COH to extend “urban” zone out to Beltway 8

Add guest parking for townhome

Jay Blazek Crossley, Dec 01, 11.

Proposals developed in 2009 to alter the City of Houston Chapter 42 development regulations, which will primarily convert the designation of the area between Loop 610 and Beltway 8 from “sub-urban” to “urban,” are expected to go to City Council soon, with a public hearing on December 7, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The public hearing is expected to be during a normal session of Houston City Council, according to the COH Planning and Development Department website:

Proposed Changes to Chapter 42
The City is proposing to amend the land development ordinance, Chapter 42. City Council is expected to set a public hearing on this matter December 7th. If you wish to speak at the hearing, please contact City Secretary the week of the hearing at 832.393.1100.
To review the proposed changes click here.

The City of Houston is divided between two zones “urban” and “suburban,” currently separated by Loop 610, with one set of Chapter 42 development regulations for the “urban” area and another for the “suburban” area, although many planning experts believe that the actual codes for both zones are overwhelmingly sub-urban and automobile centric in nature.

The new code will allow denser developments outside of Loop 610 without the developer needing to go through the variance process, allowing the type of small scale infill - but sub-urban in form - development seen inside the Loop. Mike Dishberger, townhome developer and president of the Greater Houston Builders Association, believes that the changes may actually result in a lower rate of additional density inside Loop 610 in the future with the ability of developers to easily add affordable higher density projects outside of the Loop, according to the Chronicle.

The changes will also require more parking for townhome-type developments in the “urban” zone, in additional to other changes to the parking ordinance also currently being considered by City Council. Both of those proposals are heading to City Council simultaneous to the proposed high rise code changes that arose out of the Ashby high rise controversy, but they are two separate sets of proposals.

City of Houston Planning and Development Department:
Chapter 42 Proposed Changes Summary (pdf)
Proposed ordinance (pdf)
Proposed ordinance related to minimum lot size/building line (pdf)