Legislature approves mechanism for smart growth plan

Bill headed to Gov. Perry

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jun 01, 09.

Senator Rodney Ellis has successfully pushed a bill, SB 2169, through the Texas House and Senate “relating to the establishment of a smart growth policy work group and the development of a smart growth policy for this state.” It was passed unanimously by the Texas Senate. Representative Carol Alvarado sponsored the bill in the House where it passed 99 to 48. The bill is now headed to Governor Perry for his signature before it is made into law.

According to the Bill Analysis published at Texas Legislature Online, the bill does not grant any rulemaking authority or allocate any money, but it requires twelve state agencies to form a Smart Growth Policy Work Group this Fall to begin work on “a comprehensive smart growth plan for Texas to prepare for the expected population growth in Texas ... in coordination with councils of government, regional mobility organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, and smart growth experts in the public and private sectors, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and planning departments in other states, and to solicit and obtain input from relevant stakeholders.”

The work group, led by the representatives from TxDOT, TCEQ, and DSHS, will make recommendations to the legislature to address:

(1) the quality of community life;
(2) the design of municipalities, counties, and regions;
(3) economic issues;
(4) environmental issues;
(5) health issues;
(6) housing issues;
(7) transportation issues;
(8) mixed land use;
(9) gentrification;
(10) development decisions that are predictable, fair, and cost-effective; and
(11) the encouragement of community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.