Christof Spieler

Better buildings optional

Citizens' Transportation Coalition, Jun 09, 09.

Tagged with urban planning, transit, houston, ordinance, transit corridor

The City of Houston has spent the past three years on a process to develop new planning ordinances for the streets around METRO’s light rail stations. That process has now culminated in a draft ordinance, which will be considered at a public hearing before the Planning Commission meeting this Thursday, June 11, and will then go to City Council for a committee meeting on June [22].

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Both of [its] provisions [one mandatory and one optional] will make for a more walkable city. A six foot wide sidewalk is enough for two people to walk comfortably alongside each other, or for two wheelchairs to pass each other. Frankly, that ought to be the minimum everywhere, but it’s particularly important around transit stations. Buildings alongside the sidewalk make it easier, safer, and more pleasant to walk.

But this ordinance is a shadow of what it could have been. The original recommendations of the Toronto-based consultants who started this project, recommendations from the Urban Land Institute, and discussions within the committee went a lot further.

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We know that Houstonians will walk if they are provided with a good place to walk. And the more people walk, the fewer cars there are on the street. This ordinance, flawed as it may be, is a key step forward. And there’s still time to improve it: show up on Thursday, June 11, 2:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex to speak to the planning commission, write your council member, or speak to the Regulation, Development and Neighborhood Protection Committee of City Council on Monday, June 22, 3:00 p.m., at City Hall.

Full story: Proposed ordinance: better sidewalks are required; better buildings are optional.
Source: Intermodality, June 7, 2009

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