The City of Houston Planning Commission's Walkable Places Committee is considering potential changes in 2020 to the City’s Code of Ordinances (Chapters 26, 33, 40 & 42) pertaining to promote pedestrian friendly development along designated streets. This committee is chaired by members of the Commission and comprised of a broad-spectrum of stakeholders from the community.

As part of the annual Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP) amendment request process, the City of Houston Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. in the City Hall Annex Chambers, Public Level (900 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas, 77002). The purpose of the Public Hearing is to allow interested citizens to be heard concerning proposed changes to the 2019 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP). Amendment applicants and Planning and Development Department (P&D) personnel will be available at the open house to answer questions. More information about this year’s amendment requests can be found on the MTFP webpage.

The North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) is an ongoing 2020 project of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reconstruct Interstate 45 and adjacent freeways from Beltway-8 through downtown. This project poses significant impacts and opportunities for neighborhoods and the surrounding region, and many comments have been collected by TxDOT’s through previous scoping and analysis. The City and its partners are conducting a public process to unify these comments, so prominent concerns may be addressed, and new opportunities identified. To learn more about the project, the City’s effort and how you can get involved, please visit the project page.

In 2018, the City Council adopted the Houston Heights Historic District Design Guidelines for the three Houston Heights Historic Districts (East, West, and South) on July 25. Visit the project page for more information on the design guidelines and process.

As of July 30, 2018, all Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Applications must be submitted online using the Historic Preservation Tracker. Applicants and the public at large can use the Historic Preservation Tracker to follow the progress of COA applications and view/download HAHC agendas and meeting minutes. Visit the Historic Preservation page for more information on the new tracker.

In 2019, the City seeks input on proposed changes to the rules for Historic Preservation found in Chapter 33 of the Code. The proposed amendments improve ordinance enforcement language, establish double fees for work performed without the required approval, and modify how publicly owned land is considered when establishing a historic district. To view the proposed changes, please click here. Submit comments to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.

The 2018 Southeast Mobility Plan, through collaboration with community and regional stakeholders, will identify multimodal mobility needs and challenges in the Southeast Houston Sub-Area and recommend implementation projects that will improve mobility and access. The Plan, to be completed over a twelve (12) month period, will be used to guide the City of Houston’s short, mid and long-term multimodal mobility planning efforts. For more information and updates, please visit the project page.

See 2019 updates. In 2018, the City sought input on proposed changes to the rules for Historic Preservation found in Chapter 33 of the Code. The proposed amendments improve ordinance enforcement language, establish double fees for work performed without the required approval, and modify how publicly owned land is considered when establishing a historic district. To view the proposed changes, please click here. Submit comments to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.

The Houston Bike Plan was adopted by City Council on March 22, 2017. The Plan’s vision calls to transform Houston into a safer, more accessible, gold level bicycle-friendly city by 2027. Completion of the bikeway network will put comfortable bikeways within reach of over 95% of people and jobs in the city. On March 7, 2018, the Bicycle Advisory Committee was appointed to advise city staff on Bike Plan implementation and other recommendations to encourage bicycling in Houston. Please visit HoustonBikePlan.org to view the Plan and related documents.

The Planning & Development Department sponsored a grant application in 2015 to expand the Houston BCycle program and was awarded a $3.5 million federal grant. The expansion project will more than triple the size of bike share in Houston over the next two years by adding 71 bike stations and 568 bicycles. Visit the project page for more information on the expansion.

P&D 2017 brochure on carport guidelines and permitting is available. The brochure helps homeowners understand the permitting process and importance of getting their carport permitted. The Carport brochure is available in English or Español

In 2017 the City sought input on changes for Hazardous Enterprises rules found in Chapter 28 of the Code. The proposed amendments establish a variance process, clarify notification requirements, and improve enforcement language. To view the changes, please click here. Submit comments to planningdepartment@houstontx.gov.

