Environmental analysis for development planning Chambers County, Texas. An approach to natural environmental analysis. Appendices.

91 pgs.The central research question of this component centers around how information about the natural environmental characteristics of a given geographic area can be intergrated with information about various types of land use so that man-made changes in the natural environment can be predicted and the natural environmental development capability assessed. This technical report represents the research approach and findings for Phase One of the project. Chapter 2 proposes an advanced concept to determining natural environmental capability for land development and a means for predicting change plus an overview of the research methodology. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the establishment of a natural environmental data base for the subsequent analysis. Chapter 5 presents an integrated and detailed description of each major aspect of the Chambers County natural environment. Chapter 6 focuses on selected land uses and their associated activities and characteristics. Chapter 7 presents a further expansion of the central concept of natural environmental capability and its relationship to land use. Chapter 8 presents results of the cluster analysis interpretation. Chapter 9 presents preliminary investigations of environmental impact monitoring. Chapter 10 offers land management recommendations, and Chapter 11 presents a brief summary of the findings.http://gbic.tamug.edu/request.ht

Environmental analysis for development planning Chambers County, Texas. An approach for describing natural systems and for assessing natural environmental impact.

198 pgs.The work of the Environmental Analysis Component is the subject of this report. The central research question for this component centered around how information about the natural environment characteristics of a given geographic area can be integrated with information about various types of land use so that the natural environmental effects of land use activities can be identified and evaluated. The research was concerned both with the development of a general approach for assessing the natural environmental impact of land uses and with the development of an approach for scientific application in Chambers County, Texas. The research objectives were: 1.To develop techniques for describing the natural environmental system in a manner which allowed the interrelationships between natural environmental characteristics to be identified and described. 2. To develop a methodology for deriving a natural environmental description that reflects both the underlying framework and relationships between natural features and that allows visualization of the effects of proposed development and its impacts. The resultant methodology should be general enough to allow alteration and reinterpretation as new environmental information becomes available. 3. To develop an approach for identifying and assessing the natural environmental effects of a range of land uses. The approach was to be generally applicable to local land management decision-making, as well as to serve the specific needs of Chambers County. In addition the approach was to be responsive to its applications context and problems of local land management decision-making. 4. To conduct a series of four case study applications of this environmental impact assessment approach with state and local user agencies for the purposes of assessing the applicability of the techniques.http://gbic.tamug.edu/request.ht

Environmental analysis for development planning Chambers County, Texas. Federal influence on land resource management.

242 pgs.This document is designed to serve persons and institutions who need information about federal legislation and regulations that affect land use decisions. It is a product of an eighteen month study of law and policy issues relating to land resource planning and management for Chambers County, Texas. ....This report discusses the federal influence on land management. The topics covered include the National Environmental Policy Act, its impact on Chambers County, compliance with NEPA, the EPA, the EPA's land use powers under the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Air Act of 1970, transportation control, indirect source review, air quality maintenance areas, coastal zone management, federal land use management, and land use management in other states.http://gbic.tamug.edu/request.ht

A natural environmental impact assessment of sewage treatment facilities

p. 33-97.A case study of the projects natural environmental impact assessment approach was performed for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. The case study involved the evaluation of seven sewage treatment plants and two collection systems currently being proposed for Chambers County.http://gbic.tamug.edu/request.ht

Environmental analysis for development planning, Chambers County, Texas. Environmental analysis case study applications and selected technical papers.

217 pgs.This volume contains a collection of technical reports and case studies that investigate some of the physical, chemical, and biological phenomena comprising the complex ecosystem of Chambers County, Texas. These studies were designed to facilitate efficient development planning for the Chambers County coastal area.http://gbic.tamug.edu/request.ht

Summary of an Article on Reforming Land-Use Regulations

This article describes how excessive land use control adversely affects the cost of housing. Numerous studies showing the impact of over-regulation on housing costs are cited. The article provides both a historical and philosophical context for public land use regulation and describes key judicial decisions as well as competing public and private interests that shape the regulatory environment.Specific attention is given to the work of the Committee on Government Regulation and the Cost of Housing of the President's Commission on Housing. The various recommendations of the Commission are set forth, the central one being the enactment of state and local legislation to restrict zoning regulation to that which is necessary to achieve what the Commission terms a "vital and pressing" governmental interest. A number of other specific Commission recommendations are also enumerated including density of development, restrictions on manufactured housing, size of dwelling units, growth controls, farmland preservation, development standards and fees, and local permit processing. The article concludes with a strong statement regarding the need for public education as a prerequisite for reform. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.

Land-Use Controls and Housing Costs: An Examination of San Francisco Bay Area Communities

This paper reports on our efforts to gauge the effects of land use controls on housing markets. We discuss how land use controls affect land and housing markets and explain why communities use such controls to restrict development. We present the results of an econometric model created to assess the inflationary effects of land use controls on housing costs. The model is based on data assembled in the San Francisco Bay Area. The model results indicate that density controls and land availability do systematically affect the price of new housing units. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.