The final decision has arrived and the outcome reflects everything we worked toward together. While the path was difficult, the strength of this collective effort proved that we can influence the future of our cities. Let us remain vigilant as we look ahead to ensure our communities continue to flourish.
August 4, 2019
Final supporters
Update: On June 14, Governor Abbott signed this terrible legislation into law. Although HB2439 didn't get vetoed as it should've been, we are declaring this petition a victory. It was amazing to see everyone coming together and advocating for Texas cities and the people who live in them. Let's remember this, how loud we can be, next session and kill bad bills in COMMITTEE before they can get legs. Thank you to everyone who signed, made thoughtful comments, shared the petition, and/or did other actions to oppose this Bill.
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This detrimental Bill was passed in the Texas Legislature on 5/23/19 and it's with the Governor for signature SO SIGN THIS AS SOON AS YOU GET IT. We still have the opportunity to illustrate opposition to this Bill, however, and the Governor can veto it. This petition is to request the Governor to veto HB2439. It is our understanding that not one city in Texas is in favor of this Bill. Provided below is a very short summary of what the Bill means for cities and for Texans.
In a nutshell, HB2439 will prohibit city governments from regulating aesthetic finishing materials, i.e. how residential or commercial buildings look, and it also will prohibit cities from requiring anything other than the bare minimum installation and construction requirements as set forth by the National Building Code.
Economic development will be adversely affected. If cities no longer have the ability to regulate aesthetics and quality development, especially in commercial or mixed-use areas, it will adversely affect economic development, both in cities and in the State of Texas.
Aesthetics in cities will be dramatically affected. Communities throughout the country have found that their residents not only support the involvement of their elected representatives in maintaining the physical character of their city, town, or county, but they insist on it. They are often irate when government fails to prevent an individual from charting his or her own course in a way that is perceived to have a negative effect on the aesthetics of the community.
Imagine the most beautiful area in your community getting a five-story, neon green building with neon pink polka dots downtown, or the most scenic places and neighborhoods in Texas getting monstrosities right in the middle of them which meet just the minimums of the National Building Code. That's just the aesthetic side of the Bill, let alone the installation and construction side of development that would be left to bare minimums.
The Bill will have many unintended consequences. Infill projects, i.e. those projects going into or renovating in already developed areas, would no longer have to match the existing character, look, feel, or aesthetics of their neighbors, regardless of the area they are in and what protections may be applicable to the area currently. Beautiful places and neighborhoods could be completely destroyed by one flippant or careless property owner or developer, or worse yet, a group of them. Cities’ abilities to protect existing residents’ or business owners’ investments and well-being would be severely affected. This Bill takes away the ability of a city to make reasonable design standards, in collaboration with the community and their vision, through required state public engagement processes and community workshops.
The Bill prohibits cities from requiring installations or methods of construction that they have identified to be safest for residents, employees, or visitors. From colors to materials to quality to safety protections, everything will be bare minimum, and some places will be so drastically affected by the next legislative session, when this bill will no doubt be on the docket for repeal or significant revision if signed into law, the damage will be lasting and irreversible.
It appears to not only prohibit the adoption of ordinances that require more stringent building materials or processes than the bare minimum of the National Building Code, it also appears to retroactively prohibit enforcing building material requirements more stringent than the National Building Code. It is therefore retroactive and would affect existing zoning ordinances and planned developments that have already been adopted and constructed. Areas like Las Colinas, Addison Circle, Southlake Town Square, Lakeway, Watters Creek, and numerous other specialized developments, without deed restrictions, that were requested by the development community and property owners, approved by the communities they are in, will find their regulations can no longer be enforced. There are exemptions for historic buildings and certain other areas under very specific criteria, but those have to meet certain state guidelines, and many historic structures and special places are not under those protections.
Bill text here: https://capitol.texas.gov/Search/DocViewer.aspx?ID...
