Plano City Council’s July 27 HUD hearings: how to comment
Plano TX – Residents can weigh in before the July 27 City Council vote on HUD CDBG ‘substantial amendment’ and the 2026–2027 Action Plan.
Plano residents get a concrete chance to influence how the city uses federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funding on Monday, July 27, 2026. That’s when Plano City Council will hold public hearings and consider resolutions tied to a HUD “substantial amendment” and the city’s 2026–2027 Action Plan.
What’s on the HUD-related agenda for July 27
On July 27, City Council will include two HUD-related items:
- Public hearing and consideration of a resolution to authorize a Substantial Amendment to the city’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025–2026 Action Plan for CDBG.
- Public hearing and consideration of a resolution to adopt the 2026–2027 Action Plan, including the summary of planned CDBG and HOME Investment Partnerships Program activities and proposed use of funds for program year 2026–2027.
These are hearing/consideration items. They aren’t final until Council votes during the meeting.
The meeting starts at 7:00 PM in the Senator Florence Shapiro Council Chambers at the Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Ave, Plano, TX 75074.
How to comment in writing (deadline: 5:00 p.m.)
If you want your comments delivered to City Council as part of the HUD process leading into the hearings, City materials direct residents to contact:
Send comments to: Sandra Ottinger, Housing and Community Services Manager
Address: 777 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074
Phone: (972) 208-8150
Email: sottinger@plano.gov
Deadline: Comments received by 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2026 will be provided to City Council.
How to speak during the public hearing
Plano’s meeting procedures require online speaker registration—onsite registration isn’t available.
- Online registration opens at 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the meeting.
- Online registration closes at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Why the HUD planning process matters (plain English)
CDBG is a federal program that provides annual grants to cities and counties to help develop “viable urban communities,” with an emphasis on benefits for low- and moderate-income residents.
HUD lists eligible CDBG activity types that can include acquisition of real property, relocation and demolition, rehabilitation of structures, and construction of public facilities and improvements such as water and sewer facilities, streets, and neighborhood centers. Activities also must meet required program national objectives.
HUD also requires a citizen participation plan that includes public hearings so residents can share views and get responses during different stages of community development planning.
That’s where “substantial amendments” come in: the CRS summary of HUD’s consolidated planning framework notes that substantial amendments trigger required public participation before approval—which is why Plano is holding hearings and taking public input on the July 27 agenda.
Local tie-in: Douglass Community utilities and the HUD timeline
City materials connect the HUD substantial amendment process to the Douglass Community Utilities Project. The project page says the HUD substantial amendment process takes about 3 to 4 months when it moves through city review and environmental review, but could take longer if additional environmental assessments are needed.
The City’s expectation is that work could begin in November if steps proceed as planned—so this is a real moment for residents to raise questions and priorities before Council considers the HUD-related resolutions.
Bottom line: what to do before July 27
- Write to the City by 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 27 if you want your comments provided to Council.
- Register online to speak during the hearing (and remember: no onsite registration).
- Use the hearings to focus on neighborhood impacts and what you want Council to consider as Plano moves forward with the substantial amendment and the 2026–2027 Action Plan.
Sources
- City of Plano City Council agenda packet (July 27, 2026) — HUD substantial amendment + 2026–2027 Action Plan public hearing items
- Zencity: Douglass Community Utilities Project — HUD substantial amendment timeline and July 27 comment process
- HUD.gov: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program — eligible activities and citizen participation basics
- Congress.gov (CRS): HUD’s Consolidated Planning Process: An Overview (R48073)
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