BASTROP, Texas — Bastrop is stopping all new development for the next 90 days to prevent the city from flooding.

Council members made the decision Tuesday night. It's in response to new floodplain maps and FEMA data.

For the next three months, the City won't accept or review any commercial or residential development permits. Exemptions will be made for ones that don't affect drainage.

This kicks off a reform of Bastrop's land-use regulations, called Building Bastrop.

"Those folks that have been here a while know that we've had four FEMA events in the last three years,” Mayor Connie Schroeder said. “Floods have happened in Bastrop. We're on the banks of the Colorado. We're not going to be able to say that we're not going to have a flood again. But there are folks that have lives in town for decades and there house has never flood, their house hasn't changed but now they are having flooding issues. And we know as you look into it all of the developments that take place. If they're meeting all of our regulations but we have folks in the watershed that are being flooded it's time to change the regulation."  

The City has also scheduled a public open house for Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bastrop Convention and Exhibit Center. Community members are encouraged to attend, and to share feedback and questions at any time by contacting the Building Bastrop hotline at 512-588-8181 or by email at buildingbastrop@cityofbastrop.org.