and enforcement for the City limit and extra territorial jurisdiction and interlocal governmental communication and coordination with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) protecting the water quality of the Highland Lakes
• Tracked and provided annual reporting regarding status of Comprehensive Plan Implementation
• Continued administration and maintenance of City Backflow Program and Grease Trap Program for compliance with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements and adopted municipal ordinances
• Provided identification of substandard building within the City and provided notification of demolition of said structure, with O occupant displacement
• The GIS division collaborated with the Streets division to create a web-based data collection system and dashboard to collect, process, and view pavement condition data in real time
• Completion of in-field mapping projects for most City departments including: Engineering, Parks, Public Works, and the Police Department
• Automation of the centerline update process for Spillman which keeps the 911 geovalidation system up-to-date with CAPCOG standards on a monthly basis
• Continued to challenge staff to develop and implement new ways and methods to foster positive Department image, build brand identity of the City, and collaborate with builders/developers facilitate the growth of the community and tax base
• Continued to train, develop, and grow department staff to implement department strategic objectives and achieve City goals
• Continued stewardship of the direction provided in the City's Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Master Plan by providing recommendations and implementation actions to City departments, stakeholders, developers, and citizens that implement the City's vision, goals, and objectives

• Begin the process to update the 2016 Comprehensive Plan
• Continue testing and launch of Citizen Problem Reporter application to monitor non­emergency violation issues within the City
• Develop a process and procedure for yearly inspections of Short-Term Rentals
• Continue to enhance the Code Enforcement program through community outreach and education, communication and collaboration with property owners/residents, and implementation of community programs and initiatives.
• Incorporate the 2020 U.S. Census data into GIS and the population projections
• Facilitate Ordinance adoption of needed amendments to the Property Maintenance Code
• Update to the Future Land Use map to address ETJ expansions
• Continue to implement development regulations by updating and creating forms/applications as necessary
• Creation and adoption of ordinance addressing communication facilities within the City's right-of-way
• Continue to make progress towards establishing a digital library of approved civil and architectural plans, as-built plans, and plats to improve access and sharing of development plans and information between City departments and the public
• Support, facilitate, and provide inspection services for the construction of the proposed Hotel and Conference Center
• Continue staff support for the Planning and Zoning Commission items/cases, with a goal of consistent on-time agenda postings and no incidents of delayed applicant items due to staff error(s) or omission(s)
• Continue staff support for the Impact Fee Advisory Committee, biannual reporting and monitoring of impact fees, land use assumptions, and capital improvement plan
• Continue staff support for the Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Continue support of emergency services by providing coordination, review, and data updates for the Spillman emergency services system
• Continue inter-departmental GIS support for City departments
• Continue streamlining and seeking enhancements to the MyPermitNow permitting, code enforcement, and project management program to utilize to its highest potential and facilitate a continued improvement to user experience
• Identify substandard buildings within the City and provide notification of mitigation or demolition of said structures, with a goal of O occupant displacement
• Assist in the Economic Development of Marble Falls and overall community prosperity by working with business owners and developers to bring their project to fruition in compliance with all City codes and ordinances
• Continue jurisdictional oversight of Non-Point Source Pollution Ordinance within the City Limit and Extraterritorial jurisdiction; and continue partnership and communication with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) protecting the water quality of the Highland Lakes
• Continue administration, management, permitting, and enforcement of consistent and quality regulation of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplains to maintain the City's National Flood Insurance Program (CFIP) membership thereby guaranteeing affordable flood insurance for property owners
• Continue administration and maintenance of City Backflow Program and Grease Trap Program for compliance with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) TCEQ requirements and adopted municipal ordinances
• Continue stewardship of the direction provided in the City's Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Master Plan by providing recommendations and implementation actions to City Departments, stakeholders, developers, and citizens that implement the City's vision, goals, and objectives
• Continue to challenge staff to develop and implement new ways and methods to foster positive Department image, build brand identity of the City, and collaborate with builders/developers facilitate the growth of the community and tax base
• Maintain excellent employee safety practices by instituting best management practices, communication, and training, with zero safety related incidents affecting employee well­being in the office or field work environment