RESO 1989-07 - Comprehensive Plan AdoptedRESOLUTION NO. 89 -07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
ADOPTING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes its resposibility to
establish a long range Comprehensive Plan, and;
WHEREAS,the City Council intends to coordinate the
construction of public improvements in order to
avoid duplication and maximize the effective use
of public funds; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Comprehensive
Plan at a public meeting held thereon;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE:
THAT the Comprehensive Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit
"A" and made a part hereof for all purposes, is
adopted and shall be known and referred to as the
Comprehensive Plan of the City of Huntsville; and
THAT such Comprehensive Plan shall at all times be kept
current with regard to the needs of the City of
Huntsville and reflective of the official views of
the City Council and shall be reviewed annually by
the City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 16th day of May, 1989.
THE CI Y OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
By
ne Monday, Mayor
th DeShaw, City Secretary
APP ED AS TO FORM:
p1 1 day Y�- G� �-+/,✓
Scott Bounds, City Attorney
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
OF THE
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY
May 11, 1989
INTRODUCTION
Urban planning is a means of systematically
attempting and achieving adjustment in the
physical environment of the community
consistent with social and economic trends and
sound principles of civic design. Planning is
a continuing process of organizing,
formulating, and presenting a broad,
comprehensive, but practical program of urban
development and redevelopment considering both
the community's immediate needs and those of
the foreseeable future.
The Comprehensive Plan is the major product of
urban planning and the working tool of the
municipal government. The Plan, as ultimately
developed and implemented, results in
economies in the provision of capital
improvements, stability of private investments
and increased business opportunities. By
anticipating the needs of the Community for
public facilities well in advance of physical
growth and expansion, costly mistakes in
design, construction and location of specific
projects can be avoided. Social benefits may
be attained through development of better
cultural opportunities, convenience of living
and the amenities of home and community life.
The comprehensive plan serves as the tool
through which the attitudes and aspirations
of the community are formalized into a set of
goals and objectives for the City. Goals for
planning purposes are considered broad,
general statements reflecting the values of
the community and its intention to act.
Objectives, on the other hand, are the
operational expression of goals. While a goal
is essentially unattainable or at least
unattainable in the foreseeable future, an
objective is a concrete aim or endpoint
towards which a specific effort is directed.
The endpoint of an objective may be distant,
however. After all,
comprehensive plan is
outlook. Objectives
attainable but only
the value of a
in its long -range
are, therefore,
within the wide
perspective and economical feasibility of a
comprehensive plan.
By definition, the comprehensive plan is:
(1) Comprehensive - in that it encompasses
all geographical parts of the community
and all functional elements which bear
on physical development;
(2) General - in that the plan summarizes
policies and proposals and does not
indicate specific locations or detailed
regulations;
(3) Long Range - in that the plan looks
beyond the foreground of pressing
current issues to the perspective of
problems and possibilities 20 to 30
years in the future.
Furthermore, the Comprehensive Plan, upon
adoption by City Council, represents the
official statement of the City. It sets forth
the City's policies regarding decisions
concerning the future physical development of
the community.
It not intended that the Comprehensive Plan be
a medium for overnight change. Instead, the
Plan is projected for accomplishment over a
period of decades. The planning principles,
development standards and recommended capital
improvements contained in the Plan can be
carried out over the years in the natural
course of urban development. As a result,
some of the elements of the Plan may be
achieved very soon, while others will
necessarily be left for accomplishment as
future developments require and revenues
become available.
There will unquestionably be changes in the
urban structure through technological
advancement and ideas, for the future cannot
be determined with certainty. The Plan
cannot be so rigid that it will preclude
adjustment to such changes. To remain
current, the Plan should be reviewed and
amended annually along with the capital
improvements program.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 1 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION
Four tools are available to the City to assure
the Plan's enforcement. These tools are:
zoning regulations, building codes,
subdivision regulations and a capital
improvements program (CIP). Each of these
instruments represents a powerful force to
encourage or restrict growth to the areas
prescribed by the Comprehensive Plan.
The first enforcement instrument, zoning, is
probably the best known tool. The purpose of
zoning is to regulate the uses of both public
and private land and thereby, "promote and
protect the public health, safety and
welfare' of the community. The zoning
ordinance is a city law which divides the
land into particular uses or districts, Within
these districts, standards and restrictions
are established for the use of the land.
These uses are typically: residential,
commercial, industrial, and agricultural. Such
an ordinance also provides limitations on
property line setbacks and establishes
minimum performance standards, such as the
amount of noise or smoke that may be emitted
from a structure or use.
Building codes are the second implementative
device. The enforcement of these codes
provides minimum standards for the
construction and maintenance of buildings and
houses. Their enforcement is essential to the
realization of the Comprehensive Plan. As
building codes are designed to encourage
proper development, they are instrumental in
guiding future growth.
Subdivision regulations are the third tool for
enforcing the City's Plan. Its function is
to establish minimum design standards for the
lay -out of streets and platting of new lots.
It also enables the community to require
developers and contractors to construct
facilities, such as sewers, water lines and
streets in accordance with community
standards. These regulations are extremely
important as they control the development of
bare land.
The final tool is the City's capital
improvements program (CIP). The CIP is the
priority listing of major public expenditures.
As this process involves the spending of
substantial amounts of public funds, it acts
as a major catalyst to the implementation of
the Comprehensive Plan.
Priorities must be established before
determining how or when projects are to be
financed. Through this control, the CIP, as
approved by the governing bodies, acts as a
powerful force in shaping future development
and growth.
Whether or not any or all of these tools for
implementing a comprehensive plan are used is
dependent on the desires of the community. As
a comprehensive plan is unique to each city,
so too are the methods of its implementation.
