September 2024

Mayor Whitmire Announced Planning Department Efforts to Amend Sidewalk Ordinance

Mayor John Whitmire announced that the Planning & Development Department is working on amendments to the Sidewalk Network Ordinance at the Sept. 25 City Council meeting. These amendments will integrate feedback from the Planning Commission, City Council, the public and staff. The amendments will expand sidewalk construction exemption criteria, simplify the ordinance, eliminate confusion or redundancy, streamline the application process, and address unconnected sidewalk segments.


The Department offers opportunities for public comment at Planning Commission, Council Committee meetings, City Council and will announce dates for additional public meetings in the coming weeks. The Department anticipates having a draft ordinance for City Council consideration in December.


In an effort to keep single-family residential projects moving forward, Mayor Whitmire has directed the Planning Department and Houston Public Works to use discretion to waive sidewalk construction requirements for single-family residential projects where it is technically infeasible to construct a sidewalk or where the requirements would create an unconnected sidewalk segment. 

GIS Staff to Present Address Data Update to Peer Cities

Last year, the Planning Department's Geographic Information Systems Services addressing team transitioned their addressing workflows to the ESRI Address Data Management Solution. This model allows staff to maintain the address repository and continuously enhance the quality of the City of Houston address data and road centerlines. By adopting this new approach, the team updated address and road attributes to meet the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards for Next Generation 911 (NextGen 911).


ESRI has invited Houston Planning GIS staff to showcase their migration and implementation of this solution in cities such as Austin and Denver, as well as present at the State and Local Government Workshop for Texas GIS/911 users in San Antonio.


Learn more and access online address request and verification forms.

Staff to Present PSEFI Platting Workshop

The Professional Surveyors Education Foundation, Inc (PSEFI) will present the 2024 City of Houston Platting Workshop from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the United Way of Greater Houston Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh Dr.


Course instructors will feature staff from the Planning & Development Department Development Services Division. Topics will include: platting basics, research tools, sidewalk regulations, detention drainage plans, and development incentives based on Chapter 42 & 26 updates.

 

The Workshop is open to all interested land planning and development professionals. Proceeds benefit educational programs at the University of Houston. The event is sponsored by Ray Nunez, Vice President of Abstract Land Services of Houston, and Paul Kwan, president of Land Tech. See more details on the PSEFI website.

Planning Commission Approved Six MTFP Amendments

The Planning & Development Department produces the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP). In compiling the MTFP, the City listens to developers and neighborhoods about issues such as congestion, mobility, and future development plans. The City identifies sections of roadways that are in need of expansion, either by lengthening or widening. The MTFP serves as notice to the public for developing land adjacent to the identified roads. The MTFP is updated annually through a process that begins in January and ends in September. The MTFP was presented to Planning Commission by Transportation Planner Brandon Mosely.


This year the Planning Department initially received nine amendment applications, and seven of those were presented to the Planning Commission on Sept. 19. Six were approved, and one was withdrawn by the applicant. The MTFP was presented by Transportation Planner Brandon Mosely, and received unanimous support from Planning Commission. It will go before City Council for final approval on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Learn more about MTFP amendment process.

Out and About: Historic Preservation Team

Preservation Officer Roman McAllen and Historic Planner Samantha de Leon, visited the Montrose Center to deliver a presentation for the First Montrose Common on the Certificate of Appropriateness submittal process, permitting, violations, and how historic preservation works at the municipal level. The First Montrose Commons historic district residents have been dedicated to preserving the stock of historic properties only losing one historic building since the district's creation in 2010. Staff enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the public and reported that the community was eager to learn about protecting their neighborhood.

Historic Planner Charles Sadler and Historic Building Inspector Pete Stockton conducted a site visit for a home in the Starkweather Historic District. Built in the 1930s, this home is one of 25 properties that comprise the district located in Independence Heights, near 610 North. Approved alterations to this home demonstrate how to properly inset and recess windows in a historic district. They also exemplify the collaboration between homeowners and Historic Preservation Staff, who worked closely together on insetting windows and adding trim.

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