PLEASE SIGN TODAY-- THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE. PLEASE INCLUDE ANY STATEMENT FROM YOUR CITY OR ORGANIZATION OR FROM YOURSELF IN THE COMMENT WHEN YOU SIGN. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CITY OR ORGANIZATION WITH YOUR NAME IN THE NAME FIELD. YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ENTIRE LETTERS IN THE COMMENTS. IF YOU RUN OUT OF SPACE, INCLUDE A GOOGLE DRIVE OR DROPBOX LINK TO YOUR CITY'S LETTER.
Petition Manager contact info:
Abra Nusser, AICP
[email protected]
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 3, 2019
May 25, 2019
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This count represents a genuine concern for the autonomy of our local communities. I appreciate the thoughtful engagement from everyone who has looked into the implications of this legislation.
Reached 100 supporters
May 24, 2019
628 Comments
I’m a resident, former city employee, and work with developers on a daily basis who constantly state, “Tell Us What You Want” so they can plan and design for it. They want to design for their community. What the Governor just passed it the opposite of that.
Please veto this bill. Home rule cities should continue the right to enforce standards that the citizens want in their environment. Aside for aesthetics, insurance rates will go up due to having inconsistent and less fire-resistive building materials.
This bill will ruin the looks of our little Hill Country town. Our city council has fought hard to keep our town looking historical in keeping with our heritage. Please do not sign this bill into law because it will ruin our town's economy. Thank you.
I am an architect in Dallas. I think HB2439 will be detremental to the built environment in Texas, and eliminate thoughtful provisions enacted by local jurisdictions. It is also another example of the state government usurping local control.
Why are we giving away our sovereignty?! Why are we going to be satisfied to let a national standard dictate how we get to build here in Texas cities? Some organization other than Texas citizens will be in charge of new development in Texas. Veto this bill!
Please, Please veto.
So we're not supposed to strive for anything better than "approved by code"? Nonsense. We need great looking communities, not communities designed by meeting minimum standards of a statute.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
The final decision has arrived and the outcome reflects everything we worked toward together. While the path was difficult, the strength of this collective effort proved that we can influence the future of our cities. Let us remain vigilant as we look ahead to ensure our communities continue to flourish.
August 4, 2019
Final supporters
Update: On June 14, Governor Abbott signed this terrible legislation into law. Although HB2439 didn't get vetoed as it should've been, we are declaring this petition a victory. It was amazing to see everyone coming together and advocating for Texas cities and the people who live in them. Let's remember this, how loud we can be, next session and kill bad bills in COMMITTEE before they can get legs. Thank you to everyone who signed, made thoughtful comments, shared the petition, and/or did other actions to oppose this Bill.
----------
This detrimental Bill was passed in the Texas Legislature on 5/23/19 and it's with the Governor for signature SO SIGN THIS AS SOON AS YOU GET IT. We still have the opportunity to illustrate opposition to this Bill, however, and the Governor can veto it. This petition is to request the Governor to veto HB2439. It is our understanding that not one city in Texas is in favor of this Bill. Provided below is a very short summary of what the Bill means for cities and for Texans.
In a nutshell, HB2439 will prohibit city governments from regulating aesthetic finishing materials, i.e. how residential or commercial buildings look, and it also will prohibit cities from requiring anything other than the bare minimum installation and construction requirements as set forth by the National Building Code.
Economic development will be adversely affected. If cities no longer have the ability to regulate aesthetics and quality development, especially in commercial or mixed-use areas, it will adversely affect economic development, both in cities and in the State of Texas.
Aesthetics in cities will be dramatically affected. Communities throughout the country have found that their residents not only support the involvement of their elected representatives in maintaining the physical character of their city, town, or county, but they insist on it. They are often irate when government fails to prevent an individual from charting his or her own course in a way that is perceived to have a negative effect on the aesthetics of the community.
Imagine the most beautiful area in your community getting a five-story, neon green building with neon pink polka dots downtown, or the most scenic places and neighborhoods in Texas getting monstrosities right in the middle of them which meet just the minimums of the National Building Code. That's just the aesthetic side of the Bill, let alone the installation and construction side of development that would be left to bare minimums.