Although the above four tools have become the
standard devices for implementation, their
overall importance lies in the development
standards which they contain. These
development standards are not necessarily
exclusive. Huntsville, for instance, has
chosen to adopt standards for landscaping and
building setback of lots
comprehensive development code;
have chosen to include these s
zoning ordinance.
within its
other cities
andards in a
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 2 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL ONE
RETAIN AND ENHANCE THOSE DESIRABLE SMALL TOWN CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE CITY AND PRESERVE ITS HIGH QUALITY OF LAND, AIR AND WATER
WHILE ENCOURAGING REASONABLE AND COMPATIBLE GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
The framework of future development in
Huntsville lies within its present and past
land use patterns. To have an orderly and
attractive community, it is essential to work
within the . framework defined by the
characteristics of existing development
patterns, the relationships between various
land uses, and the manner in which those land
uses relate to the social and economic aspects
of the community.
The inventory of vacant land existing within
the City Limits provides an important resource
for the future. Development of this vacant
land should be encouraged. To accomplish
this, the city should consider a more
comprehensive City /developer participation
policy which will cover construction of all
public improvements where development 1s
within the City limits as well as municipal
construction and upgrading of existing public
improvements, such as streets, to stimulate
desired growth.
A long -range program of physical improvements
such as sidewalks, water and sewer lines, and
streets in older areas of Huntsville should be
undertaken as a stimulus to encourage
redevelopment by the private sector. Examples
of areas suited for such redevelopment are
10th Street (from U.S. 75 North to University
Avenue) and the Gospel Hill area.
Municipal regulations can also assist in
managing and directing future growth to insure
development according to the comprehensive
plan and to reduce the tendency towards
conflicts between different land uses. For
instance, development that reflects a
combination of high and low density should be
encouraged along with building forms that
relate to the size, shape and character of the
surrounding development.
Conflicts resulting from incompatible land
uses should be minimized and the established
characteristics and identity of the
neighborhoods of the community protected.
Leap -frog development should be discouraged.
Leapfrogging occurs where developments bypass
land adjacent to existing development in favor
of cheaper land located some distance away.
Leapfrogging can be controlled through an
organized process of extension of municipal
utilities into undeveloped areas with an
attendant policy requiring the connection of
all developments to municipal services.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 3 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL TWO
DEVELOP A BALANCED, SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR
HUNTSVILLE.
It is of primary importance that the
transportation system in Huntsville remains
adequate to the needs of the community. In
order to enhance the general functionality of
the street system of Huntsville, the city
should undertake several broad and many
specific actions.
Specific projects which should be completed by
the year 2000, in order of priority are:
1. Widen U.S. 75 North to four (4) lanes
with a center turn lane from llth St.
(St. Hwy 30) to I -45.
2. Widen FM 247 to four (4) traffic lanes
from State Hwy 30 to FM 2821.
3. Widen FM 1374 (Possum Walk) to four (4)
lanes and a center turn lane from the
I -45 overpass to the City Limits.
4. Widen State Hwy 30 to four (4) lanes
with a center turn lane from West Hills
Drive to FM 1791.
5. Widen U.S. 75 S to four (4) traffic
lanes with a center turn lane from
State Highway 19 to I -45.
The City should remove all unnecessary
hindrances to traffic flow along its collector
streets. Hindrances include inappropriate or
unnecessary stop signs, dips, rough or bumpy
driving surfaces and blocked sight triangles.
In cooperation with SHSU and the TDC, the City
should develop traffic circulation and parking
plans for the areas adjacent to the University
and the Walls Unit. The City should also
eliminate the offset street intersections at
the following locations:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Avenue 0 and 19th Street
17th Street and Sam Houston Avenue
Avenue I and 12th Street
University Avenue and 8th Street
At the time of reconstruction of a street,
existing driveways should be reviewed
individually and, where feasible,
reconstructed to the City's current size and
placement criteria as contained in the
Development Code. Curb and gutter should be
installed along abandoned driveways and other
breaks in the curb line which confuse
motorists and lend themselves to hazardous
parking situations.
The City should determine where inadequate
rights -of -way exist and obtain the additional
necessary rights -of -way. Many of the city's
streets have no defined right -of -way but exist
only as "leave -outs" from early development
practices or are have rights -of -way that are
not adequate for today's needs. As these
streets are identified and mapped, sufficient
rights -of -way should be acquired.
Saw Houston Avenue
Acquire the right -of -way to connect Sam
Houston Avenue from 7th Street to University
Avenue. This will provide Sam Houston with the
most direct possible access to FM 247 and FM
2821 and allow traffic to continue on Sam
Houston rather than transferring to either
Avenue M or University Avenue. Sam Houston
Avenue should be reconstructed from llth
Street to University Avenue according to
collector street standards.
Reduce the confusion, congestion and potential
danger of the intersection of 17th Street and
Sam Houston Avenue. The short -range solution
to this problem is the installation of
individual turn movement indicators on all
four sides of the intersection and pedestrian
signals. The long -range solution is to work
with SHSU to acquire sufficient additional
right -of -way to properly align 17th Street.
This should be undertaken in concert with the
University's plan for redevelopment of that
part of the campus.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 4 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Prohibit parking on the east side of Sam
Houston Avenue south of 13th Street adjacent
to Huntsville National Bank to provide room
for establishment of a left turn lane.
On- street parking at this site is unnecessary
due to the off - street parking available at the
bank. Further, this on- street parking often
interferes with traffic making right hand
turns from Sam Houston Avenue onto 13th
Street. Designation of left turn lanes should
follow the standard adopted by the Texas
Department of Highways and Public
Transportation.
University Avenue
Create a 3 -way turn lane at the intersection
of University Avenue and 13th Street. To
accomplish this, parking should be prohibited
on University south of 13th Street. The
parking on the west side of University north
of its intersection with 13th Street should be
redesignated as parallel instead of angle for
the area approximately 100 feet north from the
intersection.
Provide designated (stripped) parallel parking
along University Avenue between 15th Street
and 17th Street. Presently, no striping
exists which results in mixed parking often
leading to conflicts between traffic moving
along the street and a vehicle attempting to
back out.
