Houston zoning? (Dallas, Atlanta, Howe: purchasing, deed, living in) - Texas (TX) - Page 15 - City-Data Forum

AK123 · 07-07-2010, 05:43 PM

Isn't zoning meant more for functionality, than for looks or aesthetics?

Houston functions mostly fine. It's the aesthetics that need addition (get rid of billboards and ugly signs, save and plant more trees, landscaping, etc) and I think most of that can be taken care of by ordinances (and already is, i.e. the billboard removal ordinance)...

In that case, I'd say I'm much less pro-zoning than I used to be. Most of what I care about are the aesthetics, rather than what someone thinks should go where.

HtownLove · 07-07-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK123

Isn't zoning meant more for functionality, than for looks or aesthetics?

Houston functions mostly fine. It's the aesthetics that need addition (get rid of billboards and ugly signs, save and plant more trees, landscaping, etc)

In that case, I'd say I'm much less pro-zoning than I used to be. Most of what I care about are the aesthetics, rather than what someone thinks should go where.

Totally agree with your first and last statements. But I disagree with your middle ones. The billboards are few and far between. They are mainly on the highways.

Plus Houston already has tons of trees. most areal photos of houston show an abundance of trees.

theSUBlime · 07-07-2010, 06:03 PM

Yup, I agree with you on this AK. Houston just needs some gloss really. Can we not have open swaths of land that are neglected? As I've said Property maintenance is really the biggest issue not lack of zoning. Protection of individual rights/property is very big in Houston. (I was reminded by all the "Private Property. No Trespassing" signs I saw today) It's true, there's ugly abound, but as fat people like to put it---there's more to (learn to) love. For most people, Houston is completely disorganized, and it is a little bit, but I think with a solid public transportation system that actually works and BETTER SIDEWALKS, this city might be able to get its act together.

jimmyev · 07-07-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK123

Isn't zoning meant more for functionality, than for looks or aesthetics?

Houston functions mostly fine. It's the aesthetics that need addition (get rid of billboards and ugly signs, save and plant more trees, landscaping, etc) and I think most of that can be taken care of by ordinances (and already is, i.e. the billboard removal ordinance)...

In that case, I'd say I'm much less pro-zoning than I used to be. Most of what I care about are the aesthetics, rather than what someone thinks should go where.

IF zoning controlled aesthetics rather than use it might actually be worthwhile. I don't care if my neighbor has a home-based business; but I don't want to see it, smell it or hear it.

theSUBlime · 07-07-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyev

IF zoning controlled aesthetics rather than use it might actually be worthwhile. I don't care if my neighbor has a home-based business; but I don't want to see it, smell it or hear it.

Actually zoning CAN control aesthetics, it just depends to what extent the local government takes it.

HtownLove · 07-07-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyev

IF zoning controlled aesthetics rather than use it might actually be worthwhile. I don't care if my neighbor has a home-based business; but I don't want to see it, smell it or hear it.

I kinda like how all the food chains in the med center are hidden and there is no outside advertising.

But I think what you are thinking of restrictive covenants. Some areas restrict home business. some say that at certain times of the day no more than a 3 cars can visit home businesses at a time, they restrict colors of the busineses and signs and posters.

This is all to keep residential streets unclogged and so that the neighborhoods are not tacky

Spade · 07-08-2010, 11:17 AM

I get frustrated with Houston sometimes though. One minute they want to become a world class metropolis with many amenities and the next minute they want to remain a slow southern town on the Bayou. No Zoning is a problem for me but lack of basic infrastructure is the bigger problem. Houston in many areas remind me of Jackson or Monroe, Louisiana instead of a major metropolitan city. I dislike any neighborhood with no sidewalk. I dislike any neighborhood that has ditches instead of curbs. That type of development is fine for a city of 30,000 or Houston in 1920. It isn't fine for a city of 2.3 million.