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2016 Major Thoroughfare & Freeway Plan Amendments Heading to Council
This year, the Planning Commission considered 126 amendments to the City's Major Thoroughfare & Freeway Plan (MTFP). An updated MTFP map, which includes the Commission's recommended amendments, will be submitted to City Council for consideration in the coming weeks. Learn More
Houston Moves to Expand Bike Share Program
On August 24th, the City Council approved an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the expansion of the city's bike share program, Houston B-Cycle. Under this agreement, 80% of the project cost will be eligible for federal reimbursement and the 20% local match will be provided by Houston Bike Share, the local non-profit organization that operates Houston B-Cycle. A $3.7 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration was the catalyst to add 71 stations, 568 bicycles, and two support vehicles to the existing network over the next 18 months. The expansion will connect more neighborhoods to job centers and recreational destinations, including Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, University of Houston Main Campus, University of Houston-Downtown, Texas Southern University, and surrounding neighborhoods.
 

The program continues to enjoy success with more than 100,000 rides per year. In 2015, ridership was up over 20% in 2015 compared to 2014.
City Considers Name Change for Dowling Street
The City of Houston is considering a proposal to rename Dowling Street to Emancipation Avenue to highlight recent public investments at Emancipation Park. A public hearing will be held by the Houston Planning Commission to accept public comments on the proposal on October 13th.
 
PUBLIC HEARING:
Thursday, October 13, 2016, beginning at 2:30 PM
City Hall Annex Building, 900 Bagby Street
City Council Chamber, Public Level, Houston, TX 77002
 
Public Meetings: Pocket Parks and Historic Design Guidelines 
Community Meeting Dates for Historic District Design Guidelines
Changes to Houston's historic preservation ordinance in Fall 2015 required the City to develop design guidelines for the three Houston Heights Historic Districts (East, West, and South). The City subsequently determined that it could realize a significant cost and time savings by including additional historic districts, in the same general area, which contain similar types of buildings and similar patterns of community development. As a result, the project was expanded to include the development of design guidelines for the Norhill, Woodland Heights, and Freeland Historic Districts. The existing design guidelines for the Old Sixth Ward Historic District will also be updated. 
 
Community workshops will present information common to all seven historic districts, followed by breakout sessions for each individual district. Please plan to join us! The first two community workshops will be held on:
 
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 and Thursday, December 1, 2016
Both meetings will take place from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Street, Houston, TX 77007
 
Meetings previously scheduled in Houston Heights on August 16 and October 25 have been cancelled.
 
Public Comment for Upcoming Ordinance Changes
Proposed Amendments to Chapter 41
The City of Houston is proposing amendments to Chapter 41 of the Code of Ordinances related to Street Names and Site Address. The intent of the changes is to establish a City-initiated process for changing a public street name. To view the changes, please click here. Public comments on the changes will be accepted until Sunday, September 18th. Please submit comments on the online comment form. A public hearing on the amendments will be held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, September 29, 2016. The Commission meets at 2:30pm in the City Hall Annex Public Chambers at 900 Bagby Street (downtown).
 
Proposed Amendments to Chapter 26, Article VIII
The City of Houston is proposing amendments to Article VIII of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances related to Off-Street Parking and Loading. The intent of the changes is to 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 changes, please click here. Public comments on the changes will be accepted until Sunday, September 18th. Please submit comments on the online comment form. A public hearing on the amendments will be held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, September 29, 2016. The Commission meets at 2:30pm in the City Hall Annex Public Chambers at 900 Bagby Street (downtown). 
 
Visit the Planning Department website to view changes or make a comment.