13th Street
Prohibit parking along the south side of 13th
Street from 100 feet west of Avenue M to Sam
Houston Avenue. This will require additional
prohibition of parking only from Avenue M
west. The sight distance at this intersection
is extremely short resulting in a dangerous
situation. Additionally, parked cars near the
intersection force vehicles traveling east
toward Avenue M into the opposing lane of
traffic. This has caused ques to develop,
further aggravating the situation.
Create a center turn lane from approximately
150 feet west of Sam Houston Avenue to
approximately 150 feet east of University
Avenue. This will benefit not only those
motorists desiring to turn from 13th Street to
either University Avenue or Sam Houston
Avenue but also those motorists seeking access
to adjacent commercial establishments.
To accomplish this, prohibition of parking on
both sides of 13th Street between Sam Houston
Avenue and University Avenue may be
necessary. The bank and office building
adjacent to this location have provided ample
parking, however. Observations of the -
on- street parking has shown a low occupancy
rate; often spaces are used by persons with
banking business who do not attempt to park in
the off - street facilities.
The increasing use of 13th Street for traffic
moving between Avenue 0 and Avenue M or Sam
Houston Avenue is creating problems with
cross traffic. The intersection of Avenue M
and 13th Street should be monitored to
determine if a signal light should be
installed at its intersection. This will
allow more cross traffic movement while not
adversely affecting traffic flow on Avenue M.
As traffic increases on Avenue M, it will be
necessary to undertake an analysis of each
intersection on the street to determine
possible future actions by the City.
Parking should be prohibited along the south
side of 16th Street from approximately 150
feet west of Avenue M to University Avenue.
Due to the lack of east -west arteries in the
City this street has developed into a major
thoroughfare, on- street parking will
increasingly become a major traffic problem
with the area on 16th Street between Sam
Houston Avenue and Avenue M as the center of
congestion. The intersection of 16th Street
and Avenue M should be monitored to determine
if traffic warrants a four way stop sign.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 5 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE. TEXAS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FUTURE THOROUGHFARE SYSTEM
(Classified by Funchal)
M Expressway
- Arland
—� CdNeler
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS PAGE 6
1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL THREE
PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EQUITABLE
MANNER CONSISTENT WITH SOUND FISCAL AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
POLICIES.
The provision of those services typically
considered urban, such as potable water,
sanitary sewerage collection and treatment and
solid waste collection and disposal are some
of the most important services provided by
local government. They are also among the
most difficult and expensive services to
perform. Planning for such services seeks to
achieve the identification and conceptual
design of needed improvements over a
long -range period of time. Detailed design of
individual projects must be accomplished at
the time that specific improvements are
scheduled for actual construction, however.
Such construction plans must be based upon
detailed data and engineering studies
specific to each contemplated improvement and,
therefore, cannot be contained within the
scope of this plan.
Water Treatment and Distribution Facilities
The City's responsibilities regarding the
provision of water to the public lie in
several areas. First, the City must assure
the public of an adequate long term supply of
water and that the water is distributed
throughout the system in adequate quantities
to all customers. Second, that the water
receives the necessary treatment to insure
good health as well as good taste.
In order to accomplish these responsibilities,
completion of the twelve inch loop system 1s
paramount. This program to evenly distribute
water throughout the city has been in progress
for over twenty years and should be completed
within the first years of this plan. Three
segments are still to be completed: FM 2821
(from Industrial Boulevard to US 75 N), I -45
(from 16th Street to the Hospital) and US 75 N
(from FM 2821 to I -45).
Complementing the twelve inch loop is the
radial tie system. Radial ties distribute
water from the central water plant located on
Palm Street or one of the smaller loop systems
to the twelve inch loop. Radial ties which
should be constructed are three twelve inch
ties along the full length of Elks Drive, US
75 N (from 7th Street to FM 2821), and from
the water plant to Sycamore Avenue. An
eighteen inch tie should extend from the water
plant to Avenue H by way of Bowers Boulavard.
Another means of evenly distributing water
- -and a way of improving the overall quality
of the water - -is elimination of single source
feeds and 'dead -end" lines. As rehabilitation
efforts continue on the exiting water
facilities, single source feeds and dead -end
lines should be eliminated by extending and
connecting them into other lines.
The current upgrade and rehabilitation program
of the water facilities should be continued.
Also, while the current project to
significantly reduce the extent of the area
contained within the lower of the two pressure
plains is nearing completion, the city should
continue as a policy the reduction and
ultimate elimination of the two separate
pressure plains.
Along with its efforts on the part of the
internal water system of the city, the City
must also look outwards towards the future and
the undeveloped lands at its perifery.
Extensions of lateral lines into the ETJ are
necessary to provide access to water for
future development. The City should,
therefore, extend trunk lines, of a minimum of
twelve inches in size, along all arterial
streets and other major streets to accomodate
future growth.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 7 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The City should also actively pursue assurance
of an adequate water supply for the estimated
needs of the city over the next 25 years. In
part, this will involve adherence to the
defined schedule of upgrades of the surface
water treatment plant (Huntsville Regional
Water Treatment Plant) and periodic
maintenance of the existing wells. As the
population grows, however, additional sources
of water will be necessary and efforts will
need to be taken before the end of the decade
of the '90's" to provide addtional sources of
water.
Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment
Collection and treatment of wastes is the most
important health related activities of a city.
This activity is probably the most regulated
of all municipal acitivities also. Federal
and state treatment and effluent dischare
standards have placed major financial burdens
on local governments in the past and will
continue to do so in the future. It is
important, therefore, for a city to anticipate
future problems and work to correct or avoid
them.
Sewage treatment presently occurs at two
plants, one located to the north of the city
(A. J. Brown Wastewater Treatment Plant) and
the other to the south (N. B. Davidson
Wastewater Treatment Plant). The City should
assure itself of maintaining adequate
treatment capacity at these plants for future
needs. However, as the city expands within
the seven drainage basins comprising the city,
additional treatment plants are inevitable.
