HB2439 is Detrimental to Texas Cities

HB2439 is written so broadly that it will effectively void most cities' design standards. What originated as a bill to address amendments to international building codes has mutated into a sweeping prohibition on city design standards. Moreover, its retroactive effect will create uncertainty over previously approved development and site plans. I urge you to veto this poorly conceived legislation.

This legislation will negatively impact Lewisville by undoing decades of plans, studies and ordinances adopted with citizen guidance to enhance this community and ensure its long term vitality.

Dear Governor Abbott, Please veto this bill and allow cities to make their own aesthetic rules instead of private industry leading the charge. Thank you for your consideration.

Governor Abbott, with respect to you and the successes of this legislative session, HB 2439 stands apart as a dangerous piece of legislation with negative long-range implications and I ask you to veto it for the benefit of our Texas communities. HB 2439 will prohibit Texans from having a voice in how their communities are built and will negatively influence their quality of life. I believe the issues HB 2439 are trying to address are best handled at the local level where citizens are easily heard and the “one-size fits all” approach of HB 2439 is not the solution.

Local zoning regulations, such as the regulation of building materials, should be left to municipalities and local jurisdictions. Developers have a choice where they develop properties...if they don't like the rules of a community, they can choose another community. Local regulations make each city unique and individual in their own right. Please veto the bill!

This bill would greatly impact standards and quality of developments. I could also potentially impact property values of surrounding properties.

Governor- this bill would undermine redevelopment efforts in our city and along I-35, dramatically undercutting the quality of infrastructure our residents have come to enjoy. Please consider a Veto.

As a planning student learning about existing laws and planning processes in Texas it is disheartening to hear about laws that are counter-intuitive to existing planning practices. This law creates retroactive as well as proactive prohibitions that will be problematic for cities throughout Texas. There are so many unintended consequences that will result from this bill that the senate and house did not consider.

this is bad law not only for people to keep up with the growing demands of today but also in the future when the economic landscape changes locally

We want to maintain the aesthetic beauty of our communities as well as the communities in Texas. In addition, we do not desire to see falling property values with the enactment of this far reaching HB.

This bill removes the ability of cities to enforce voluntarily adopted planned development standards and removes protections property owners have requested for their investments. Please veto this bill.

HB2439 infringes on Local Governments to create localized standards which enhance their communities to become timeless places rather than disposable and temporary.

HB 2439 is far too sweeping and directly contradicts the aspirations and expectations of residents and private leaders and investors in so many communities we consult with across the state. Don’t Mess with Texas when it comes to ensuring the quality of our communities where people are investing their lives and and capital into homes and businesses.

Governor Abbott, Please Veto HB2439.

As a former city planner, assistant city manager and current real estate broker, HB 2439 will be very detrimental to cities in Texas.

Developers in Arlington depend upon the City to protect their investment by enforcing high aesthetic and construction standards for surrounding development. Just within the last month, the hospitality industry worked with the city council to enact heightened standards and construction methods for new hotels and the renovation of existing hotels in our tourism corridors. Throw much of that effort straight into the trash can if HB2439 becomes law.

This bill will limit our citizens ability to create a sense of place. This bill fundamentally limits our citizens ability to pass local laws that reflect their vision for their community.

This bill will be disastrous to the appearance of Texas cities.

The esthetic and architectural compatibility decisions belong to communities. I have seen what lack of architectural standards can do in deregulated cities throughout the world and I would not recommend going down that path.

There is zero evidence that supports slashing city’s and town’s ability to enforce design standards. Texas has been booming in housing and population. Allowing us to continue to enforce these standards ensures that Texas continues to experience INTELLIGENT growth and not just growth for growth sake.