February 2012 archive

PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

Hosted By:
COUNCIL MEMBER HELENA BROWN
DISTRICT A

Spring Woods High School
2045 Gessner Drive
Houston, TX 77080

Date: Tuesday-February 28, 2012
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Council Member Helena Brown/Mayor Annise D. Parker
Council Member Brown will arrive early to visit with constituents
Please come prepaired to submit CIP ideas

REBUILD HOUSTON UPDATE
Department of Public Works Representative

OVERVIEW OF C.I.P. PROCESS & CIP PROJECTS STATUS
Finance Department Representative (Process)
Public Works Department Representative (Status)
General Services Department Representative (Status)

CONSTITUENT SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTIONS
Department Representative respond

This series of public input meetings has been corrdinated by the Citizens’ Assistance Office Department of Neighborhoods

An important date is coming up. On March 19, the Civic Club will be honored by the appearance of Mr. Luis Pratts, Principal of Landrum Middle School. Mr. Pratts has graciously accepted the request that he speak to the group on that date.
Mr. Luis Pratts Mr. Pratts has been principal at Landrum for five years and he has many interesting stories to tell about the school. The school has the technology that allows the students to visit with students from other states and other countries and he can explain some of the projects they have done in Social Studies with that capability.

Another interesting development that we will all want to hear more about is that Landrum will contain a KIPP school within the school next year. Funding for this exciting program is provided by Bill Gates and it is a real coupe for this area to get this program.

Mark this date on your calendar now for this must-attend meeting. If you have questions for Mr. Pratts, he will be able to address them after his presentation. See you there.

Update: More Chapter 42 information located here

The City of Houston Planning Commission is holding four (4) public meetings on the proposed changes to the City’s Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 42. The public is invited to attend any of the meetings and learn what these changes will mean for their community. The proposed ordinance can be found on the Planning Department’s website, www.houstonplanning.com under Development Regulations.

All meetings are from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The meetings are:

Monday, February 13
Sunnyside Multi-Service Center
4605 Wilmington
Houston, TX 77051

Thursday, February 23
Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding
Houston, TX 77016

Thursday, March 1
Sharpstown Community Center
6600 Harbor Town Drive
Houston, TX 77036

Thursday, March 8
Trini Mendenhall SOSA Community Center
1414 Wirt
Houston, TX 77055

Amendments to Chapter 42 will address the following topics:

• Average lot size/lot width in new subdivision plats
• Creation of guest parking for certain single-family residential units
• Redefining the width and length of shared driveway developments
• Requiring sign posting in residential subdivisions w/certain reserves
• Establishing a protocol on naming of partial replats
• Extending the Urban Area beyond the 610 Loop to the Beltway
• Building line overhangs encroach 30 inches, five foot for outside stairs
• Require surveyed site plans for single-family residential plats
• Resolve the conflict between Chapter 42 and the Design Manual for Lift Station Sites

These ordinance amendments will also result in changes to the Building Code and PWE Infrastructure design manual.

The primary reasons to expand the urban area out to the Beltway are to allow for obsolete commercial and multi-family areas to be redeveloped and to provide a variety of housing styles and prices for close-in housing. Neighborhoods with deed restrictions that prevent the further subdividing of lots, establish minimum lot size and restrict to single family residential uses are not impacted by this provision.

With areas outside the city limits continuing to develop and build affordable housing, there is a concern for the loss of middle income families and neighborhoods. In order to remain competitive with the far suburbs, we have to create additional products that compensate for higher land prices and other impediments.