Ultimately, it is envisoned that a treatment
plant will exist in each of the major drainage
basins. Generalized facility plans for each
drainage basin should be developed and
maintained by the City to aid in future
development decisions.
During the life of this plan, however, the
City should direct much of its efforts to
rehabilitation and upgrade of its existing
facilities and providing facilities within the
city where none now exist. Due to the extreme
age of some of the sewerage facilities (some
lines are in excess of fifty years old) many
of the oldest areas of the city are beginning
to experience sewer problems. At the same
time, other areas of the city which are still
using septic systems for waste disposal, are
also experiencing problems. To solve these
problems, the City should direct its efforts
towards eliminating, to the greatest extent
possible, the unsewered areas of the city and
the replacment or reconstruction of decaying
lines.
Another aspect of the rehabilitation of
existing facilities is the need to upgrade
some sewer lines that have reached or exceeded
their capacity or where private sewer lines of
extreme length have been used in place of
public sewer lines. As these areas are
identified through the City's continuing
infrastructure analysis program, they should
be placed in the capital improvements program
for funding.
Finally, as the internal collection system
facilities are brought brought into
conformance with this plan, the City should
expand It system into the ETJ for future
growth. Extensions of trunk lines into the
ETJ are necessary to provide access to sewer
for future development and to reduce the use
of septic systems.
Solid Waste
The existing landfill site is quickly being
depleted. At best, an additional ten years of
life can be expected. In order to plan for
the eventual closing of the present landfill
site, the City must identify future sites for
sanitary landfilling for the community
adequate to meet the needs for a 25 year
period. Where possible, the City should seek
cooperation with other governmental entities
to develop these sites.
Furthermore, it has long been known that
landfilling is not in the long term best
interest of the city. The City should
investigate the feasibility of alternatives to
landfilling for the long term disposal of
solid waste.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 8 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL FOUR
PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AREAS AND OPEN SPACES TO MEET FUTURE
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
The City should acquire, develop, and maintain
a balanced system of parks and recreation
areas designed to meet the local needs of its
citizens and maximize the community's natural
resources. Coordination should be encouraged
in recreation programs with entities such as
museums, cultural arts organizations, the
chamber of commerce, the Walker County Fair
Association and private business and
industry. Facility design should allow for
and stress multi - purpose use of all
facilities.
Parks must be located at sites where adjacent
land uses are compatible and where the use of
surrounding property will not be diminished.
Neighborhood parks should be developed at
those locations where no major arterials must
be crossed. Community parks, on the other
hand, should be located adjacent to major
arterials and should be buffered if adjacent
to residential areas. The integrity of
residential areas may be preserved by locating
special facility parks, such as tennis,
softball, baseball, and soccer complexes, out
of neighborhood parks. Locating active
recreation (ballfields and play areas) toward
the interior of the neighborhood park and
landscaping the perimeter of the site can
buffer sound and protect participants from
moving traffic. Further, recreation
facilities should be located on those portions
of the site where grading, drainage and
utility construction is minimal and only
slight remodeling of the topography will be
necessary to complete construction.
Future maintenance must also be considered
when designing, locating and developing
neighborhood parks. Design new and renovate
old parks for low maintenance of facilities
and landscaping. Where possible, use native
plants which require minimum upkeep.
Vandal- resistant facilities, vehicle barriers,
lighting and improved visibility should be
included in all park designs.
Park users and neighborhood residents should
be involved in planning, developing, and
maintaining facilities. Volunteers can be
encouraged to assist with maintenance through
programs such as adopt -a -park.
As part of the overall parks system, a
dispersed system of neighborhood parks should
be developed. The City can begin by
expanding the park system through the
development of a network of neighborhood
playgrounds and vest pocket parks. These
parks should be established in areas where
existing recreation land is insufficient.
Often, vacant lots can be converted to parks
and /or utilized as open space in areas where
availability of land is a limiting factor.
Recreation programming and equipment for such
parks should reflect the needs of the
population in the area served by the
facility. Existing park land should be
developed before developing new acquisitions,
however.
A major bicycle route system should be
established throughout the City. Routes can
be located along streets wide enough to allow
adequate shoulder to accommodate both auto
and bike travel and within the sidewalk and
greenbelt systems proposed by this plan. Where
appropriate, bicycle lanes can also be
established on arterial and collector
streets, in lieu of on- street parking. This
bicycle route system can be utilized as a
connector for the neighborhood parks system.
In appropriate locations, bicycle routes can
be utilized as jogging /walking trails as
well.
Two major obstacles exist that hinder the
expansion of the City park system - land
acquisition and inadequate funding. The City
should identify potential park sites in
advance and should aggressively acquire these
sites from property owners at predevelopment
prices. Ease budget strains by offering tax
benefits to landowners who offer easements
CITY OF HtUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 9 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
across their property or donate property for
parks. Consider public /private cooperative
ventures for acquisition and development of
park and open space lands.
Cooperative agreements among different taxing
jurisdictions should be used wherever possible
to maximize public resources for recreation.
By utilizing one public facility for the
provision of multi- community services,
duplication of tax expenditures is reduced
and public land is used more efficiently.
Establish joint -use or lease agreements with
Huntsville Independent School District, Sam
Houston State University and any others as
applicable to expand the supply of facilities
for greater efficiency of operation and to
maximize recreational use of land. The City
should contract with HISD for the joint use of
school grounds to provide additional
neighborhood parks at Gibbs Elementary School,
Samuel W. Houston Elementary School and
Estella Stewart Elementary School. The
agreement between the City and HISD for the
joint use of the Middle School and Scott
Johnson Elementary School (New Addition Park)
may serve as the prototype.
A Park Development fund should be established
by the City to provide funds solely for park
development, matching funds, etc. Proceeds
from all fees currently charged for use of
park facilities should be placed in this fund.
