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SPECIAL PARKING AREAS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. VIII, div. 3
in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-510 Special parking areas.

Sec. 26-510. - Special parking areas. The city council may designate special parking areas to accommodate the unique parking needs in certain areas of the city upon consideration of an application filed in accordance with this division or in conjunction with an amendment to the walkable places plan. The planning official shall maintain a list of current special parking areas, maps and written descriptions of their boundaries, and their approved parking management plans on the department website. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-511 Requirements for designation or revision of a special parking area.

Sec. 26-511. - Requirements for designation or revision of a special parking area. (a) An application for designation or revision of a special parking area may be filed with the department by a management entity that represents the holders of legal interests within the proposed special parking area and has a demonstrated perpetual commitment to the proposed special parking area. The application shall be in the form prescribed by the planning official and shall include the following: (1) The non-refundable fee set forth for this provision in the city fee schedule; (2) Payment for all costs, as set out in the city fee schedule, associated with the notice provisions of this division; (3) A proposed parking management plan in accordance with section 26-512 of this Code; and (4) A map illustrating the boundaries of the proposed special parking area. (b) For a special parking area designated in conjunction with an amendment to the walkable places plan for an area where there is no management entity participating, the planning official shall oversee the submittal for the parking management plan developed in accordance with section 26-512 of this Code and a map illustrating the boundaries of the proposed special parking area. Any revisions to a designation under this subsection shall be processed in the same manner in which the designation was granted. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2017-151, § 12, 3-1-2017; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-512 Parking management plan.

Sec. 26-512. - Parking management plan. (a) The parking management plan for a special parking area, for the initial plan and any modifications, shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The proposed alternative standards of this article or substituted requirements for the number of parking spaces, bicycle spaces, or loading berths, as applicable, for the special parking area with a corresponding justification for each alternative standard or substituted requirement; and (2) A summary of proposed and existing mitigation measures, if applicable, designed to prevent or discourage spillover parking into adjacent properties and residential neighborhoods. (b) The initial parking management plan for a special parking area shall also include: (1) A summary of existing use classifications within the proposed special parking area and any known proposal for development or redevelopment within the proposed special parking area; (2) Existing and proposed parking facilities with more than 40 parking spaces available for use by the general public; (3) Existing and proposed transit facilities and other alternative modes of transportation, including, but not limited to: a. A transit ridership summary that details the extent of usage of the existing transit facilities within the boundaries of the proposed special parking area; and b. Existing and proposed services for shuttle, trolley, park and ride, bicycle or micro-mobility device rental, jitney, and similar services; and (4) An analysis of the parking supply and demand within the proposed special parking area, including anticipated peak demand hours. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-513 Procedures for designation of a special parking area by application.

Sec. 26-513. - Procedures for designation of a special parking area by application. (a) The planning official shall review each application filed under section 26-511 of this Code for completeness. Upon determining that an application is complete, the planning official shall forward the application to the Director of Houston Public Works for review. The planning official shall give notice of a public hearing before the commission to: (1) Each owner of property within the proposed special parking area and within 500 feet of the boundary of the proposed special parking area as shown on the most current appraisal district records; (2) Each neighborhood association with defined boundaries registered with the department in which any portion of the proposed special parking area is located; (3) Each district council member in whose district any portion of the proposed special parking area is located; (4) The chief of the city police department; and (5) The parking official of the city as defined in this chapter. Notice shall be given by first class mail no later than 20 days before the date of the public hearing, except that notice may be given by electronic mail to the people and entities listed in items (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this subsection. (b) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing to consider the designation of the area as a special parking area and on the management entity's proposed parking management plan. The planning official shall submit recommendations to the commission regarding the designation of the special parking area and the proposed parking management plan. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-514 Commission action on an application for designation of a special parking area.

Sec. 26-514. - Commission action on an application for designation of a special parking area. (a) After the close of the public hearing and upon receipt of the planning official's recommendations pursuant to subsection (b) of section 26-513 of this Code, the commission shall consider the application and recommend the designation of the special parking area and the approval of the parking management plan if the commission finds that the application meets the following criteria: (1) The special parking area has a clearly defined boundary; (2) If submitted by a management entity, the management entity responsible for the special parking area has a demonstrated capacity to manage parking needs and parking facilities, including an understanding of the parking supply and demand within the proposed special parking area; (3) The proposed parking management plan will not result in significant parking or mobility deficiencies from reduced parking standards, incompatible or competing use classifications, or inadequate enforcement and regulation; (4) The proposed parking management plan is designed to prevent or discourage spillover parking onto adjacent properties and residential neighborhoods; and (5) The proposed parking management plan demonstrates reasonable and sufficient access to parking facilities or transportation services within the special parking area. (b) The commission may impose any conditions reasonably related to the designation of the special parking area that furthers the intent and purpose of this article. (c) If the commission is unable to make the findings necessary for the designation of the special parking area and the approval of the parking management plan, the commission shall: (1) Defer the application to a later commission meeting; or (2) Deny the application. (d) The planning official shall submit an affirmative recommendation of the commission and recommend placement of the request on the city council agenda. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-515 Commission action on the designation of a special parking area in conjunction with an amendment to the walkable places plan.

