Why are Texas businesses always partitioned? (Houston: lease, zoning, law)

[wehotex]

In all of my years here in Texas, I've noticed that virtually all businesses are SEPARATED by curbs. They are never connected together so that you can drive from business to business without re-entering a street. Does this harken back to "ol west days where you had to mark your territory?

[ETex2]

Costs. To have them "connected together", you have to have ingress and egress easements which eats into the useable area of the site, which impacts parking, setbacks, floor coverage ratios, etc.. Quite simply, it takes up more land. And also you have more traffic on your lot, most of which is just using your lot as a turnaround spot or as a driveway to another business. Plus more traffic, esp. by heavy trucks, means wear and tear on your parking lot. It's a major headache. To most business owners, these easements represent a major headache and it's just not desirable.

[stillkit]

I believe it's a state law related to channeling traffic in and out of the street.

[smuboy86]

Hmm I've noticed the exact opposite, most buisnesses are connected through parking lots. It's obvious if you ever go to Colorado where there are full curbs every where and often only one driveway in and out.

[Willsson]

Seems the difference between businesses in post #1 and #8 might depend on when and/or how the businesses developed and/or whether or not the properties are leased or owned. And zoning laws - or in the case of Houston, lack of zoning laws.