The Proposed Change in Houston Sidewalk Requirements
As cities grow and develop, the need for proper infrastructure becomes increasingly important. In 2023, Houston City Council made a significant revision to the city’s sidewalk requirement for new single-family homes. Developers were given the option to opt out of mandatory sidewalk construction by paying a fee.
However, it seems that this effort did not have the desired effect. Councilmembers are now proposing a change to address the issue of “sidewalks to nowhere.” The new proposal aims to eliminate the mandatory sidewalk construction requirement for new residential developments, along with the fee-in-lieu option.
Councilmember Edward Pollard of District J is leading the charge for this change. He explained, “Residents have been complaining about the lack of aesthetic sense and connectivity in neighborhoods. Developers, on the other hand, are burdened with paying a fee to avoid sidewalk construction, which often leads to them building the sidewalks anyway, defeating the purpose of the fee.”
The funds collected through the fee were supposed to go towards a dedicated city sidewalk fund. However, with only $700,000 collected over the past year, the impact has been minimal. Critics argue that this proposed change will worsen the city’s walkability issues, rather than improving them.
Kevin Strickland, co-founder of Walk and Roll Houston, expressed concerns about the unintended consequences of this proposal. He believes that removing mandatory sidewalk construction could actually decrease walkability in certain areas, contrary to the city’s goal.
Councilmember Pollard hopes that the council can find alternative ways to improve sidewalks and connectivity without adding to the problem of “sidewalks to nowhere.” He emphasized the need to prioritize areas in the city that lack sidewalks rather than enforcing unnecessary construction in neighborhoods that already have them.
The proposal is set to be considered by the council on Wednesday, Sept. 11, with a public comment period on Tuesday, Sept. 10. To view the full agenda item, click here.
If you’d like to share your thoughts on this proposal, you can do so here.