A recent ruling that favored local homeowners over a developer in Houston had some wondering whether Houston's days as a "development free-for-all" were over. Fear not, says Stephen J. Smith.
Stephen J. Smith provides background about some of the legal and regulatory contexts in Houston, especially following a potentially precedent-setting decision in a recent lawsuit against the developers of a high-rise project known as the Ashby.
In the past, explains Smith, land use regulations in Houston induced sprawl, such as the sewer moratorium in 1974, which severely restricted development for a decade, as well as regulations that limited the types of townhouse construction popular with developers.
But when such restrictions are overturned, such as the anti-townhouse rules were in 1998, Houston's market and regulatory environments usually encourage density. "Since the minimum townhouse lot size has been dropped to 1,400 square feet, the attached houses have been popping up all over Houston’s inner-Loop. The townhouses are not always popular, with the treatment of their garages — each requires two parking spaces according to the city’s non-zoning code — coming in for most of the criticism. But despite their design defects, the attached homes are adding real density — filling in the holes in neighborhoods like Midtown, Montrose and beyond, and packing bodies within walking distance of shops, restaurants, light rail and frequent bus routes."
What does this mean for the recent decision in the Ashby case? "The Ashby high-rise case was a setback for the development industry, but not a fatal blow." In fact, says Smith, "Houston has become considerably more friendly to dense infill development, and will likely continue the trend."
FULL STORY: Sprawltastic Houston Is Densifying and the Courts Can’t Stop It
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.