Rewrite of Zoning Ordinance & Subdivision Regulations

Purpose

The City of Heath, TX is requesting statements of qualification from professional firms interested in providing services for a rewrite of the City of Heath’s Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. The Sign Code is separate from the Zoning Ordinance; however, there are elements of the code mixed within certain districts of the zoning ordinance and should be considered a part of this effort.

The City of Heath is located to the northeast of the City of Dallas and has experienced a steady population growth of approximately 11,500 residents in an area less than sixteen square miles. With its proximity to Lake Ray Hubbard, the City of Heath is known for its low density high‑end residential homes, its outdoor lifestyle which includes parks and trails, and is known as one of the premier cities in the Metroplex.

The majority of the City of Heath is developed with single‑family homes on large lots that generally exceed one‑acre in size. The remainder consists of retail and service uses, schools, churches, parks, Government buildings and public spaces, the Rush Creek Yacht Club, and the Buffalo Creek Country Club. The City of Heath has approximately 30% undeveloped land with an opportunity to focus development of the Towne Center Overlay District as future retail.

Heath maintains a rural by design community with an intentionally low ratio of non‑residential land use area to population that reflects Heath’s identity as a Premier Outdoor Lifestyle Community.

The existing Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 159: Zoning) was adopted in 2005 and has had numerous amendments since its adoption. However, there has not been a comprehensive rewrite since being adopted.

The existing Subdivision Regulation (Chapter 158: Subdivision) was also adopted in 2005 and had numerous amendments through the years. The subdivision ordinance includes the City’s Tree Preservation, and Parkland Dedication and Development standards as components of this chapter that will need to be considered when rewriting the ordinance.

In June 2025, the City of Heath adopted an update to the 2018 Comprehensive Plan by revising the Plan’s goals and objectives to reflect the changes that Heath has experienced and focused on land use and livability strategies in order to maintain the City’s large lot rural characteristics. Implementation of the Plan’s recommendations should focus on the vision, goals, and objectives of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan as part of this extensive review of the corresponding ordinances.

Staff has tracked some inconsistencies between the existing ordinances and current development practices. The selected Consultant will review existing inconsistencies, newly adopted goals of the future land use plan, and best practices to gain insight on revisions needed. The Consultant and staff will then work with a broad‑based steering committee to prepare the elements of what the City expects to be innovative and meaningful ordinance revisions.

Use of the City’s website for public participation and draft publication is important, as is the multimedia packaging of the revisions.

Key elements of the scope of work should at a minimum include, but not be limited to:

• Update the existing Zoning Ordinance based on eliminating inconsistencies with the existing ordinance and the Subdivision Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, or any other documents guiding development.
• Develop more specific retail design guidelines, possibly using form‑based code for strategic areas and gateways to the City, such as Towne Center Overlay District, The Reserve Development, and major transportation corridors.
• Revised residential and non‑residential design and development standards.
• Finalize existing zoning map.
• Update nonconforming language and sign ordinance.

• Update the existing Subdivision Regulations based on eliminating inconsistencies with the existing regulations and the Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, or any other documents guiding development.
• Assist Engineering and Public Works with the development of water and sanitary sewer requirements, as well as standards for pedestrian and trail integration,…