The Bill will have many unintended consequences. Infill projects, i.e. those projects going into or renovating in already developed areas, would no longer have to match the existing character, look, feel, or aesthetics of their neighbors, regardless of the area they are in and what protections may be applicable to the area currently. Beautiful places and neighborhoods could be completely destroyed by one flippant or careless property owner or developer, or worse yet, a group of them. Cities’ abilities to protect existing residents’ or business owners’ investments and well-being would be severely affected. This Bill takes away the ability of a city to make reasonable design standards, in collaboration with the community and their vision, through required state public engagement processes and community workshops.
The Bill prohibits cities from requiring installations or methods of construction that they have identified to be safest for residents, employees, or visitors. From colors to materials to quality to safety protections, everything will be bare minimum, and some places will be so drastically affected by the next legislative session, when this bill will no doubt be on the docket for repeal or significant revision if signed into law, the damage will be lasting and irreversible.
It appears to not only prohibit the adoption of ordinances that require more stringent building materials or processes than the bare minimum of the National Building Code, it also appears to retroactively prohibit enforcing building material requirements more stringent than the National Building Code. It is therefore retroactive and would affect existing zoning ordinances and planned developments that have already been adopted and constructed. Areas like Las Colinas, Addison Circle, Southlake Town Square, Lakeway, Watters Creek, and numerous other specialized developments, without deed restrictions, that were requested by the development community and property owners, approved by the communities they are in, will find their regulations can no longer be enforced. There are exemptions for historic buildings and certain other areas under very specific criteria, but those have to meet certain state guidelines, and many historic structures and special places are not under those protections.
Bill text here: https://capitol.texas.gov/Search/DocViewer.aspx?ID...
PLEASE SIGN TODAY-- THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE. PLEASE INCLUDE ANY STATEMENT FROM YOUR CITY OR ORGANIZATION OR FROM YOURSELF IN THE COMMENT WHEN YOU SIGN. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CITY OR ORGANIZATION WITH YOUR NAME IN THE NAME FIELD. YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ENTIRE LETTERS IN THE COMMENTS. IF YOU RUN OUT OF SPACE, INCLUDE A GOOGLE DRIVE OR DROPBOX LINK TO YOUR CITY'S LETTER.
Petition Manager contact info:
Abra Nusser, AICP
[email protected]
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 3, 2019
May 25, 2019
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This count represents a genuine concern for the autonomy of our local communities. I appreciate the thoughtful engagement from everyone who has looked into the implications of this legislation.
Reached 100 supporters
May 24, 2019
628 Comments
This bill if adopted will remove a community right to say how their city will develop. It will put neighbor against neighbor to try to enforce deed restrictions. So disappointing the average home owner was forgotten about by their state officials.
I’m a resident, former city employee, and work with developers on a daily basis who constantly state, “Tell Us What You Want” so they can plan and design for it. They want to design for their community. What the Governor just passed it the opposite of that.
Please veto this bill. Home rule cities should continue the right to enforce standards that the citizens want in their environment. Aside for aesthetics, insurance rates will go up due to having inconsistent and less fire-resistive building materials.
This bill will ruin the looks of our little Hill Country town. Our city council has fought hard to keep our town looking historical in keeping with our heritage. Please do not sign this bill into law because it will ruin our town's economy. Thank you.
I am an architect in Dallas. I think HB2439 will be detremental to the built environment in Texas, and eliminate thoughtful provisions enacted by local jurisdictions. It is also another example of the state government usurping local control.
Why are we giving away our sovereignty?! Why are we going to be satisfied to let a national standard dictate how we get to build here in Texas cities? Some organization other than Texas citizens will be in charge of new development in Texas. Veto this bill!
Please, Please veto.
So we're not supposed to strive for anything better than "approved by code"? Nonsense. We need great looking communities, not communities designed by meeting minimum standards of a statute.
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This bill if adopted will remove a community right to say how their city will develop. It will put neighbor against neighbor to try to enforce deed restrictions. So disappointing the average home owner was forgotten about by their state officials.