Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas —Edinburg has received a top 10 ranking when it comes to how the City plans for present needs while still accommodating future growth.
A recent study by The Journal of the American Planning Association evaluated 32 randomly selected cities across the nation. Researchers identified nine sustainability principles and 53 regulatory items then looked at zoning ordinances within those cities to see if they were included. Edinburg scored 25, ranking seventh on the list. The average score was 17.9. The scores represent how often the 53 regulatory items were included in each city’s ordinances.
Examples of the identified sustainability principles include encouraging mixed land use, protecting ecosystems and natural functions, encouraging transportation alternatives, preserving or creating a sense of place and preserving and increasing housing affordability.
Researchers highlighted Edinburg City Ordinances that encourage green roofs and area wide conceptual circulation plans, construction of small family units which can be single-family detached or attached atriums and a Master Drainage Plan.
Edinburg Mayor Richard H. Garcia says, the goal of the City has been and will continue to be, to keep up with the growth but consider the future as well. “We’ve been planning the development of this City for a very long time. So for those of us on the Council, it’s not just about today but tomorrow as well. Every decision we make today will play a role in the future of this City and that’s why we don’t make decisions lightly.”
To view the entire study visit: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01944363.2014.981200#.VKQyZFJOUdU.
