Stuck on Chapter 42

STUCK ON CHAPTER 42 The bundle of proposed changes to Houston’s development ordinance promoted by the Planning Dept. under Mayor White — which included an extension of the city’s “urban area” from the 610 Loop all the way to Beltway 8 — is mostly stalled for now, notes Mike Snyder: “Five months later, with a new administration in office, the amendments have yet to appear on the City Council agenda. White ‘thought it best to leave the other Chapter 42 amendments to the new administration,’ Suzy Hartgrove, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Planning and Development, said in an email message. Mayor Annise Parker’s administration has authorized the department to bring forward one element of the changes, involving notification requirements for public hearings and plat variances. For the remaining changes, ‘we still have a few issues to resolve and will be meeting with city departments and any others if needed to make that happen,’ Hartgrove said. Don’t look for the amendments to appear on the council agenda any time soon.” [Houston Politics; previously on Swamplot]