Sec. 26-515. - Commission action on the designation of a special parking area in conjunction with an amendment to the walkable places plan. (a) If a proposed special parking area is requested as part of an amendment to the walkable places plan, the planning official shall submit recommendations to the commission on both the amendment to the walkable places plan and the proposed special parking area designation with the parking management plan simultaneously. (b) After the close of the public hearing required under section 33-423 of this Code and upon receipt of the planning official's recommendations pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the commission shall consider the proposal and recommend the designation of the special parking area and the approval of the parking management plan if the commission finds that the proposal meets the following criteria: (1) The special parking area has a clearly defined boundary within the limits of the walkable places plan amendment; (2) The proposed special parking area is consistent with the purpose and objectives of the walkable places plan as described in section 33-421 of this Code; (3) The proposed parking management plan will not result in significant parking or mobility deficiencies from reduced parking standards, incompatible or competing use classifications, or inadequate enforcement and regulation; (4) The proposed parking management plan is designed to prevent or discourage spillover parking onto adjacent properties and residential neighborhoods; and (5) The proposed parking management plan demonstrates reasonable access to parking facilities or transportation services within the special parking area. (c) The commission may modify or amend the proposed special parking area or parking management plan to meet the intent and purpose of this article. (d) If the commission is unable to make the findings necessary for the designation of the special parking area and the approval of the parking management plan, the commission shall: (1) Defer the request to a later commission meeting; (2) Refer the request back to planning official for further study; (3) Remove the special parking area designation from further consideration with the amendment to the walkable places plan; or (4) Deny the request. (e) If the commission approves the special parking area or parking management plan, the planning official shall recommend placement of the request on the city council agenda. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-516 City council action on designation of a special parking area.

Sec. 26-516. - City council action on designation of a special parking area. City council may consider the designation of a special parking area as recommended by the commission and shall vote to approve the recommendation of the commission, disapprove the recommendation of the commission, refer the special parking area back to the commission or administration, for further consideration, or deny the designation. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-517 Modification of a special parking area.

Sec. 26-517. - Modification of a special parking area. Additional tracts may be added to or deleted from a special parking area at any time in accordance with the designation procedures and criteria of this division. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-518 Duties and responsibilities.

Sec. 26-518. - Duties and responsibilities. (a) It shall be the responsibility of the management entity to implement the provisions of the parking management plan within the special parking area. (b) Following the designation of the special parking area by city council, the planning official shall coordinate the implementation of the parking management plan with the city departments and other entities with an interest in planning and development within the right of way, including other governmental entities, political subdivisions, transit authorities, or local government corporations and any other entity as determined by the planning official. (c) The planning official shall, from time to time, evaluate each special parking area to determine if circumstances related to the designation or subsequent parking management plan implementation have changed and may warrant a revision to the parking management plan pursuant to section 26-519 of this Code or modification to the special parking area designation pursuant to section 26-517 of this Code. If such a determination is made, the planning official shall document the change in circumstances then report to the commission the findings of the evaluation and any corresponding recommendations. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-519 Review of parking management plan.

Sec. 26-519. - Review of parking management plan. (a) Within 60 days of receiving the report from the planning official outlined in subsection (c) of section 26-518 of this Code, the commission shall review the parking management plan and circumstances related to the special parking area designation. Upon review, the commission shall: (1) Take no action if the commission finds that no changes should be made to the parking management plan; or (2) Instruct the management entity or planning official, as applicable, to submit for commission review a revised parking management plan in accordance with this division if the commission finds that evidence of changed circumstances within the special parking area may warrant a revision to the parking management plan. (b) If the commission requires a revised parking management plan pursuant to item (2) of subsection (a) of this section, the planning official shall give notice of a public hearing on the review of the revised [parking] management plan in accordance with the provisions of section 26-513 of this Code. The commission shall hold a public hearing and review the revised parking management plan. After the close of the public hearing, the commission shall: (1) Take no action if the commission finds that no changes should be made to the parking management plan; (2) Recommend to city council that the revised parking management plan should be adopted to accommodate any changed circumstances outlined in the commission review of the revised parking management plan; or (3) Recommend to city council that the designation of the special parking area should be terminated. (c) If city council revises a parking management plan or terminates a special parking area in accordance with the procedures outlined in this section, all uses classifications permitted on or before the date of the council action to revise or terminate shall be allowed to continue except as otherwise provided in this article. All uses for which a permit is granted after the date of termination, shall be in compliance with the revised parking management plan or parking requirements of this article. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)
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_CH26PA_ARTVIIIOREPALO_DIV3SPPAARFetched: 10/26/2026

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