Does the state have any power. In Australia I think the state has power to generally zone things e.g. near a train station is high density and it is out of councils hands much to their chagrin.
States generally set the regulations that cities must follow. So they can constrain cities or choose not to.
For instance Washington State forces cities to make zoning plans that align with state housing needs. Similarly they set rules near public transit in some cases.
Ok, but this comes at the severe detriment of having to deal with the Texas government. Why not just move out of the country at that point?