It was the city's "first major regulatory response" to Hurricane Harvey.
Last week, in an "unusually tight" vote, the Houston City Council ruled that starting in September, "all new construction in the city’s floodplains will have to be built two feet above the projected water level in a 500-year storm." Under current rules, it's only one foot, and from only the 100-year level.
"The vote marks a shift away from Houston’s longtime aversion to constraining," writes Rebecca Elliot, who also reports that the vote was largely along party lines—as well as supported by the mayor.
Harris County started using the 500- year floodplain in January, but entire region's distaste for regulation has been a popular topic of conversation in the months since Hurricane Harvey, which according to some studies was more like a 1,000-year storm.
It might seem unwise, after Harvey, tokeep building in the floodplain at all, but the city's real estate market barely paused in the wake of the massive storm, and buyers of both new and old structures will still be protected by the National Flood Insurance Program.
FULL STORY: City Council adopts stricter development rules for Houston’s floodplains
800 New Homes Approved for Houston's Floodplain
The city of Houston approved a new development that doesn't meet new elevations standards approved by the city of Houston earlier this month.
Houston-Area Floodplain Regulations to Expand from 100-Year to 500-Year Levels
Harris County, home to Houston and the scene of widespread devastation during Hurricane Harvey and other weather events, will make large-scale changes to development regulations on floodplains for the first time in almost 20 years.
Connecting the Issues of Flooding and Affordable Housing in Texas
A study released this week by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium ( the University of Houston, the Kinder Institute, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and more) raises concerns that new floodplain regulations could harm renters.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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