Government
BY MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Bellaire to reconsider allowing multifamily units within city limits Members of the Bellaire City Council will recon- sider language in the city’s comprehensive plan to potentially allow smaller forms of multifamily residential units to be built within the city. What happened The council approved a 2023-24 Comprehensive Plan update April 1. One change to the plan involved the removal of multifamily residential as a potential use in the city’s Corridor Mixed-Use zoning district—or CMU—and revised standards in the Urban Village-Downtown district, or UV D. CMU is a form of zoning that allows for both resi- dential and commercial uses in one area, according to the city’s land use plan. UV D provides a mix of commercial, o ce, civic and entertainment uses. Council member Brian Witt, who initially voted
Rules advance for sports courts
Harris County jails remain understa ed Harris County o cials described in late March how the county is struggling to manage its over- crowded jails. Factors discussed at a March 25 media meet- ing and March 26 meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court include inadequate sta ng, specialty inmate populations which require a higher level of supervision than the general popula- tion and the challenges faced with sta ng a facility that operates 24/7. Digging deeper Tonya Mills with the county administration department said 73% of people in custody are in a preadjudication status, or pretrial status, which she said was an exceptionally high number. Mills said those waiting longer for trial or to be seen by a judge have a negative impact on the overall jail population.
Child care centers eligible for tax aid
2023 Harris County jails detention o cer sta ng rates
“We have heard loud and clear that the city ... do[es] not want to have
large multifamily units. But what about smaller units on top of something else?” BRIAN WITT, BELLAIRE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Filled positions
Vacant positions
JAN. FEB. MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE
155 165 153 165 202 210 209 209 241 240 241 168
1,588 1,578 1,586 1,574 1,537 1,529 1,530 1,530 1,588 1,498 1,499 1,514
An estimated 327 Harris County child care providers now qualify for 100% property tax exemption after Harris County commission- ers authorized the exemptions at a March 26
West University Place City Council mem- bers approved the second round of ordinance amendments aimed at consolidating residen- tial zoning districts and mitigating noise from residential sports courts. Digging deeper City code does not allow for tennis courts to be built at single-family homes unless they conform to a set of special rules. The change extends those regulations to other sports courts in most cases, according to the ordinance language. The changes create regulations for the installation of sports courts and practice enclosures within residential areas. In addition, three existing zoning districts would be consolidated into one uni ed Single-Family District.
court meeting. The framework
against the item, requested a reconsideration. He said that, while the citizens of Bellaire are heavily against large multifamily units, some are interested in smaller spaces that are built over an existing structure. Witt said the most important part of his rec- ommendation would be the removal of by-right multifamily from the comprehensive plan, which would require any future multifamily development to be approved by City Council rst. Stay tuned The amendment will return to council for discus- sion and a nal vote during a May 6 meeting.
JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
Just six days prior to the county approval, members of the Houston City Council also passed a similar tax exemption, paving the way for child care facilities in both the city of Houston and Harris County to apply immediately for the exemption. For the exemptions to apply to the 2024 tax year, eligible child care facilities should submit their applications by April 30 to the Harris Central Appraisal District.
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
Mills also said the average days to transfer inmates is increasing. While transferring inmates to out-of-state facilities may provide temporary relief, and court cases are beginning to process faster, she said it doesn’t address the underlying problem.
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486
HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722
WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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