The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is the region-wide voluntary association of 133 local governments and local elected officials in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning region of Texas. Local elected officials organized H-GAC in 1966 after authorization by State enabling legislation. Its service area is 12,500 square miles and includes more than 7-million residents. H-GAC is governed by a 36-member Board of Directors composed of local elected officials, who serve on the governing bodies of member local governments. All H-GAC programs are carried out under the policy direction of its Board of Directors. H-GAC's mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region's orderly development and the safety and welfare of its residents. H-GAC is the regional organization through which local governments consider issues and cooperate in solving area-wide problems. Agency programs emphasize local government concerns, such as transportation, air and water quality, criminal justice, demographic analysis, mapping programs, and intergovernmental purchasing. H-GAC also serves its citizens through workforce development programs, services to the aging and elderly, and small business finance programs. H-GAC is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the eight-county Houston-Galveston Transportation Management Area (TMA). This study (and it's resulting recommended project(s) are one of a number of action steps adopted by H-GAC's Transportation Policy Council to address mobility challenges and quality of life in the region. Launched in 2008, the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC) Livable Centers Program partners with local communities to reimagine auto-focused areas as walkable, mixed-use places with diverse transportation options, better environmental outcomes, improved safety, and expanded economic and housing choices. The program supports communities in developing context-sensitive recommendations, a shared vision, and actionable plans that guide implementation efforts. Livable Centers are designed to be places where people can live, work, and play with less reliance on cars. The program has four goals: A. Create multi-modal travel choices B. Create resilient quality places C. Promote safe and accessible infrastructure D. Promote economic development and housing diversity To date, studies have been completed in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the eight-county region. There are two study types under the program: A. Livable Centers Studies – comprehensive small area plans that address all four program goals B. Focused Studies – targeted plans with a narrower, site-specific lens, addressing Goals 1 and 2 and one additional goal that best fits the needs of the study sponsor The Kemah study is a focused Livable Center study with an emphasis on economic development. As such, Goals 1, 2, and 4 are to be addressed. The study will focus on a six-block area of Downtown Kemah, adjacent to the Kemah Boardwalk. This area is recognized for its potential to become a walkable mixed-use district. Improvements in the Downtown area will catalyze infill development and job creation, increase community identity, and create a safe and attractive experience for visitors and residents alike. The overall goal of the study is to create a Livable Centers plan for the study area that will define new, context-sensitive standards that foster multi-modal access and connectivity, a mix of land uses, a diversity of housing options, and a sense of place. The study's conceptual plan and recommended catalyst projects should encourage walkability, connection within and between nodes of community activity, and built environment strategies that support local economic development and employment. The study should result in a forward-looking vision and practical implementation strategies that consider responsible stewardship of the existing resources to best meet the community's needs. All recommendations should be based on strengthening the area's existing best characteristics while providing real strategies and a road map for implementing improvements over time. Wherever feasible, recommendations should be data driven and include actions for the local sponsor to take, including potential changes or additions to land use regulations, codes and ordinances. Recommended projects and/or strategies should identify fiscal impacts and include potential funding mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and investment opportunities. An implementation plan should consider the benefits and consequences of each recommendation and identify proposed implementation timing and funding opportunities. For more information on the Livable Centers Program, please visit: www.h-gac.com/livablecenters
