Development Process

A Pre-Development conference is a preliminary informational meeting between an applicant and staff. This meeting is used to help the applicant prepare a development application for submission to the Planning Department, and/or identify any major issues that the proposed project may encounter after submission. A Pre-Development conference is mandatory, as no application will be accepted prior to a Pre-Development Conference with DRC staff.

Schedule a Pre-Development Conference

The Development Schedule displays the dates and meeting time of each public hearing, as well as the due dates, staff meetings, and property owner notifications (PON's).   This calendar also gives the submission deadlines for each development cycle. 

2020 Development Calendar

You may fill out the application online and print it out to be submitted in person to the City of Grand Prairie Planning Department.  The form is not available for submission via the internet, it must be printed and submitted in person to the Planning Department counter in the Development Center by the deadline indicated on the Development Calendar.  The application form cannot be faxed. All Preliminary and Final Plats, and some Replats, require the applicant to fill out and complete the Engineering Checklist to be submitted along with the Engineering Plans to the Engineering Department at the time the Development Application is submitted. 

Development Application

Engineering Checklist

If you need assistance completing the application, please call the Planning Department at (972) 237-8255. 

The following information is required for all application submissions: 

1. Completed Development Application*
2. Application Fee (listed on the application form)
3. Certified Property Tax Certificate
4. 10 Copies of the Plat/Site Plan at 24" x 36", Tri-Folded 
5. .pdf copy of plans, and/or plats on flash drive or CD. 

If you are applying for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) it is strongly suggested that an Operational Plan be provided at the time of submission.  An operational plan is a one to two page written document that briefly describes your business.  It should include a brief history of your company, and should briefly describe what your company does, and should list all of the operations that will be conducted and equipment that will be stored on site.  It should include your hours of operation and number of employees.  Additional information specific to a particular use may be requested during the review process. 

* For Plats/Site Plans, please complete the Approval Process form, which is on the last page of the application. 

Any applications that are not completely filled out and don’t have all the required documents will be deemed incomplete. Once they are complete, the development review can proceed. 

The Development Review Committee (DRC) is a inter-agency committee comprised of representatives from various government agencies and utility companies such as SBC, ONCOR, ATMOS Energy, ATT&T, and the city's Departments of Planning, Building Inspections, Transportation, Engineering, Fire and Law Enforcement. 

DRC members discuss Development Application submissions with planning staff at regularly scheduled Pre-DRC meetings -- which are generally scheduled for one week after the submission deadline.  Each department provides written Pre-DRC comments for each case reviewed by the DRC.  The planning staff ensures that those comments are conveyed to the applicant, and that they understand what is needed to proceed to the next steps towards approval.  Planners then prepare recommendations that are presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission as part of a public hearing. 

DRC meetings are staff only.

Upon request, staff will meet with community representatives to discuss relevant issues about all development application submissions.  To schedule a meeting, please contact the Planning Department at (972) 237-8255 or email msespinoza@gptx.org.

For the DRC meeting, applicants will be responsible to provide three copies of the original submission reflecting the changes identified by staff in the Pre-DRC comments. 

The Planning & Zoning Commission is an advisory body and adjunct to the City Council, and can make recommendations on all applications for rezoning, site plans, requests for specific use permits, zoning ordinance amendments and exception cases.  The commission has been charged by the state and by the City Council to solely act upon and approve or deny all plats that are submitted to the city. 

The Planning & Zoning Commission is composed of nine members that have been appointed by the Mayor and the City Council.  Appointees must not conduct business as a supplier or vendor to the city.  The Commission meets twice a month at 6:30 P.M. 

Applicants attending the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting will need to have submitted 1 full size set and 1 8.5 x 11 reduction of corrected copy of the original submission by the revision due date listed in the Development Calendar.  These copies should reflect corrections to the DRC comments provided by staff. 

The City of Grand Prairie practices a Council-Manager form of government.  As the Legislative body of this form of government, the City Council serves as the link between the citizens of Grand Prairie and their municipal government.  Through the enactment of orders, ordinances, and resolutions the Council represents the diverse interests of the city's residential base while still ensuring the efficient and effective allocation of public services and resources.  

Prior to filing with the county applicants will be required to receive city approval and signatures from the planning department. After filing with the county applicants will be required to provide the City of Grand Prairie with one 24" x 36" reproducible black ink mylar with original signatures from the engineer/surveyor and the county prior to receiving final addressing and building permits.