Houstonians Ready for Regulation

A survey shows that 2/3rds of Houston residents are ready for stricter land use regulations. This follows a number of high-profile clashes between neighborhoods and developers who want to build in them.

1 minute read

October 22, 2009, 10:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Houston is famous for never creating a zoning code, but public opinion may be tilting in favor of stricter controls.

"Rice University sociologist Stephen Klineberg, who has gauged voter support for zoning and stronger development protections for decades, said much of the support for such planning improvements likely falls at the feet of the Ashby high-rise development.

The Ashby developers had run into a permitting morass at City Hall after nearby residents objected to the project, complaining it would tower over their neighborhoods and overwhelm traffic facilities at the intersection of two two-lane streets."

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in The Houston Chronicle

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