Proposed Walkable Places and TOD ordinances will build a more walkable Houston

The Houston City Council will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21st and 22nd, 2020 to discuss the proposed Walkable Places and transit-oriented development (TOD) city ordinances. The TOD ordinance would apply for TOD areas in Midtown, Emancipation Ave, and Hogan and Lorraine St pilot areas.

The proposed ordinances would allow for a more pleasant and walkable city, more affordable development, more street trees for shade, and increased bike parking. These changes would better support Houston’s transit system by increasing the number of people who can live within walking distance of a high frequency transit line and increasing the number of destinations within walking distance of the route.

To dive into the many benefits of these two ordinances, check out this twitter thread by James Llamas:

Ground floor windows and doors would allow for a more pleasant walking experience than endless driveways and garages, while increasing tree cover will provide cooling and shade for all users and residents.  Without the heavy burden of constructing off-street parking, more people will be able to afford to live and work in these neighborhoods. No longer requiring developers or small businesses to pay for parking lots that waste space will allow for new businesses to open or increase the number of homes by drastically lowering the cost of development.

You can watch the meeting on Microsoft Teams starting tomorrow, July 22nd at 7pm, and sign up to speak by calling 832-393-1100 before 5pm on Tuesday. The Houston city council normally discusses issues and hears public comment on Tuesday and votes on Wednesday, but the opportunity for public comment on these two items is on Wednesday. After signing up, please call 936-755-1521 and input the conference ID# 499 723 543#. If you would rather submit a written comment, you can submit it here until 5 pm Tuesday, July 21.


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