Bright Spot In My Day: From the Planning Director:
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The old Joni Mitchell song lyric, “... you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” keeps playing in my head. In the past few months the Planning team has said goodbye to three people who have provided excellent service of the department and all Houstonians. In December, Assistant City Attorney Arva Howard retired. Last month, our Chief Demographer Bala Balachandran retired after 22 years in our department. This month, the department’s Open Records Administrator Patricia Benavidez-Foley retired with 35 years of service to the residents of Houston.
It’s probable that none of these names are familiar to you, but their work surely is. Arva was our contact in the legal department for all deed restriction reviews for replats and applications. She provided critical service to neighborhoods and developers alike with her consistent and thorough interpretation of private property covenants and the developments they allow.
Bala was the member of our team to developed the demographic analysis for our work, City Council Members and the public. Bala provided numbers for the median age, educational attainment, and ethnic composition of any council district or super neighborhood, and his command of all things Census was extraordinary.
Patricia was our department’s document whisperer she maintained all of our records and archives, kept track of all of our Commissions and Commissioners most importantly. Patricia is the expert on providing all the public information requested by the public.
Each of these individuals worked behind the scenes to serve our team and the public with utmost professionalism. Their departure leaves a huge hole in our work, and in our hearts.
Margaret Wallace Brown, A.I.C.P.
Director, Planning and Development Department
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Town Hall Meetings Conclude, Process Continues |
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In May, the City of Houston completed a series of Redistricting Town Hall meetings to obtain public input on how the City Council Districts should be reconfigured. Twelve meetings were held in-person, and one was held virtually. Mayor Sylvester Turner, City Council Members, Director Wallace Brown, the Legal Department and various city staff were on hand to listen to members of the public and share information about the Redistricting process. With the completion of the Town Hall meetings, please note that there will be more opportunities for residents to participate and comment on Redistricting.
Public Engagement
Phase 1: Town Hall meetings are complete
Phase 2: District boundaries are redrawn based on 2020 Census data, the redistricting criteria approved by City Council, and public input.
Phase 3: Draft Redistricting Plan is completed and presented to City Council.
Phase 4: Public may comment on the proposed new maps at three public hearings in July: two on Wednesday, July 13 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20.
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Residents may also submit their own redistricting plan to the Planning & Development Department. They may propose that certain voting precincts, neighborhoods, or locations be included in a specific district. In order for the City to properly analyze any plan, it must be submitted by the last public hearing in City Council on July 20. The Planning & Development Department as a computer with the redistricting software installed in the lobby of our offices at 611 Walker Street, 6th Floor. We will also lend technical assistance to anyone interested in creating a redistricting plan. Contact Rupesh Koshy at Rupesh.Koshy@houstontx.gov or 832-393-6552 for questions or to make an appointment.
Watch the recordings of in-person Redistricting meetings on the HTV website. Click on "Press Conferences / Events Around Town & More". You may select and view any meeting.
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Bike to Work Day Draws Houstonians to City Hall |
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The humid Houston morning of May 20 didn't keep a crowd of riders from pedaling from Buffalo Bayou Park Visitor Center at Lost Lake to City Hall for Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20.
Riders included staff from the Planning Department, Houston Public Works, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Mayor's Office, Houston Police Department, Houston Health Department, Bike Houston, Link Houston, Harris County Precinct One and many more.
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In his proclamation, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, "The bicycle is a viable, environmentally sustainable form of transportation, as well as an essential element to livable and sustainable cities ... Biking to work can build morale, encourage camaraderie, reduce traffic congestion and be a great, cost-effective way to be active in your community."
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Mayor Turner Delivers 2022 State of Mobility Speech |
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"People drive or ride transit to get to their jobs and to go to school. People may walk and bike for their health, but they also walk their children to the park. They are also biking more and more as a part of their daily travel. When everyone has access to a complete transportation system that helps people to work, learn, and play, then they’re on the path towards a better life," Mayor Sylvester Turner said during his State of Mobility Speech on May 19. "The City of Houston sets everyone on that path by first making it safe for all. Not only in certain neighborhoods and not only for certain trips. Instead, we prioritize safety for everyone using every mode of transportation." Watch the video above or read the transcript.
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Livable Places to Discuss Courtyard Style Development |
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During the May 11 Livable Places Action Committee Meeting, the Committee explored recommendations for narrow lots and courtyard style developments. The Committee focused on how vehicular access will be provided to narrow lots and the incentives for developments with rear access. The Committee received helpful comments and suggestions that will be considered and discussed. Please visit LetsTalkHouston to learn more and to provide your thoughts.
Courtyard style development will be a new style of development that the current ordinance does not allow.
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Tune in next month for discussions on requirements for reserves.
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Open for Comment: MTFP and Sidewalk Ordinance |
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The City of Houston’s 2022 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP) Amendment Requests has begun. The MTFP is a long-range right-of-way (ROW) requirement plan to preserve adequate ROW for the orderly and efficient expansion of the transportation network. The purpose of the MTFP is to preserve mobility and ensure a safe and efficient development of the roadway system. The MTFP is updated annually through a process that begins in January and ends in September.
Visit the MTFP website to leave your comments. The public comment period is open until July 8, and the virtual MTFP Open House will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15.
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The Planning and Development Department is proposing amendments to the Sidewalk Ordinance to create a complete sidewalk network in the city by providing more sidewalk options and establishing a sidewalk fund and protocols for constructing sidewalks. Staff presented proposed Sidewalk Ordinance amendments to the Planning Commission on May 26.
The public comment period for the proposed Sidewalk Ordinance amendments is currently open and will end at 5 p.m., June 23, 2022.
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Mayor's Historic Preservation Award
Goes to Minnette Boesel
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May is Historic Preservation Month, and Mayor Turner honored Minnette Boesel with the annual Mayor’s Historic Preservation Award on May 10.
She has earned the respect and admiration of preservationists locally, statewide and nationally through her steadfast leadership, volunteerism and dedication to preserving the civic, cultural and historic fabric of Houston. Her reputation as a preservation powerhouse led to appointments as chair of the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission, from which she recently retired. She also served as executive director of the Downtown Historic District, Inc. and the Downtown Houston Association; board president of the Heritage Society; chair and board member of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, now known as Preservation Houston; vice president and co-founder of the Astrodome Conservancy and vice chair and co-founder of the Julia Ideson Library Preservation Partners. Minnette also furthered the city’s cultural programs by serving as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
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Outside of Houston, she held leadership positions at the state level, as well as in Georgia and Maryland. Her career led to commercial ventures focused on preservation including brokering private investments to renew residential development of Downtown Houston Historic district and renovating historic homes in Eastwood. She has also worked with a consulting company that assisted owners and non-profits in applications for the National Register of Historic Places and state historic designations. We thank Minnette for decades of enhancing the historic character and culture of the city, state and nation. |
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611 Walker Street, 6th Floor,
Houston, TX 77002
832-393-6600
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