City of Houston proposes High Density Ordinance

To protect neighborhoods

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jun 28, 11.

The City of Houston Planning and Development Department has proposed a High Density Ordinance to restrict the development of large buildings in residential neighborhoods, while declaring eight Major Activity Centers where high density development will not be restricted, according to the Department webpage. The eight proposed MAC districts - defined by a set of metrics - are essentially Westchase, Energy Corridor, Medical Center, Greenspoint, Memorial City, Uptown, Greenway / Upper Kirby, and Downtown.

The planning department Summary Presentation (pdf) explains that the Ordinance is:

• Written to encourage development in locations where neighbors would expect development to occur.
– Major thoroughfares
– Transit corridors
– Major Activity Centers (MAC’s)
• Written to discourage development in locations adjacent to sfr where neighbors would not expect development to occur
– Local and collector streets

Such an ordinance has been a promise of Mayor Annise Parker since she began campaigning for Mayor in reaction to the controversy around the proposed Ashby High Rise during Mayor Bill White’s term.

The draft ordinance (pdf) will be discussed at a public hearing that will be held at Planning Commission, July 21, at 2:30 p.m., City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Public Level. Comments and questions can be directed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Comments

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said:

If I’m reading this right, this plan does nothing but encourage SFR proliferation by segregating density to these designated zones. Moreover, it’s segregating building function to these zones and encouraging sprawl. Furthermore, the 45degree angle past the buffer for X number of feet is completely pointless. What exactly is its purpose? To intentionally create a ring of deformed buildings adjacent to SFR zones?
Additionally, surrounding all of these SFR zones with an 8ft high masonry wall serves what purpose? Other than building a lot of tall ugly walls to further segregate diversity and density? Is this an attempt to deflect noise? The wall would certainly need to be taller than 8 ft if you were next to a major thoroughfare… Is it intended to hide “unsightly non-SFR” buildings? I assure you they will build up outside of the buffer, and you will see them over your ugly wall…

Put me down for a not-in-favor unless someone can explain to me WHY this plan would be GOOD for Houston ...other than possibly shutting up some whiny suburbanites…

Posted on Jun 30, 11 at 2:35 pm

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