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The Highland Road Special Study Committee has been meeting for just over a year in order to propose an overlay District for Highland Road from approximately Lee Drive to Interstate 10. In order to preserve
the natural and historic character of the District, the Committee focused their efforts on commercial development at the major intersections. The Committee also saw the importance of orienting the
commercial development towards the surrounding residential population by keeping the area pedestrian, bicycle, and transit friendly. This would reduce the amount of automobile trips needed, therefore
decreasing traffic. This type of development would then increase business by creating a more accessible area.
The proposed Urban Design Overlay District deals with the regulation of design criteria on building construction and site design within the Overlay District. This proposed language can be seen on the map
below and includes six subareas which have additional design provisions. These subareas consist of the major intersections along Highland Road in the District and include requirements that will focus on
encouraging more pedestrian activity.
In addition, the Highland Road Special Study Committee has proposed Urban Design Districts at the intersections of Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane. These proposed Urban Design Districts require all
rezoning within the District to be rezoned to the designated zoning categories as defined in the Highland Road Design District. The Urban Design Districts are designed to encourage neighborhood businesses
to develop so as to provide a friendlier pedestrian environment.
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(5/14/08)