The 2017 Lower Westheimer Corridor Study is the City of Houston’s first Enhanced Pre-Engineering Study, a process applied to corridors with unique historic, cultural, and community significance requiring an advanced level of design sensitivity. The process is intended to develop a preferred design that enhances the character of the corridor while improving mobility and safety, enhances collaboration between stakeholders, and ensures the design considers community interest. The final public meeting of a series of three public meetings was held on April 20, 2017. Proposed concepts and enhancements developed throughout the Enhanced Pre-Engineering Study were presented at the public meeting. Please visit LowerWestheimerStudy.org to review these proposed concepts.

On July 17, 2019 City Council amended market based parking in Chapter 26 of the code of ordinances, regarding off-street parking exemptions for certain areas. Sections 26-471 and 26-472 were amended to replace the definition of Central Business District with a boundary definition of Market-Based Parking Area that includes portions of the East End and Midtown areas. The benefits include: supporting safer pedestrian and bicycle uses, preserving existing buildings, allowing land to be put to its highest and best use, encouraging multi-modal transportation, encouraging affordable and attainable housing options, and creating higher density development. This initiative was driven by community concerns for walkability being addressed by the Planning Commission’s, Walkable Places Committee. For more details, visit municode here or see our web site here.

For more information:

• Hector Rodriguez, Planner Manager
• Planning & Development Department
• Email Address: hector.rodriguez@houstontx.gov
• Office Number: 832.393.6575

On March 1, 2017, City Council approved amendments to Article VIII of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances related to Off-Street Parking and Loading. The amendments correct a typo, clarify bike rack standards, and allow for reasonable administrative flexibility within the rules similar to the flexibility already found in other sections of the existing ordinance. To view the amendments, please click here.

On March 22, 2017, City Council approved amendments to Chapter 33 of the Code of Ordinances related to the Major Thoroughfare & Freeway Plan and the Bicycle Master Plan. The amendments clarify the existing annual processes related to the adoption and amendment of the Major Thoroughfare & Freeway Plan (MTFP) and establish the processes related to the adoption and amendment of the Bicycle Master Plan. To view the amendments, please click here.

Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order on August 13, 2019, to adopt Vision Zero with a goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries caused by crashes on Houston roads by 2030.Vision Zero prioritizes safety and accessibility in street design for people of all ages and abilities. It requires collaboration and leadership to improve mobility through engineering, enforcement, education, evaluation, and equity. Vision Zero Houston is a comprehensive and holistic approach to safer streets that supports the common good and enhances the quality of life for all Houstonians. Visit Houston’s Vision Zero page for more information.

Thank you for providing feedback on the proposed amendments to Chapter 42. All comments are being reviewed and carefully considered. The comment period will close on March 5th. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for the proposed amendments to Chapter 42 on March 5th at 2:30 PM, City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby St., Houston TX 77002.

We need your input on Chapter 42 Proposed Amendments! These proposed changes are related to three areas: 1) subdivision naming standards, 2) public notification, and 3) notice requirements for replats.

The proposed amendments will eliminate complex subdivision plat names and will ensure notification requirements are easy to understand and provide sufficient time for property owners and concerned citizens to prepare for the Planning Commission public hearing.

The proposed amendments will also clarify requirements for replats and partial replats of subdivisions restricted to single-family residential use.

• Chapter 42 - Draft
• Notification
• Subdivision Naming Standards

The Planning Department is the City’s lead coordinator in the decennial census for the city of Houston. We are working with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure the city complies with the federally mandated count and with various local partners to raise public awareness on the importance of the census count. Where you will be living on April 1, 2020 is one of the most important questions you will answer this spring when the 2020 Census questionnaire arrives in your mailbox.

The importance of an accurate count cannot be overstated. It means significant money to our community. Over the next ten years, more than $5 billion in federal funding will be provided to state and local governments based on population. The census count is an important tool which determines federal funding allocations for various vital government social services in our city, including school lunch programs, Medicaid, CHIP, and funding for housing and transportation projects.

The census also determines how many federal and state elected officials will represent us. Participate in the 2020 Census count and educate others on the importance of the census to ensure Houston and the state of Texas gets its fair share of representation and federal funding so we can meet the needs of our residents and carry out the work we need to do in our great city.

To support walking and biking in the age of social distancing, City of Houston has launched the Slow Streets pilot project, providing more space for these key activities by limiting certain streets to local traffic only. Learn more at the project webpage.