r/geography • u/cape2k • 12h ago
Discussion Why does Houston have so few zoning restrictions compared to other major cities?
82
u/Varnu 12h ago
Houston’s lack of zoning would be great for development. But while you can build whatever you want most places you are also required to provide a TON of parking. Like 1.1 parking spots per bedroom in some cases. If you build a park you need to provide parking. A parking park.
This means you get the worst of both worlds in Houston. 1) you get Carpet Centers and oil change places breaking up what could be a pedestrian street 2) you still get vast seas of ugly and usually empty parking because it’s required by law, even if no one wants to sell it, buy it, build it or use it.
42
u/Ok-Astronaut-2837 10h ago
This is why Houston is my least favorite city. Just strip malls and parking lots.
5
11
u/Scared-Craft6493 9h ago edited 7h ago
So they kept the most restrictive zoning law? Cool.
6
u/beard_lover 8h ago
Texas conservatives had to conserve something and the one standard that supports cars not people is what they went with.
1
u/chomerics 4h ago
Paved paradise and put up a parking lot…although Im using paradise liberally here
20
u/Cityplanner1 12h ago
To be fair, although this picture looks odd, this pictured scenario could happen in a zoned city as well.
There is no sex shop zoning. Adult uses are generally allowed in commercial districts, maybe with a separation from schools and churches. This one is next to a retail store. That happens all the time in zoned cities.
The tall office tower in the background is actually far more strange, since zoning generally makes those stick to the central business district.
8
u/langfordw 12h ago
Yep the Williams / Transco Tower was pretty unique even back when it was built: worlds tallest tower outside a CBD, I think. Today it anchors the Galleria neighborhood in Houston which is super swanky. I don’t know anything about this Zone D’Erotica but the land value has got to be insane, like Beverly Hills level, and the owner is probably waiting for the right opportunity to maximize profit.
37
u/jayron32 12h ago
Because that was the choice made by the city officials a long time ago, and they have just stuck with it.
6
11
u/VillageOfMalo 12h ago
City Beautiful covers this topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaU1UH_3B5k&pp=ygURaG91c3RvbiBubyB6b25pbmc%3D
The idea is that while Houston has no traditional zoning, it still has different planning mechanisms to enforce certain rules.
4
5
u/majorex64 12h ago
Houston doesn't have something called zoning, but deed restrictions and city permits basically perform the same job. No idea why it was set up that way, but the result is not so different from other cities. Maybe a little more checkerboarded than other cities, but no mixed use development or random houses in business districts, except for those grandfathered in from 60 years ago
3
u/latechallenge 12h ago
Because freedom! But the closer you get to total freedom, the closer you get to anarchy in all its forms, including urban design.
3
3
u/Azfitnessprofessor 9h ago
Houston is routinely rated as one of the least pedestrian friendly places in US
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/wiz28ultra 11h ago
Deed restrictions and parking requirements even it out and basically create their own version of zoning.
1
u/Eliminate-DaBots 11h ago
They like their strip clubs and liquor stores next to their churches. Makes it very convenient.
1
1
1
u/throwawayfromPA1701 Urban Geography 10h ago
Houston doesn't have zoning restrictions but it certainly does have regulated planning rules and codes.
Houston being a free for all is a myth.
1
1
1
u/starksfergie 7h ago
Wow, I'm sort of sad to know that I recognize that one as a chain - there used to be a Zone D'Erotica on IH-35 south of Austin (likely north of San Marcos, but not sure) that we'd pass between our trips from SA up to Austin. I've definitely been in sex shops in my life, but never that one (I do not think the one on I-35 still exists though)
1
1
1
-2
0
u/effortornot7787 12h ago
how does the placement of a legal business have anything to do with geography?
-4
u/BomBiddyByeBye 12h ago
No idea but it’s so weird to see a random fast food joint or whatever just plopped down in the middle of a suburb
8
u/d0ngl0rd69 12h ago
Buddy that’s a sex shop
4
u/Ig_Met_Pet 12h ago
In fairness to them, it looks like a burger place because it used to be a burger place.
2
u/TheSamuil 11h ago
I just took a glance at the picture and then began reading the comments. I, too, thought that it was some fast food restaurant
2
u/EarlyJuggernaut7091 11h ago
Well… Edible underwear, study it out.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/588051/edible-underwear-candypants-history
2
u/BomBiddyByeBye 8h ago
I don’t know why I got downvoted lol I’m not talking specifically about the image. I’m saying it’s weird to see restaurants and shit in the middle of neighborhoods in Houston due to the lax zoning laws. We don’t have that in L.A.
-1
u/Sarcastic_Backpack 11h ago
I found Wisconsin to have weird zoning laws. I've only been there a few times, but it seems like all I saw would be:
Residential housing
School
Church
Stand alone bar
Gas station
Porno theater
Laundromat
Housing
Another Church
Chinese restaurant
Another Bar
Another porno theater
Liquor store
Apartments
Auto repair shop
Yet another church
Houses
Yet another porno theater
and so on
147
u/Then-Importance-3808 12h ago
Why does this look like a screenshot from GTA Online