MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 33, art. IX, div. 2

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-371 Scope.

Sec. 33-371. - Scope. The city shall adopt and maintain a major thoroughfare and freeway plan to preserve and enhance mobility within the city and the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The MTFP must be consistent with the general plan described in article III of this chapter, the bicycle master plan, and other applicable plans, policies, and regulations. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-372 Duties and responsibilities of the director.

Sec. 33-372. - Duties and responsibilities of the director. (a) The director shall make the MTFP adopted by city council and any policies adopted by the commission available to the public on the department website. (b) The director shall establish a process for the public to submit written comments to the department regarding the MTFP. The director shall submit the comments to the commission during the annual MTFP process. (c) The director shall, in collaboration with the Director of Houston Public Works, annually prepare and submit to the commission a proposed MTFP. The director, in developing the MTFP, shall consider all probable modes of transportation within the streets, including but not limited to automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic. (d) For an application requesting an amendment to the MTFP, the director shall present to the commission a recommendation made in collaboration with the Director of Houston Public Works and any of the following with jurisdiction over the streets included in the application: governmental entities, political subdivisions, transit authorities, or local government corporations. (e) The director shall, in accordance with section 33-377 of this Code, ensure that notification requirements have been met prior to commission consideration of a MTFP. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-373 Duties and responsibilities of the Director of Houston Public Works.

Sec. 33-373. - Duties and responsibilities of the Director of Houston Public Works. The Director of Houston Public Works shall collaborate with the director in the preparation of an annual MTFP and, when applicable, review the proposed plan and make recommendations to the director on a MTFP amendment prior to commission consideration. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-374 Duties and responsibilities of the commission.

Sec. 33-374. - Duties and responsibilities of the commission. (a) The commission shall establish an annual schedule to consider amendments to the MTFP related to deleting, realigning, or reclassifying a street designated on the MTFP or adding a street to the MTFP. The commission is authorized to adopt policies related to the administration, implementation, and interpretation of the MTFP. (b) Each year, on or before the last day of September, the commission shall consider the annual MTFP prepared by the director and any applications to amend the MTFP. (c) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on the MTFP and any proposed amendment to the MTFP. Upon the close of the public hearing, the commission shall consider whether the MTFP will further the objectives stated in section 33-371 of this Code. The commission shall vote to recommend the MTFP to city council, refer the MTFP back to the director for further evaluation, defer consideration of the MTFP to a future meeting, or disapprove the MTFP. A MTFP approved by the commission under this section shall not be effective until approved by city council. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-375 Duties and responsibilities of city council.

Sec. 33-375. - Duties and responsibilities of city council. City council is authorized to consider the MTFP as recommended by the commission and each year shall vote to approve the recommendation of the commission, disapprove the recommendation of the commission, or refer the MTFP back to the commission for further consideration. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-376 Application to amend the MTFP.

Sec. 33-376. - Application to amend the MTFP. (a) An applicant may submit a written application to the department to delete, realign, or reclassify a street designated on the MTFP or to add a street to the MTFP. An application for an amendment shall include a completed application form in the form prescribed by the director and be accompanied by the non-refundable application fee set forth for this provision in the city fee schedule. (b) Prior to filing an application with the department, the prospective applicant shall meet with the director. The director shall conduct a preliminary review of the application during such meeting and advise the prospective applicant on possible alternatives, if any, related to the MTFP. (c) If, following a pre-submittal meeting, an applicant submits an application, the director shall review the application for completeness. If the director determines that the application is complete, the director shall present the amendment to the commission for consideration at the next meeting at which the commission is scheduled to consider amendments to the MTFP. If the director determines that an application is not complete, the application shall be returned to the applicant. An incomplete application that is not corrected and resubmitted within the time period prescribed by the director or by formal commission policy shall not be considered by the commission. (d) If the commission votes to disapprove an application to amend the MTFP filed under this section or if the commission approves an alternative street alignment, any street included in the application is ineligible for inclusion in a new application for a period of two years from the date of the approval or disapproval by the commission. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-377 Notification requirements.

Sec. 33-377. - Notification requirements. (a) The director shall give notice by mail to property owners identified on the appraisal district records whose properties are adjacent to the projected street alignments in the MTFP application or related alternative street alignments. Notice shall be given no later than 20 days before the date of the public hearing required by section 33-374(c) of this Code. The applicant shall be assessed a fee for notice given under this section. (b) Prior to the public hearing, notice by electronic or regular mail shall be given to: (1) Each district council member in whose district any portion of the proposed amendment to the MTFP or related alternative street alignment is located; and (2) Each neighborhood association with defined boundaries registered with the department of neighborhoods in which any portion of the proposed amendment to the MTFP or related alternative street alignment is located. (c) Notice of the public hearing shall be given no later than 20 days before the public hearing by publication. (d) The notification provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to an application to amend the MTFP filed by the city, a governmental entity, or a transit authority, if the proposed amendment was previously presented to the general public at no fewer than two public meetings held with civic clubs, super neighborhood councils, or other groups representing property owners within the area. (Ord. No. 2017-208, § 3(Exh. A), 3-22-2017)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH33PLDE_ARTIXMAPL_DIV2MATHFRPLFetched: 10/26/2026