HISTORIC HOUSTON ORDINANCE WILL PROVIDE MORE PARKLAND FOR RESIDENTS
October 22, 2007 -- Mayor Bill White hailed as "historic" the recent unanimous passage by City Council of the Parks and Open Space Ordinance which will require residential developers to develop park space or pay an in-lieu fee in the areas in which they build.
"Houston is a leader in available green space, but we're growing fast and this will help us keep up with the growth," said Mayor White.
The Updated Houston Parks and Recreation Department's Master Plan will guide all park improvement plans in the city. The department will direct the funding and land acquired through this plan.
"This is a great day for the city of Houston," said Joe Turner, Director Houston Parks and Recreation Department. "It's a great opportunity for us to acquire green space and work with developers to ensure that future generations will have access to parkland."
The Parks and Open Space Ordinance, scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2007, divides Houston into 17 sectors. Developers have the option of contributing $700 per dwelling unit or dedicating 1.8 acres of land for every 100 dwelling units they build. The formula is based on a number of factors including: the number of units in the development; the number of persons per dwelling for single and multi-family units; and the current parkland to resident ratio designated by the 2001 Parks Master Plan.
A park and recreation dedication fund will be established in each of the 17 sectors and will be allowed to be transferred to the Houston Parks Board. Money in each of these sectors will be used only for park acquisition and improvements and will be subject to council approval.
The Parks and Open Space Ordinance was adopted to provide sufficient and varied park and recreational areas, amenities and improvements for residents. The ordinance will be reviewed in 6 months to determine its effectiveness.
For more information on the Parks and Opens Space Ordinance or the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, please call (713) 845-1135 or visit us online at www.houstonparks.org . More information is also available from the Parks Board at www.houstonparksboard.org.