Creation of such a fund may also serve to
encourage donations from citizens or service
organizations. The City should develop
policies and procedures on encouraging
donations to the Park Development Fund for
park land acquisition and improvement.
Included in these policies should be a policy
on the City's responsibility for matching fund
donations.
Obtain revenues for operation, land
acquisition, and facilities using a variety
of methods, but direct most effort toward
those having maximum impact. The City should
consider a major bond election along with
efforts to obtain corporate and citizen
donations. Where feasible, user fees should
be considered to ensure users incur more of
the actual cost of services.
Greenbelts /Open Space
A city -wide system of greenbelts should be
established. Creeks and natural drainage
channels can be preserved as greenbelts in
recognition of their high aesthetic and
functional value to the community and to
create a linear unifying element providing
scenic beauty and recreation such as hiking,
jogging, walking and bicycling. As one method
of accomplishing this, the City should
actively acquire drainage /conservation
easements along all major drainage channels in
the City. These easements should be sized to
allow the drainage channel to remain, whenever
possible,in its natural state. Where
appropriate, drainage /conservation easements
should also allow for walking, jogging and /or
bicycle trails.
Park Facility Recommendations
Kate Barr Ross Memorial Park
This park is and is expected to remain the
major park facility of the City for the next
twenty years. Its major advantage and its
recommended future use is as an athletic
complex where activities such as baseball and
soccer are concentrated. To this end, it is
recommended that the City expand Ross Park to
formally include the area to the east of
Airport Road to allow for construction of
additional facilities. Adequate land is
available to provide for the eventual
construction of a major baseball complex and
several multipurpose fields.
Thomas Henry Ball Park
It is recommended that this facility remain
under its current use and design. The park
cannot be expanded further which precludes its
use for most baseball league activities.
Additionally, the facility must be shared with
SHSU, further decreasing its usefulness. As
other softball facilities are provided by the
City, the use of Thomas Henry Ball Park should
be reviewed to determine whether the lease
should be continued after the present
expiration date (March 31, 1995).
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 10 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Emancipation Park
This facility is at its design capacity. It
is recommended that this park remain primarily
a neighborhood park. The park has one
deficiency that should be addressed during
the planning period of this document: the
acquisition by the City of the two privately
owned lots located within the park complex.
This would consolidate ownership and provide
a more harmonious atmosphere to the facility
as well as provide space for additional
playground equipment.
Pineview Park
It is recommended that the City continue the
use of this land as a neighborhood park
containing primarily passive recreational
facilities such as jogging /bike paths,
playground -equipment, etc.
Dairy Farm Road Park
The City is in possession of the ten acre
tract adjacent to Thomason Road (Dairy Farm
Road) where the old north sewer treatment
plant was located. The tract is bounded on
its west side by Town Creek. Over the last
two years, extensive filling has occurred on
the tract as a result of dismantling the
previous facility. This tract should be
designated as a site for a neighborhood park.
Due to the instability of the fill sites,
however, it is recommended that use of the
park be phased in, beginning with construction
of a basketball court and landscaping. As the
instability subsides, additional facilities
such as a general purpose field may be added.
Adult Athletic Facility
The City should establish an adult athletic
facility distinct from the facilities at Kate
Barr Ross Memorial Park. Facilities may
include baseball diamonds, soccer fields, etc.
All adult activities currently using Kate Barr
Ross Memorial Park should be moved to this
site to allow Ross Park to be reserved for
youth activities.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 11 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL FIVE
PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BY ENCOURAGING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A INTEGRATED, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE DOWNTOWN
REFLECTIVE OF ITS HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND.
Huntsville's original townsite, typically
referred to as the 'downtown," is today's
Central Business District (CBD). The CBD is
the center of the administrative and
commercial activities of the City and the
County. Additionally, a variety of commercial
and residential activities exist in the area
to create a unique aspect of urban life.
While the major commercial center of the city
has shifted with time and development, the
original public square remains the principle
focal point of the community and the center of
the office and financial institutions of the
community.
The automobile, combined with changing
shopping activities, has had a serious impact
on the retailing activities of the CBD. This
should not be considered a permanent
condition. however. It is essential that a
lost activity be replaced by a new one to
assure a continuing and dynamic condition.
The CBD is a complex interaction of public and
private activities and places. It is a 'built
environment,' that is, its importance is the
direct result of the physical facilities or
improvements. The physical improvements of the
CBD consist of the municipal infrastructure
and its operational efficiency and the private
structures and facilities and their
operational efficiency.
In preserving and protecting the central
business district of Huntsville, the intent is
to redirect interest and activity back to the
downtown. Downtown Huntsville should serve as
center for the emerging tourism industry - -for
instance, a walking /driving tour of historic
buildings and sites could be developed. Such
an activity would serve to facilitate tourism
as well as encourage historic preservation.
Urban Design
The municipal infrastructure consists of water
and sewer facilities and the transportation
system. Private facilities include building
facades, canopies, signs or graphics and
landscaping.
The water and sewer systems, although in many
cases rather old, exist and are generally
adequate for their basic purposes. The CBD
transportation system is best described in
terms of access and circulation. It consists
of vehicular and pedestrian modes of
transport. The CBD is a traffic generator of
both through traffic and internal traffic.
Traffic movement and parking directly affect
circulation and business activity. The
success of downtown depends to a great extent
on an efficient and well - balanced
transportation and parking plan.
Parking may prove to be the major obstacle to
the long term vitality of the CBD. Although
sufficient for today, existing parking areas
may not be sufficient or even in existence in
the future. This is especially true of
on- street parking. Therefore, future parking
needs must be met with future development and
will have to be accommodated by off - street
facilities.
