Chance Sparks, a principal with Freese and Nichols, opened the advisory committee meeting by outlining the firm's role in leading Pflugerville's development‑code update and the coordinated engineering criteria manual effort. "So good evening. I'm Chance Sparks with Freese and Nichols, 1 of the principal shareholders of the firm and also gonna be leading the development code, update project, for y'all," he said as he explained the three‑phase process of initiation, modular drafting and adoption.

The committee and consultants framed the rewrite as a technical yet strategic effort to align regulations with the city's comprehensive vision. Sparks said the team will produce the new code in digestible "modules" rather than one large document and emphasized public engagement methods that translate technical requirements into everyday experiences for residents.

The advisory discussion focused on several recurring themes. A community commenter urged the committee to prioritize "pathways to ownership" over build‑to‑rent projects, saying, "I would much rather have, stronger but more flexible housing options, that provide a path to ownership as opposed to more additional neighborhoods." Participants encouraged exploring "missing middle" housing types such as cottage courts, duplexes and townhomes, and expanding allowances for manufactured or modular homes in appropriate districts.

Parking minimums and commercial flexibility drew repeated attention. Multiple commenters recommended eliminating or reducing parking minimums, at least downtown, to make infill and mixed‑use projects more feasible. The group also discussed tailoring standards to encourage neighborhood‑scale retail and small businesses—including clustered food‑truck courts or trailer courts—and easing drive‑through restrictions on small infill lots.

Speakers raised economic considerations: high impact fees were cited as a barrier to desired development. Participants suggested non‑cash incentives such as template plans, fast‑track approvals and fee rebates to reduce pre‑construction costs and signaling interim policy intentions to the market while the code is drafted.

Environmental and public‑space topics included landscaping and water conservation, native plant lists, and xeriscaping to match evolving growing zones. Multiple speakers advocated stronger trail connectivity and "trail‑oriented development" that links greenway assets to dining and retail uses to increase regional draw and create pedestrian‑oriented destinations.

Accessibility and walkability surfaced as process issues. Commissioners and residents said gaps in sidewalks, incomplete connections and minimal ADA compliance reduce daily mobility for people walking, biking or using mobility devices; participants urged coding for disability‑affirming design that goes beyond the minimum legal standard.

Consultants said they will look for "triage" items that can be acted on quickly as targeted amendments while drafting proceeds and previewed an upcoming joint workshop with City Council scheduled for Nov. 25 to solicit broader policy direction. Sparks asked members to forward additional comments to staff after the meeting so no suggestions are omitted.

Next steps: the team will continue diagnosis and module drafting, hold public engagement opportunities and bring draft modules to the committee and council for review.