The Houston Chronicle

Banker Dave Ridson wants to build a racetrack on a site preservationists say is an historic Civil War site. But where the battle actually fought is a matter of debate.

A recent report by a Federal Reserve Bank senior economist argues that Houston's resiliency during the ongoing housing crisis is due in part to its lack of zoning regulations.

This commentary argues that, though it may not be called "zoning", Houston has plenty of land use restrictions and guidelines.

With planning likely to become a major issue in next year's mayoral campaign, a recent survey shows that most residents would support new rules -- including possibly land use zoning -- to manage the region's sprawling development.

This editorial from the Houston Chronicle argues for doing away with fares for public transit.

With a patchwork of building regulations, development can be difficult in Houston. This op-ed argues that what the city needs to guide itself to a more organized development pattern is a highly-defined plan to improve the city's permeability.

Houston may lack zoning restrictions, but the city has taken a number of steps over the course of the year to limit the extent and flavor of development.

A string of droughts and a water-intensive invasive plant species have diminished water supplies in Northern Texas, requiring rationing for 11 cities in 2008.

Federal officials backed away from a plan to use congestion pricing to manage commercial air traffic in the New York region.

The City of Houston has come to an agreement with Clear Channel Advertising for the company to remove about 800 billboards from the city -- the result of a citywide plan to clean up the city's "visual clutter" that started more than 20 years ago.

A new report from the Brookings Institution ranks the 30 largest U.S. metro areas according to the number of walkable places per capita.

A Canadian economist says the U.S. is heading for a major collision between rising energy prices and its lifestyle of excess.

Despite initial studies showing too hefty a price tag, Houston is now on its way to dramatically expanding its light rail transit system.

City officials in Texas Border towns are blocking federal officials from coming into their towns to build walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sao Paulo, Brazil, has recently brokered the first regulated stock sale of carbon credits, collecting more than $18 million in exchange for credits covering nearly 1 million tons of carbon emissions. This may lay the foundation for a carbon market.

Widely-criticized plans to build a $398 million bridge between a remote Alaskan airport and a neighboring island have been formally dropped by the state.

A proposal to sell off 9,000 acres of Texas land set aside in a conservation fund has many worried about a loss of public land. But proponents say a private owner would expand, not limit, public access to the land.

The U.S. Senate recently approved a bill that prohibits the state of Texas from converting any of its existing highways into toll roads for at least one year.

A U.S. Senator from Texas has vowed to oppose a state-supported plan to convert existing interstate highways into tollraods.

Billions have been invested in redeveloping Houston's downtown. Now, civic boosters are looking to revive a waterfront section of the city by creating active parkspace and increasing preservation efforts for a nearby historic building.