The pedestrian transportation system consists
of sidewalks. The sidewalk system of the CBD
is adequate and plentiful, lining most streets
in the area. The majority of sidewalks are in
good condition; however, some sidewalks are
higher than street level making it difficult
to exit from parked automobiles. The
continuity of the sidewalk system is broken at
all street intersections with
pedestrian /vehicular conflicts. A more
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 12
1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
efficient linking of the numerous uses and
activities would make walking in the downtown
more desirable to the public.
Facades and Canopies
Building facades in the downtown area reveal
much of the history of the early CBD. Like
the downtown areas of other Texas cities, some
buildings of downtown Huntsville bear the
effects of age and neglect. Canopies sag,
signs compete for attention and utility lines
and other clutter add to the tired appearance.
Older, larger buildings have been partitioned
off inside and new sheet metal facades have
been added outside covering only half the
building. The appearance of the downtown
buildings needs improvement. The potential
for improvement is certainly present with the
many fine buildings in the downtown.
There is an apparent need for consistent
standards governing the design of facades
facing the square. Providing protection from
the sun and rain is the intended function of a
storefront canopy with good design being a
secondary item. The storefront canopies in
downtown Huntsville reflect a lack of a sense
of consistency. Coordination of the canopies
should be a part of an overall downtown image
improvement.
Signs and Symbols
Visual and graphic communication is
represented downtown in the form of signs and
symbols. In Huntsville signs are a major
contributor to the cluttered feeling of
downtown. Each sign, in its attempt to
attract attention, has had little thought
given to design or aesthetic character.
Landscaping /Maintenance
A clean, attractive downtown is of the highest
priority. Along with maintaining the general
cleanliness of downtown through regular
maintenance, clean -up activities, etc.,
landscaping can provide a generally soothing
atmosphere. Trees, plants, water and art are
the furnishings which can provide beauty and
appeal to urban spaces. Trees and plants
soften the hard surfaces of the city with
color, texture and freedom of form.
Landscaping can also be used to screen
undesirable elements. With the exception of a
few isolated planted areas, the downtown lacks
any consistent landscaping program. A
facelift is needed to improve the appearance
and image of the downtown.
Revitalization
The downtown is in need of an image change.
Downtown Huntsville must be a place where
people want to work, play, shop, and perhaps
one day in the future, live. Such a
revitalization program requires a
comprehensive, coordinated development
approach. The development of a single office
building or construction of a parking lot will
not alone revitalize the downtown.
Revitalization of the downtown will require a
public and private cooperative effort. The
public sector must work closely with private
developers to assure that improvements are
supportive. The strategies for revitalization
outlined in the following paragraphs include:
private development, public investments,
office development, retail reorganization,
downtown historical preservation, thoroughfare
and parking improvements, pedestrian
circulation and mall development, develop
within existing buildings and land, activity
and vitality.
Private Development
Revitalization of downtown will require
development by private enterprise. New office
buildings need to be constructed, old
buildings renovated and restored, new parking
facilities developed and retailing activities
reviewed. Private enterprise will account for
a sizable percent of future downtown
development.
Private development must seek interaction with
public investment thereby multiplying its
financial investment. Projects where dual as
well as interacting investment can take place
should be encouraged. For example, dual
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 13 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
zd
investments may be new sidewalks and the
interacting investment may be a new commercial
or office building.
To encourage private development, stimulation
can be provided by the City and private
institutions. Problems with fragmented land
ownership may be reduced with city
intervention. The city may use legislative
powers to assist in property acquisition.
Financial institutions can be encouraged to
participate through funding and low interest
rates. The city may offer tax abatement for
certain forms of development.
One method of fostering private efforts
downtown will be through the continued
encouragement of a downtown association. Such
an organization can provide leadership within
the area and supply an important communication
link between the property owners and
businesses downtown and the City.
Public Investments
A number of public investments will be
required in the redevelopment and
revitalization of downtown. The city and other
governmental agencies will be required to
assist with the image change. Public
investment and private development must seek
interacting projects. The city can assist
with the image change through square, park,
and activity area investments. Thoroughfare
and traffic improvements, largely funded
through the city are required. The city can
program functions in the downtown area to
assist with creating a new sense of activity
and vitality. A civic center, for example,
would provide an ideal assist with the
revitalization process.
Office Development
Downtown is the office center of Huntsville;
efforts should be made to reinforce this
condition. Future office development should be
encouraged by improving the image of downtown
through private development, public
investment, planned activities and a well
managed planning and revitalization program.
A downtown reflecting an attractive working
environment and a potentially strong economic
climate will influence businesses and
executives to remain and encourage new
businesses to locate downtown.
The future success of office development rests
heavily on improved conditions and a vital and
active environment. Office development can be
encouraged through assistance in land
acquisition and favorable tax considerations.
- Public investment may generate office
development. The development of complementing
retailing near offices will increase the
desirability of CBD office location.
Retail Reorganization
Downtown Huntsville has experienced a decline
in its retailing activities. The retailing
downtown cannot compete with shopping malls.
Improvement of the shopping or retailing
environment is required. Service and
retailing activities, designed to interact
with other downtown uses, will increase the
prospect of success. A retailing
reorganization plan is required to improve CBD
retailing activities while relating to other
development. Analysis could be directed to
determining the nature and needs of downtown
shoppers with the possible outcome a
reorientation of services.
Downtown Historical Preservation
Downtown historical resources should be
incorporated into the redevelopment plan. Old
buildings, reintroduced into the mainstream of
CBD activities, will serve to enhance the
quality and atmosphere of the downtown.
Renovation downtown could act as a catalyst to
other downtown revitalization activities and
as a unifying force to bring many elements of
the community together in support of downtown
revitalization. Of particular importance is
the designation of historical markers at the
sites of the original Trading Post of Pleasant
Gray and the original Town Spring and their
development as important historical sites.
Equally important to the future of downtown is
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 14 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
the the restoration and use of the Henry
Opera House as a place for the performing
arts.
Thoroughfare and Parking Improvements
The ease of mobility to and within the CBD is
an important consideration in improving the
downtown. The accessibility and convenience of
parking is also of critical importance.
