Home » Posts tagged with "Local Issues"
HAR Offers Recommendations on Houston’s Proposed Land Development Regulations
At its January 2012 meeting, the HAR Board of Directors approved recommendations to City of Houston officials currently drafting changes to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances. The changes relate to the city’s land development regulations and would include the expansion of the city’s “urban area” from Loop 610 to Beltway 8, clearing the way for developers to more easily subdivide lots...
State and Local Officials Speak to Business Issues Subcommittee at HAR
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett discusses issues impacting the county with members of TAR's Business Issues Subcommittee
On January 26, the Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) held its January 2012 Business Issues Subcommittee meeting at the offices of HAR. TAR’s Business Issues Subcommittee is comprised of REALTOR® volunteers from across the state of Texas who weigh issues of importance...
Houston City Council Approves High Rise Limits – Chapter 42 Overhaul on the Horizon
In its last meeting of 2011, the Houston City Council approved restrictions on residential towers which would abut certain single-family residences.
The restrictions will generally require high rises to be built at least 30 or 40 feet from surrounding homes, depending on the street sizes. The restrictions would apply to buildings greater than 75 feet in height built along local and collector...
City of Houston Proposes Changes to Land Development Code
The City of Houston is revisiting changes to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances, the land development code. The proposals were first proposed three years ago but never adopted.
The revisions include expanding the city’s “urban area” to Beltway 8 and requiring additional parking in high-density, single-family developments.
City Council is set to call a public hearing on the proposed changes...
New Homestead Exemption Rules Effective September 1
The application process for a homestead exemption in Texas is about to grow more complex. Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature approved new standards of mandatory disclosure for any one of several kinds of homestead exemptions. Beginning on September 1, 2011, those new rules go into effect.
Prior to September 1, a homestead exemption was relatively easy to obtain; a property owner simply...
City of Houston Seeks to Limit Some High-Rise Developments
The Houston Planning Department and Houston City Council are currently in the process of drafting an ordinance to curb the development of high-rise buildings in residential neighborhoods. The proposal fulfills a campaign promise by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and it comes several years after homeowners in one Houston neighborhood worked to halt the development of a high-rise building on the...
Three Houston Neighborhoods Designated as Historic Districts
After a lengthy and contentious debate, the Houston City Council has approved ordinances designating three neighborhoods as protected historic districts. The neighborhoods are Houston Heights South, Woodland Heights and Glenbrook Valley. The three neighborhoods join sixteen additional neighborhoods previously designated as historic districts by the Houston City Council.
The votes took place...
Houston Residents Wishing to Protest Their Drainage Fee Should Act Fast
Throughout the month of May 2011, city of Houston residents should have received a notification of their anticipated monthly Drainage Utility Charge as part of the Rebuild Houston initiative. Rebuild Houston was approved by voters in November 2010 and gave the city authority to impose a fee on homeowners, renters and businesses to improve Houston’s drainage infrastructure. Residents...
