The City of Houston Planning Commission is holding four (4) public meetings on the proposed changes to the City’s Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 42. The public is invited to attend any of the meetings and learn what these changes will mean for their community. The proposed ordinance can be found on the Planning Department’s website, http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/dev_regs_links.html
Per Council Member Larry Green, the District K council office is informing you of proposed revisions to the City’s Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 42. Council Member Green wants to inform the District K civic associations that may be impacted by these proposed ordinance changes to at least attend one of the aforementioned public meetings. The March 1 public meeting will probably be most convenient because if its proximity to District K within southwest Houston. Per the web-link, download the following PDF attachments and bring with you to the meeting so you can better follow the presentation and ask questions.
- Presentation to the Community
- Memorandum per the Chapter 42 amendment public meetings
- Summary of Chapter 42 Amendments which offers a short hand version of the proposed changes (“Summary”)
- Proposed revisions to Chapter 42, dated 11-28-11, in draft form (“Draft”)
- Proposed ordinance relating to minimum lot size/building line ordinance
Even though the proposed changes to Chapter 42 involve a variety of different issues, CM Green wants to focus attention to the expanded “Urban Area” designation beyond its current boundaries of Loop 610 out to Beltway 8. The geographical area between I-610 to Beltway 8 includes a significant portion of the council district (excluding the Fort Bend Houston and the South Braeswood communities nestled inside I-610).
Given the expansion of the “Urban Area”, as defined in the proposed ordinance, the provisions in the ordinance will allow for obsolete, commercial and multi-family areas to be redeveloped and provide a variety of housing styles and prices for new housing. However, changes to Chapter 42 will promote more densely populated development patterns by allowing for the subdivision of existing lots and tracts of properties into smaller development units. Thus, these changes would have an impact on the more traditional and established neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods with enforced deed restrictions that prevent lots from being subdivided, have established minimum lot size and building set-back lines, and restrict properties to single family residential use will most likely NOT be impacted by this provision. However, it is very important that your civic association view your existing deed restrictions in reference to the proposed Chapter 42 amendment changes. It may be recommended to establish a special committee within your civic association or consult your civic association attorney or legal counsel to review your existing deed restrictions per these proposed changes. Some of the questions you may wish to answer are:
- Has the Association’s deed restrictions expired or are they current;
- Do the deed restrictions prohibit subdivision of lots;
- Do the deed restrictions require a minimum lot size greater than the City’s proposed changes (minimum of 1400 square feet); and
- Do the deed restrictions require building set back lines that are more restrictive than those proposed by the City?
Per directive of the Mayor, the City of Houston Planning & Development Department are facilitating public hearings at the following locations, any one or more of which you are encouraged to attend:
All meetings are from 6:30- 8:00 p.m. The meetings are:
Monday, February 13
Sunnyside Multi-Service Center
4605 Wilmington
Houston, TX 77051
Thursday, February 23
Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding
Houston, TX 77036
MOST CONVENIENT FOR DISTRICT K
Thursday, March 1
Sharpstown Community Center
6600 Harbor Town Drive
Houston, TX 77036
Thursday, March 8
Trini Mendenhall SOSA Community Center
1414 Wirt
Houston, TX 77055
Amendments to Chapter 42 will address the following topics:
• Average lot size/lot width in new subdivision plats
• Creation of guest parking for certain single-family residential units
• Redefining the width and length of shared driveway developments
• Requiring sign posting in residential subdivisions w/certain reserves
• Establishing a protocol on naming of partial replats
• Extending the Urban Area beyond the 610 Loop to the Beltway
• Building line overhangs encroach 30 inches, five foot for outside stairs
• Require surveyed site plans for single-family residential plats
• Resolve the conflict between Chapter 42 and the Design Manual for Lift Station Sites
These are important changes that will affect the way the city grows. The public is invited to attend any of the meetings and learn what these changes will mean for their community.