Downtown circulation and parking improvements
will encourage new office development, support
civic activities and encourage downtown
shopping. Thoroughfares and parking should be
responsive to the needs of the downtown.
Specific thoroughfare problems should be
eliminated and the present fragmented flow of
traffic improved. Parking should be developed
in relationship to business and shopping
requirements for long and short range demands.
Parking development may be stimulated through
a municipal parking authority, private
cooperative investment and retail subsidy of
shopper parking.
Pedestrian Circulation and Mall Development
Improvement of the downtown walking experience
is an important element in the list of
strategies for revitalization. This phase of
development should integrate with all
recommended physical improvements. The
potential for improved downtown appearance and
image is linked to pedestrian circulation and
mall development.
Through careful planning a circulation system
can integrate with activity areas, link ofd
and new development, enhance historic
preservation planning and improve the downtown
image. Public and private investment can
assist with the development of a pedestrian
circulation system.
Use of Existing Buildings and Vacant Land
The development program for downtown should
recognize the availability of existing
structures and vacant land. Recognition and
utilization of existing resources may in many
instances be more beneficial than large scale
removal. Once again, the degree of interface
between public agency and private enterprise
will determine the success of making new
development and investment a reality.
The preservation and rehabilitation of
downtown's historic structures can be
coordinated with this development strategy.
General building conditions in the downtown
dictate that they be incorporated into a plan
for the future. Vacant or undeveloped land
may be programmed into a parking plan or
future building location.
Activity and Vitality
The success of downtown development will
require the combination of both activity and
vitality. Planned activities for office
workers, shoppers and tourists will serve to
enhance activity within the downtown.
Coordination of groups interested in the
revitalization of downtown is an important
factor. Vitality can be increased with
development and both public and private
investment. The objective should be to make
downtown Huntsville a place where people want
to go.
General Recommendations
The pedestrian circulation system
improved and expanded. It must be
that a customer must first
should be
recognized
become a
pedestrian and that it is impossible to
create sufficient parking in front of every
individual business. Longer walking distances
for the pedestrian shopper are inevitable.
Therefore, it is recommended that the City,
through its Capital Improvements Program,
institute a long term program of
construction, reconstruction and
rehabilitation of the sidewalk and crosswalk
system in the CBD. In conjunction with this
recommendation, the program to extend the use
of the brick -like pavers around the square and
to connect the square to designated historical
sites and SHSU should be continued.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 15 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
2S
The brick pavers may also be used to link the
pedestrian system to the openspace /park system
of the city. Two important areas within the
CBD are Town Creek Park and Rather Park.
These two areas should continue to be
developed and improved to complement the whole
downtown. For instance, the amphtitheater in
Town Creek Park should be completed to allow
its use for outdoor concerts, etc.
An historic preservation plan, sponsered by
the City, should be adopted to provide
specific suggestions to property owners on the
restoration of their buildings. The plan
should be maintained by the City and made
available to all interested persons.
The City should assist those local committees
seeking to develop several historical museums
downtown. Specifically, the City can assist
in the search for housing, artifacts and
funding for the following existing or proposed
museums: Sam Houston Memorial Museum,
Gibbs - Powell House, Black History Museum, and
the Texas Prison Museum.
The City should, through its Building Code,
require construction of sidewalks at the time
of new construction of a downtown lot. ,
Existing downtown establishments should also
be encouraged to participate in the provision
of sidewalks. The City may participate with
these establishments through its sidewalk
extension policy.
The City should initiate a program to place
directional signs in the CBD, especially where
advance notice of no left turns is necessary.
Signs should direct motorists to the major
traffic generators such as the Courthouse,
SHSU, and Sam Houston Park, as well as to
public parking areas. Signage may also be
used to divert through vehicles around the
downtown area and, where turning movements are
restricted, to alterate streets.
It is recommended that the landscaping plan
for the Downtown Square proposed in "The City
of Huntsville Downtown Study" should be
extended throughout the CBD. Further,
unsightly curbs, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
should be repaired or modified consistent with
the landscaping plan.
Providing Adequate Parking-
The City should undertake a study to determine
the economic feasibility of providing
off - street parking facilities downtown.
Alternative methods of providing parking
spaces should also be offered such as
participation in multiple owner parking lots
and garages and municipal /private co- financing
of parking lots.
Regulated parking spaces and unrestricted
parking spaces should be separated. This can
be accomplished by making the spaces along
any one block face uniform, either all
regulated or all unregulated. At the present
time, only regulated parking spaces are marked
with lines on the pavement. Unrestricted curb
parking spaces within the CBD should also be
marked. This would be especially useful in
controlling parking along such streets as
University Avenue north of 16th Street.
Encourage the improvement and reorganization
of parking areas in the CBD to the rear of
buildings, where feasible, for greater
efficiency and utilization. Provide
directional signs to indicate to the motorist
where parking is available. The comfort and
safety of persons utilizing parking areas
should be insured by providing landscaped,
lighted pedestrian accessways -- encouraging
more night time activities in the CBD.
Underground Utilities
A plan for the eventual removal of all
overhead utility lines from Sam Houston
Avenue, llth Street and around the Court House
Square should be developed. These streets
serve as major "doors" to the City and should
present a pleasing vista. To assist in this
endeavor, a task force representing the City,
Gulf States Utilities, Huntsville Telecable
and Southwestern Bell Telephone should be
created with the sole task of submitting a
recommendation to the City to accomplish this
proposal. Alternatives to be investigated
should include underground installation and
overhead service from the rear of the lots.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 16
'2q
1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Implementation measures should also be
investigated such as the use of special
districts.
Summary
The old Central Business District of
Huntsville, known as 'Downtown' should be
preserved as the centerpiece of the city's
efforts at revitalization combined with
historic preservation. In order to make the
proposals contained in this plan a reality,
the city must actively pursue public and
private funding for these improvements.
