WALKABLE PLACES PLAN

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 33, art. IX, div. 4

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-421 Scope.

Sec. 33-421. - Scope. (a) The city shall adopt and maintain a walkable places plan to preserve and enhance the pedestrian-friendly design and development along certain designated streets within the city. The walkable places plan shall include, but is not limited to, the identification and classification of street segments where modifications to plans, programs, policies, and regulations are necessary or available to enable improvements to the pedestrian experience and the built environment along the identified street segment(s) and a corresponding map. (b) The walkable places plan must be consistent with the general plan described in article II of this chapter, the major thoroughfare and freeway plan, and other related plans, programs, policies, laws, and regulations. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-422 Administrative responsibilities.

Sec. 33-422. - Administrative responsibilities. (a) It shall be the responsibility of the planning official to: (1) Oversee the development, amendment, and maintenance of the walkable places plan in accordance with this division; (2) Make the WPP available to the public on the department website; (3) Report annually to the commission concerning the implementation of the WPP; (4) Review and consider the comments received and provide a summary of the comments to the commission prior to any public hearing on the WPP or with the annual report to the commission; (5) Present to the commission a recommendation on proposed amendments to the WPP made in collaboration with city departments and entities with an interest in planning and development within the right of way such as governmental entities, political subdivisions, transit authorities, or local government corporations and any other entity as determined by the planning official; and (6) Coordinate with other entities with an interest in planning and development within the right of way such as city directors, governmental entities, political subdivisions, transit authorities, or local government corporations and any other entity as determined by the planning official. (b) The planning official is authorized to promulgate rules and procedures for the efficient administration of the walkable places plan and this division. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-423 Amending the walkable places plan.

Sec. 33-423. - Amending the walkable places plan. (a) An amendment to add, reclassify, or remove a street segment in the walkable places plan shall be made in accordance with the requirements of this division and related policies adopted by the commission, and may only be initiated by: (1) The planning official on behalf of the city; or (2) A signed petition, in the form prescribed by the planning official, of property owners representing at least fifty percent of the total linear street frontage along each street segment included in the proposed amendment. (b) Prior to filing a petition to amend the walkable places plan under subsection (a)(2) of this section, a representative of the petitioners shall meet with the planning official. The planning official shall conduct a preliminary review of the proposed amendment, advise the representative of the amendment process, and may give preliminary comments on the merits of the proposed amendment or potential alternative amendments. The planning official may also advise the representative of deficiencies that would prevent the petition from moving forward for consideration. (c) Except as provided in subsection (d) below, the planning official shall hold at least one informational meeting prior to consideration by the commission of an amendment to the walkable places plan to inform the community about the proposed amendment to the WPP and the amendment process, as well as provide an opportunity for public comments on the proposed amendment for the planning official to review and consider prior to making a recommendation on the proposed amendment to the commission. The informational meeting shall be open to the public and held within the vicinity of the street segment under consideration with the proposed amendment, subject to the availability of an appropriate venue. If the planning official determines no appropriate venue can be secured, the planning official may establish an alternate reasonably accessible venue. (d) Unless requested by the petitioners, an informational meeting shall not be required for a petition by property owners representing 100% of the total linear street frontage along the street segment(s) included in the proposed amendment. (e) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed walkable places plan amendment. Upon the close of the public hearing, the commission shall consider public comments, support and opposition from property owners along the proposed walkable places street, and the recommendation of the planning official and determine whether the proposed WPP furthers the objectives and intent of this division. The commission shall vote to recommend the adoption of the proposed WPP to city council with or without modifications, refer the proposed WPP back to the planning official for further study and evaluation, defer consideration of the proposed WPP to a future meeting, or disapprove the proposed WPP. (f) The affirmative recommendation of the commission on the walkable places plan will be forwarded to city council. (g) Following placement of the commission's recommended walkable places plan on an agenda, city council may consider the commission's recommendation and shall vote to approve the recommendation of the commission, defer the recommendation to another meeting, disapprove the recommendation of the commission, refer the WPP back to the administration or commission for further consideration, or deny the amendment. (h) If the commission votes to disapprove a petition amendment and not forward it to city council, or if the city council votes to deny a petition amendment, any street segment included within the petition amendment will be ineligible for inclusion in a new petition for a period of five years from the date of the final action by commission or city council as applicable. The planning official may allow an ineligible street segment to be included in a new petition upon receipt of new information unknown at the time of the prior petition or substantially changed circumstances that the planning official determines warrants the inclusion of the street segment in a new petition amendment. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-424 Street classification.

Sec. 33-424. - Street classification. (a) Classification of each street segment in the walkable places plan shall be made in accordance with this section and will reflect existing, planned, or desired conditions along the street segment based upon, but not limited to, community input, adopted plans or policies, pedestrian-related infrastructure projects, best practices and sound public policy, surrounding development context, and the enhancement of pedestrian comfort. (b) Each street segment in the walkable places plan shall be designated as either a primary walkable places street or a secondary walkable places street; provided, however, a secondary WP street may only be designated if the street segment connects to a primary WP street directly or indirectly via one or more secondary WP street or designated transit-oriented development street. (c) The walkable places plan shall establish the minimum pedestrian realm width for each walkable places street from the alternatives listed in the table below. Measured from: | Minimum Width The property line | 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 feet The back-of-curb or edge of roadway | 10, 12, 15, 18, or 20 feet (d) The walkable places plan shall establish a minimum unobstructed sidewalk width requirement of six (6) feet, eight (8) feet, or ten (10) feet for each walkable places street. (e) The walkable places plan establishes the minimum right-of-way width required for each walkable places street. When a WP street is also a major thoroughfare, the minimum right-of-way width established by the major thoroughfare and freeway plan shall prevail. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-425 Notification requirements.

Sec. 33-425. - Notification requirements. (a) The planning official shall give notice, by regular mail, to all owners of real property as identified in current appraisal district records for all properties having linear street frontage on the street segment under consideration for addition, reclassification, or removal in the walkable places plan. Notice shall be mailed no later than 30 days before the date of: (1) An informational meeting required by section 33-423 of this Code; and (2) The public hearing required by section 33-423 of this Code. (b) Prior to a meeting where notice is required under subsection (a) of this section, the planning official shall give notice by electronic or regular mail to: (1) Each district council member in whose district any portion of the proposed amendment to the walkable places plan 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 walkable places plan is located. (c) The planning official shall give notice of any informational meeting and public hearing requiring notice in subsection (a) of this section by the placement of at least two notification signs on each street segment of the walkable places plan under consideration by the commission no later than 15 days before date of the meeting or hearing. The planning official is authorized to approve an alternative to the number and location of signs required by this subsection upon determining that the alternative proposal will provide sufficient visibility of the signs and accomplishes the objectives of this section. (d) The planning official shall publish the current draft of the proposed amendment and corresponding walkable place plan street classification for each street segment on the department website no later than 30 days before an informational meeting or public hearing that requires notice under this section. (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_CH33PLDE_ARTIXMAPL_DIV4WAPLPLFetched: 10/26/2026