Texas

This commentary from the Austin American Statesman argues that the city's aim to become the country's most livable city is undercut by its low number of community gardens.

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.

Officials in El Paso, Texas have been working with state and federal officials on a plan to bring rapid transit to the city within three years.

Mixed-use projects are all the rage, but often times, the ground floor retail storefronts remain empty long after residents have moved in.

A Canadian's perspective on the "planner-free" city of Houston, America's fourth most populous city.

Federal and state environmental guidelines have been waived by the Federal government to fast-track construction of nearly 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. Mexico Border.

Sixteen percent of all American moving between July 2006 and July 2007 headed to Texas according to Census data released March 27. Four Texas regions were among the top ten destinations, mostly in the South and West.

A 15-member "live music task force" will begin work to try to encourage the growth of a musical economy in Austin, Texas.

Proposed housing developments in the urban core of Waco, Texas, have given many in the city high hopes for a denser, more vibrant central city.

This report from NPR examines the controversy and battle brewing between the federal government and small towns in Texas over a Department of Homeland Security plan to build more than 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Austin's South by Southwest music conference and festival is expected to bring nearly $100 million to the city -- more than double last year's amount.

The TTC, or Trans-Texas Corridor, is far more than just a 4,000-mile toll road, but an all-encompassing, multi-modal infrastructure network that is desperately needed, according to Texas planners. But citizens are wary and opposition is growing.

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

More than 200 acres of public land in Texas were transferred to the Department of Homeland security on the order of a federal judge. The department sought the land as part of its plan to build hundreds of miles of fences along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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.

Taxpayers in Forth Worth are paying millions per year to lease parking spaces to provide free parking downtown, enabled by a TIF that is supposed to build infrastructure in a blighted area. Many are calling it a misuse of taxpayer money.

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.

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.