Specific proposals must be developed along
with specific funding sources to bring about
the overall revitalization of downtown.
Further, the many and varied activities
necessary to restore this vital part of the
commerical and cultural history of Huntsville
cannot adequately be covered in this general
plan format. It is expected that these
policies and recommendations will lead to many
individual, detailed plans of action such as
the existing THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
REVITALIZATION PLAN - 1989 for the
implementation of these goals.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 17 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL SIX
PROVIDE SUPPORT AND FACILITIES TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
SPONSORING CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
The City, through its support, can assist in
the provision of many diverse cultural
activities in the community. The City should
support, encourage and nourish an environment
for the growth of a broad range of the arts in
Huntsville, with the aim of integrating such
arts into the total life of the community. To
this end, the City should encourage an
increase of quality arts programs provided for
school age children, stimulate cultural
diversiy in local arts programs, seek ways to
involve more senior citizens in the arts and
provide an orderly plan for the acquistion of
visual art for public display. The City can
also provide encouragement to the Community
Chorale, broaden the scope and participation
of the summer HEAP programs and encourage
more extensive displays of works of art,
particularly those by local artists.
Encouragement should be given to the
continuation and expansion of the programs of
Walker County Fair Association and the "Fair
on the Square ".
To express its appreciation for for such
activities as business beautification,
clean -up /fix -up of areas around the city,
landscape beautification along creeks and
erection of aboretums, the City Council should
establish a Civic Pride Award. Further
encouragement of cultural activities may
include support for the development of a
multipurpose community center to house
convention activities, performing and visual
arts activities and leisure activities,
maintaining the commitment to high quality
library services through improving and
strengthening the municipal library program
and encouraging the improvement of existing
museums and the establishment of additional
museum facilities. The public library, for
instance, should be promoted more heavily as a
community -wide cultural center.
Tourism can serve to focus many community
events and activities toward a broader
purpose. Special stage events should be
encouraged along with promotion of existing
area facilities and events. A hospitality
committee could be organized to train service
personnel to welcome and inform visitors of
the multitude of activities available in
Huntsville. As a complement to the
restoration of important historical sites and
buildings, "Historic Route" signs can be
placed at appropriate intersections and a
Cemetary Tour developed.
Finally, the City should foster the
development of an entertainment market.
Music, theater, festivals and visual art
should be provided for the public to enjoy.
Many such activities may be accomodated, for
instance, in the restored Henry Opera House or
the proposed Town Creek Amphitheater.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 18 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
3/
GOAL SEVEN
HUNTSVILLE SHOULD PROVIDE A STABLE YET DIVERSE ECONOMY ALLOWING A
HIGH LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT TO FULLY UTILIZE FUTURE HUMAN RESOURCES
OF THE COMMUNITY.
Municipal governments have traditionally had
limited ability to control local economic
events. One of the most successful methods of
municipal involvement in the economy has been
as a leader in economic development
initiatives. Economic development may be
defined as the planning and implementation of
activities designed to stimulate growth in the
local economy. Three alternatives for
city -wide economic development are:
(1) attraction of new business and
industry,
(2) expansion of existing business and
industry,
(3) redevelopment /revitalizing of the
existing commercial areas such as
downtown.
Economic development is a responsibility that
is shared by local government and the private
sector and most efforts are directed to
activities aimed at encouraging and
facilitating growth in the private sector. A
passive
responds
will not
posture in which a city simply
to proposals by the private sector
necessarily result in growth that is
beneficial to the city. The city should
establish a proactive development program
which seeks to channel growth into the types
of development and the areas of the city which
will cause the least negative effects on the
quality of life. The National League of
Cities provides six characteristics for
effective implementation:
(1) Involve key actors in the city, both
public and private.
(2) Adopt a businesslike approach, avoid
being either makeshift or bureaucratic.
(3) Maintain a multipurpose approach.
(4) Assume risk.
(5) Maintain accountability.
°(6) Maintain a bipartisan political
posture.
In 1986 the City of Huntsville and the
Huntsville - Walker County Economic Development
Corporation, Inc. (EDC) hired The Fantus
Company to develop an economic development
plan. The final report, submitted in February
1987, provided a list of manufacturing,
wholesale trade and office targets on which
the EDC was to concentrate its efforts.
In order for these efforts to prove fruitful,
the full support of the city must be provided
to the EDC's efforts. However, to a great
extent, economic development consists of
selling the prospective employer on the city
as a governmental entity and as an attractive
living and working environment. The City
should take a more direct, active role in
selling itself. A special city "task force`
should be created consisting of concerned
elected officials, appointed staff and "line"
employees with the expertise to guide and
assist all prospective employers in the
operation of the city and in obtaining
detailed information about all aspects of the
city. City personnel capable of providing
assistance to developers of industrial
activities should be active in all economic
development efforts.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 19
1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GOAL EIGHT
SUPPORT EFFORTS AIMED AT HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION
OF VALUABLE HISTORICAL SITES OR STURCTURES
Huntsville is rich in history. Unfortunately,
Huntsville has only recently recognized the
importance of its historic structures - -too
late for many to be saved. In 1981, the
Houston - Galveston Area Council of Governments
sponsered the development of an interim report
entitled Walker County: Cultural Resources
Inventory. To date, this has been the only
source for an inventory of historic properties
in Huntsville and Walker County. This report,
which is adopted by reference as a part of
this plan should be undated and expanded as
soon as possible.
Among the items to be addressed in the updated
report should be the potential of sites and
buildings for designation in the National
Register, the development of the original site
of the Pleasant Gray Trading Post and the
protection and development of the site of the
origianl Town Spring.
Other efforts the City may make towards
historic preservation would be to participate
in the State Family Land Heritage Program and
the development of educational information
about Huntsville and its important buildings
and historical sites. Finally, the City
should seek funds through both public and
private sources for the preservation and /or
restoration of historic sites.
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
PAGE 20 1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN