CITY & COUNTY
News from Houston & Harris County
Harris County Commissioners Court will meet for its regular meeting at 10 a.m. May 16 at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. Meetings are streamed live at www.harriscountytx.gov. Houston City Council will meet for public comment at 2 p.m. May 16 and regular business at 9 a.m. May 17 at City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv. MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department announced April 19 the expansion of recycling efforts to encompass all plastic types at the North Main Neighborhood Depository Center in Independence Heights, 9003 N. Main St., Houston. HOUSTON On April 18, Mayor Sylvester Turner signed a proclamation recognizing the Houston Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, making time spent in nature a basic right for all children in the city. The initiative includes 12 rights for all young Houstonians, including the right to safe routes in outdoor spaces in their communities and the right to access shade outdoors.
Planning Commission considers new housing, walkability proposals
Commissioners Court considers changes to county animal shelter
Library approved for $5.2M in restorations
SHELTER STATISTICS Harris County Pets has seen an increase in its live release rate—the number of animals adopted or returned to owners rather than euthanized—since 2012, but the rate has fallen from its peak in 2021.
BY LEAH FOREMAN
Proposed changes to Houston’s code of ordinances seek to make it easier to develop midlevel housing. ‘MISSING’ MIDDLE HOUSING
HOUSTON Officials in the city of Houston have proposed changes to housing and parking rules, including updated designs to bring more midlevel housing options to the city. The recommended revisions to the city’s code of ordi- nances—discussed by the Houston Planning Commission in April—work toward improving sidewalk connectivity and removing barriers to allow for multimodal transportation. The commission will provide recommendations to the Planning and Development Department regarding these proposals at its meeting on May 11. Suvidha Bandi, a project manager with the planning and development department, presented proposed changes at a virtual April 18 public meeting. “We need to create a tool to create more accessible, diverse neighborhoods with access to greater transporta- tion options and with more attainable housing options for all Houstonians,” she said. Houston has ample stock of detached single-family homes and midrise apartments, but lacks the housing options in between, City Planner Aracely Rodriguez said. Officials are also recommending lowering parking requirements for certain development. Any area within a half-mile of rail and transit stations, high-frequency bus stops, and park and rides—or within a quarter-mile of high-comfort bike paths, trails and BCycle stations—would be subject to lower thresholds for parking needs.
BY LEAH FOREMAN
BY EMILY LINCKE
Harris County Pets live release rates 100% 80%
HARRIS COUNTY The possibility of making Harris County’s Veterinary Public Health division a standalone department was discussed by commissioners April 4 after members of the public alleged that animals are suffering in the county’s shelter. Quote of note: “Almost every animal that leaves the shelter does so in a worse condition than when they arrived,” said Alexx DeCrosta, a former Harris County Pets veterinarian and county resident. “Animals should not be doing better on the streets of Houston than in the care of veterinarians ... and in a multimillion-dollar facility brought to you by the taxpayer.” How we got here: The county’s veterinary department is a branch of the Harris County Public Health department. HCPH Executive Director Barbie Robinson said her depart- ment has been working to improve operations at the Harris County Pets Resource Center. According to Robinson: • The shelter’s 273-animal population is closer to capacity, down from December. • The department’s live release rate—the percent of animals adopted or returned to owners rather than euthanized—is 95%.
HOUSTON The African American Library at the Gregory School—1300 Victor St. in Houston’s Fourth Ward— will receive funding toward restoration efforts after Houston City Council signed off on $5.2 million for construc- tion and repairs at an April 26 meeting. In 2017, the library was damaged by Hurricane Harvey as wind and rain penetrated the building’s exterior. The funding will go toward roofing and windows, and upgrading the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The building is located in the Freed- men’s Town Historic District.
96.1%
Second dwelling units: a second living space located on the lot of a single-family home Recommendation: eliminate size limits on lots without deed restrictions, allow parking to be based on unit size Multiunit residential housing: triplexes, multiple duplexes, fourplexes and multiplexes Recommendation: eight units maximum with buildings being no more than three stories with a total height of 30 feet, allow parking to be based on size of unit Courtyard-style developments: clusters of single- family homes located around a shared courtyard with shared parking Recommendation: allow lots to front on common courtyard space, eliminate minimum lot size requirements, allow parking to be decoupled from the lots to be potentially rented by residents Narrow lot developments: refers to several different types of development, including flag lots and lots with shared driveways Recommendation: more shared driveways and the use of alley access
1
20% 40% 60% 0
15.5%
2
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PETS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
*AS OF MARCH 31
3
Next steps: After hearing public comment, Harris County commissioners spoke to HCPH and then voted to: • Direct the Office of the County Administration to conduct a compensation study and craft an incentive program for animal control employees; • Ask the Office of County Administration to assist HCPH in finding a Harris County pets director; and • Hold public meetings with the precincts on this topic. An interim director has been leading the veterinary depart- ment while HCPH looks for a permanent leader.
CLEVELAND ST.
4
VICTOR ST.
W . G R A Y S T .
N
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787
WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161
SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849
Powered by FlippingBook