September Marks Livable Places' First Anniversary |
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It's been one year since the Livable Places Action Committee began collaborative discussions to create opportunities within our development standards that encourage housing variety and affordability. The Department is grateful to the dedicated Committee members who share their knowledge and devote their precious time every single month to make Houston a more walkable, affordable, and equitable city. Over the last year, the Committee discussed topics ranging from technical amendments to residential buffering standards and conservation districts.
August and September Livable Places Action Committee meetings discussions focused on small-scale, and multi-family development opportunities on unrestricted infill lots. The Committee explored ways to encourage more affordable housing options such as accessory dwelling units, triplexes, and fourplexes to cater for a greater variety of Houstonians needs. Development prototypes were used to help visualize what could be built under the current development regulations versus what could be possible in the future if changes were made to some of the requirements, such as parking and drainage.
Opportunities to encourage a greater variety of smaller lot, single-family housing options and associated standards will be discussed at the next Livable Places meeting held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 5. In the meantime, stay tuned for takeaways from July’s Livable Places Housing Survey. Visit LetsTalkHouston.org for meeting links and more Livable Places resources.
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Vote For the Winning ADU|HOU Design Starting October 5 |
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In response to the ADU|HOU Design Competition, we have received about 30 creative, unique accessory dwelling unit designs. Visit LetsTalkHouston.org starting Oct. 4 to browse through the submissions and vote on your favorite. Voting ends on Oct. 15, and the winner will be announced on Oct. 29. The contest allows one vote per visitor.
The ADU|HOU Design Competition will ultimately provide a set of plans available for Houston homeowners to build an ADU on single-family residential lots where development regulations and deed restrictions allow. The winning design will undergo a preliminary plan review process by the Houston Permitting Center.
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These plans will then be made available to all Houston homeowners wishing to construct an ADU saving the homeowner time and money. Other submitted designs will be placed in a design book and made available online.
The Department is also hosting a series of workshops for the public to learn more about
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Get Involved in the Resilient Sidewalk Study |
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"Sidewalks are the connective tissue of a community, not only as a means of travel, but as a visible representation of community safety, accessibility, and investment," said Chief Resilience Officer Laura Patino. "Like much of Houston, the Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens communities suffer from challenges like limited right-of-way; conflicts between infrastructure, trees, and greenspace; and limited access from housing to quality amenities and services— challenges that have been heightened by severe flooding over the past five years, most notably Hurricane Harvey."
"Providing safe and reliable sidewalks ensures that people have access to jobs and goods, which are essential to maintaining or creating a thriving economy.
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Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens are both susceptible to chronic flooding. This project will approach safety from the sidewalk realm and will incorporate stormwater management to address drainage, mobility and accessibility challenges," Patino said.
The Resilient Sidewalks Study, focusing on Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens offers the opportunity for community members to participate as part of the stakeholder committee and is seeking participants for the creating of the technical toolkit. If you are interested in participating in the project, visit https://bit.ly/sidewalkstoolkit.
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City Council Approves 2021 MTFP Amendments |
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On Sept. 22, City Council approved the 2021 Amendments to the Major Thoroughfare Freeway Plan (MTFP). The MTFP is a long-range right-of-way (ROW) requirement plan that preserves adequate ROW for the orderly and efficient expansion of the transportation network.
Department Staff worked with applicants on their proposed amendment requests by conducting a series of public and technical meetings to engage and inform the community. Transportation Division Manager Sharon Moses-Burnside said,
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"Preserving mobility and ensuring a safe and efficient roadway is paramount to getting people where they want and need to travel. A roadway system should be clearly defined, improve connectivity, mitigate congestion and safely serve mobility to access the needs of the public. Managing the process correctly is an essential element to help sustain our City both now, and
the future."
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PD Development Services staff will present a special Platting Workshop at the Professional Surveyor’s Education Foundation, Inc. (PSEFI) annual meeting. The free virtual event features an abbreviated overview of the top-requested presentations of previous annual platting workshops including Retrospect & Platting Basics, What’s New in Platting, and a Roundtable Q&A. The event is Thursday, Oct.7, from 9-10:30 a.m. R.S.V.P. to teresa.geisheker@houstontx.gov. Join the meeting.
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Pleasantville Preservation |
The Pleasantville Neighborhood Association, a historically African-American planned community, continues its dialogue with the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Historical Commission (THC), The City’s Office of Preservation, and other stakeholders. Texas Historic Commission has declared the entire Pleasantville area to be eligible for federal designation. |
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Bikeways Project Update Meetings in October |
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The City of Houston and Harris County will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 6-7 p.m. to discuss the Cavalcade-Homestead Healthy Connection Corridor. This project will improve street safety and connect people to work, school, parks and other destinations in Kashmere Gardens and Trinity Gardens.
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Join us for a virtual meeting about the White Oak Bayou Trail Detour on Tuesday, Oct. 12
from 6-7 p.m. The White Oak Bayou Detour project is creating a safe detour while portions of the trail are closed for construction. This is a short-term solution that can lead to a long-term high-comfort bikeway.
Join the meeting:
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Director Wallace Brown Featured
in UH Hines Highlights Article
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In this alumni spotlight article, Director Margaret Wallace Brown reflects on her time at the University of Houston's Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and how it prepared her for her dream job at the City of Houston.
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Photo Gallery:
September Staff Happenings
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The PD team is working hard, but we've paused to mark the changing of the seasons and significant days in September. Browse this gallery of staff photos from events in September including a September 11 tribute activity, PARK(ing) Day, a picnic at City Hall and a BCycle outing to Discovery Green.
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Department Calendar and Information
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611 Walker Street, 6th Floor,
Houston, TX 77002
832-393-6600
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