| HOUSTON - Houston City Council adopted amendments to development ordinances – Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development
– that aim to change the urban streetscape in designated areas and move Houston a step closer to embracing walkability and development that relies less on cars.
The Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) initiatives promote
pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development. The new ordinances encourage combined commercial, office, and multifamily residential developments to create more vibrant, walkable streets that support alternative modes of transportation.
These programs
are the result of three years of planning, research and public engagement by the Walkable Places Committee and help to achieve the goals of Plan Houston, Resilient
Houston, Houston Climate Action Plan and Complete Streets.
“This is
an exciting and meaningful moment for our city, a paradigm shift, where we are building a framework for the future and moving away from the auto-centric development standards that prioritized parking over people,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner “By
approving these ordinances, we are changing the way people think about moving about in our city and making it easier for developers and property owners to join this forward momentum.”
Current auto-centric surburban development versus new
pedestrian-friendly urban development
Click each
image for larger view or view on the Walkable
Places site.
Effective October 1, 2020, the standards will apply to new developments or redevelopments in three pilot communities: Emancipation Avenue in Third Ward, Midtown and Hogan/Lorraine
Streets in Near Northside.
Walkable Places may be designated on any street within the city limits by either the City of Houston or property owners and established with unique planning standards to address the neighborhood characteristics. Transit
Oriented Development streets within a half mile of walking distance from transit stations may be designated by the City of Houston.
Both programs will benefit: - property owners by allowing more buildable area and adjusting parking requirements;
- pedestrians by creating safer and more walkable streetscapes and public spaces; and
- neighborhoods by creating an activated area with more eyes on the street.
“Houstonians will still drive cars. Change won’t happen overnight
or in every corner of our city, but these three pilot communities are ideal locations to launch the new Walkable Places development standards,” said Planning and Development Department Director Margaret Wallace Brown. “We hope these communities
will be open to new mobility possibilities, ready for transformative change and ready to pave the way for Walkable Places yet to come.”
Learn more about Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development programs through these online resources:
Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development Users
Guide
Walkable Places Frequently Asked Questions
Walkable Places Brochure
Transit Oriented Development Brochure
Transit Oriented Development Frequently Asked Questions
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