The adoption of masonry
planning as a strategy for sustainable growth continues to gain favor
among Texas cities, with 200 cities statewide now embracing the concept
by adopting minimum requirements for masonry in new construction,
according to the Texas Masonry Council.
The
number of cities is about double the total of from five years ago, said
Rudy Garza, TMC executive vice president. Although the number of cities
is only about 16 percent of the 1,215 incorporated cities in Texas, the
200 that have embraced masonry planning are strategically located in
the fastest growing regions of the state, Garza noted.
“This
is where the growth is occurring,” he said. “These 200 forward-thinking
cities in the major metropolitan areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin,
San Antonio and Houston, recognize that they have the power to determine
whether the dramatic growth they are experiencing or potentially
facing, will result in a safer environment and better quality of life
for their residents.”
On Jan. 13, 2014, the
city of Troy, in Central Texas just north of Temple, became the 200th
city in Troy anticipates a surge in growth with
the widening of IH-35 between Temple and Waco.
In
its resolution justifying adoption of the masonry requirements, the
Troy City Council, like the other masonry-friendly cities, cited
multiple reasons:
- Masonry helps protect
property values, provides for durable long-lasting structures, and helps
ensure aesthetically pleasing structures and a stable tax-base;
-
Masonry is the preferred residential and non-residential building
material for improved fire safety, lower insurance rates, increased
property value appreciation, increased energy efficiency, and lower home
maintenance costs;
- Building standards for
non-residential construction will help attract high-quality commercial
development and preserve property values.
An interactive map at www.masonryordinance.com shows where masonry planning has been adopted in Texas.
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