CITY oF HOUSTON PLANS

• Annexation Plan 
  
The Annexation Plan is updated annually. Property considered for general-purpose annexation must be included in a City’s annexation plan at least three years prior to the annexation. One instance where the three-year requirement is waived is if the property owner requests annexation.

• Capital Improvement Plan
  The Capital Improvement Plan is vital to our City. It is a plan for physical improvements to public facilities and infrastructure, throughout Houston. The underlying motive behind
  these programs is to improve safety, mobility, and lifestyles of Houstonians, in turn having a positive affect on the local economy. Recognition of this importance prompted City Council in November 1983 to establish the five-year capital improvement planning process.

By resolution, it became City policy to engage in a continuous process that includes annual review, revision, and adoption of a five year Capital Improvement Plan. Public meetings are also held annually in each City Council District to provide citizens an opportunity to comment on the process and recommend projects to be included in the plan. The CIP is revised annually to include new projects, reflect changes in priorities, and extend the plan an additional year.

• Consolidated Annual Plan 
  The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) receives four major entitlement grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
  As part of its responsibility in administering these federal programs, HCDD develops the Consolidated Plan and prepares an annual update known as the Consolidated Annual Plan
  as required by HUD. The Consolidated Plan is a comprehensive assessment of community development needs for the long and short-term, and outlines strategies for addressing the identified needs. The Consolidated Plan serves as the single grant application for the four major entitlement grants - CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA.
     
• Drainage Plan 
  The purpose of this phase of the Comprehensive Drainage Plan (CDP) project is to provide the City of Houston with sufficient information on its storm sewer systems so that the City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering can identify and plan future capital expenditures. Management of the systems requires a plan that contains information on the location and extent of drainage inadequacies, a criteria on which to base system improvements, the cost to implement the improvements, and a method to prioritize the improvements.
  
  
• Emergency Management Plan 
  The City of Houston’s Emergency Management Plan provides the general, conceptual framework for a coordinated multi-agency response and efficient use of resources during
  a major emergency or disaster. The Plan is not a detailed emergency checklist or quick
  action guide. It is a planning document meant to provide the guidance, framework and insight into citywide strategic thinking and decision making as it relates to emergency preparedness and disaster response. The Plan is an all-hazards document containing the concepts and general guidance that would apply regardless of the nature or origin of the emergency or disaster.
  
  
• Houston Fire Department Strategic Plan
  The Strategic Plan includes specific objectives for achieving each of eight key goals of the Houston Fire Department. Each objective has a plan of action for completing that objective and ultimately the goal. Further, an annual operating report is completed each year of the strategic plan outlining specific steps to be taken to accomplish the plan of action for that year. The annual operating report will be revised each fiscal year to reflect the current fiscal budget. It is the intent of the Houston Fire Department to have all personnel, collectively and individually contribute to the accomplishment of these goals.
  
  

• Human Resources
  Neo Gov is a web based, public sector focused applicant tracking system that automates the recruitment, selection and hiring process and maximizes efficiency for our customers. This new system has streamlined the application process for city employment  and will continue to help us achieve other goals ... as we utilize the tools that are available with this system.

• Library Strategic Master Plan
  Published in 2000, the Library Strategic Master Plan identifies and prioritizes library services and facility needs and provides direction for the growth and development of the Houston Public Library through 2010.

  The Library is currently developing an internal strategic plan that will guide and focus service delivery during the final two years of the Master Plan.  The Library expects to engage in a formal community-based planning process in 2010 in an effort to develop its next Master Plan.
  

• Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan
  In the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP), the city identifies sections of
  roadways (either thoroughfares or major collectors) that are in need of expansion,
  either by lengthening or widening. The MTFP identifies right-of-way needs and proposes roadway alignments within the city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction. The plan serves as notice to the public for developing land adjacent to the identified roads. It is updated annually.
  
  
• Mobility Plan
  The development of the first City Mobility Plan, a joint effort between Public Works and Engineering and Planning, will combine land use, development, traffic count and transit
  data to manage capital improvement project development and Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan updates.
  
  
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan
  The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) has undertaken an update of their 2001 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This update looks at a broader vision of park and recreation goals and methods of accomplishing these goals. The Houston Parks and Recreation Master Plan update was completed and adopted by Council on March 26, 2008.
  
  The master plan update is intended to serve as a tool and guide for HPARD to determine how to allocate 2006 and future bond proceeds. In addition, the master plan update is intended to support decision making for HPARD to guide future park and recreation operations and development aligned with the values and direction of an evolving city. Many of the goals are long-range and will require support from various public and non-profit entities to accomplish. All of the goals are directed at improving the quality of life for the citizens of Houston and the associated benefits that parks and recreation contribute to our community. The Houston Parks Board, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, was created through City ordinance in 1976 and serves as the parkland acquisition arm for the City. The HPB improves some parkland and coordinates with HPARD for property identification and assessment of potential parkland through the use of the rapid assessment tool. The rapid assessment facilitates identification and prioritization of parkland acquisition opportunities utilizing the Houston Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

• Traffic and Transportation Strategic Plan 
  The Traffic and Transportation Division exists to facilitate safe and efficient mobility on
  the city streets. The goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan are to develop new and sustainable resources and increase organizational readiness in order to achieve the mission, which is “to keep Houston moving.”
  
  
• Urban Corridor Plans  
  The Urban Corridor Plans will be established by an initiative that will change how the City regulates development and designs its streets and other infrastructure in order to create
  a high quality urban environment in areas along METRO’s light rail corridors: Main Street, Uptown, East End, North, Southeast and University.
  
  
• Houston Airport Master Plan
  The Houston Airport Master Plan will identify services and facilities that need to be added, replaced or upgraded for the public's safety, use and convenience.

• Theater District Master Plan
  The plan for the Theater District is a carefully considered response to the opportunities presented by the unusual contiguous site and its location. In keeping with the recent development trends, the plan calls for emphasis on the cultural activities that compliment business, residential and government activities. The plan will allow the Theater District to provide for a variety of amenities and cultural richness appropriate for Houston. The plan is available at the Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department.
  
  
• TIRZ Project Plans
  Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) are special districts created by City Council to attract new investment to an area. TIRZs help finance the cost of redeveloping or encouraging infill development in an area that would otherwise not attract sufficient
  market development in a timely manner. Taxes attributable to new improvements (tax increment) are set-aside in a fund to finance public improvements in the zone.
  There are 22 zones in the City and each zone has a project plan adopted by Council.

Note: A number of plans related to transportation, mobility, and infrastructure that impact Houston or specific areas of Houston can be found on other governmental agency web sites includes METRO, TDOT, Harris County and H-GAC. For links to those websites, visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/GeneralPlan/related.html.

Back to Top