RECOMMENDATION from Director Department of Planning and Development Department to designate a City of Houston Green Corridor along the Yale Street right-of-way and building setback areas of abutting and contiguous properties to both sides of Yale Street between 150 feet south of 6th Street to 96 feet north of 19th Street, with an overall length approximately 1.6 miles, to be known as the Yale Street Green Corridor

An application including petitions for the designation of a Green Corridor for a portion of Yale Street was submitted to the office of the City Secretary on March 23, 2016 by the Urban Forestry Committee of the Houston Heights Association.  This application met the requirements of Section 33-104 of the Code of Ordinances. The City Secretary forwarded the application request to the Planning and Development Department (P&D) for processing.

P&D verified that the signed petitions represent 77.6% of the front footage of tracts or parcels that abut the proposed Green Corridor, excluding single-family properties, meeting the 75% support threshold as required by the Code of Ordinances. The proposed Green Corridor runs along Yale Street, a major thoroughfare, from 150 feet south of 6th Street to 96 feet north of 19th Street.  The proposed Green Corridor includes the right-of-way and the building setback areas of abutting and contiguous properties to Yale Street. The length of the proposed Green Corridor exceeds 1 mile in length as required by the Code of Ordinances.

City Council is required by ordinance to conduct a public hearing regarding the application within 90 days of the March 23, 2016 application filing date. A hearing is set for June 8, 2016 in the City Council Chambers. By May 25, 2106, a required written notice of the hearing was mailed by P&D to all property owners abutting Yale Street in the proposed corridor. City Council may consider a motion to designate the Green Corridor immediately following the hearing.

The Green Corridor designation enhances tree protection by requiring approval by and compensation to the City for removal of all trees on non-residential properties within the building setback area that are 15 caliper inches or greater, as opposed to the standard requirement of 20 caliper inches or greater. In addition, City Council may specify one or more particular species, varieties, and/or colors of trees to be planted, to the exclusion of others within the Green Corridor.

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Patrick Walsh, P.E.                                                              

Director                                                                                

Planning and Development Department