Suburban city planners are often accused of not promoting or encouraging non-autocentric, mixed-use developments. This session examines a recent, largely controversial, big-box development in the Houston suburb of Pearland. Listen to a panel composed of a city staffer, city council member, planning and zoning commission member, and potentially the developer discuss and evaluate the project from their differing professional perspectives.
Speaker Details
Henry Fuertes
Commissioner
City of Pearland
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Bio: Current - Environmental, Health & Safety for 4 Electrical Power Production facilities Previous - Chemical Plants for ~15 years in Operations; Environmental, Health & Safety; Sales - owner of 4 Quizno's Franchises - Real Estate Agent/Broker for 10 years, specializing in Commercial RE & Development
Education: San Jacinto Jr College, AA Science Southwest Texas State University, BA, History & Geography University of Houston, Clear Lake, MS, Environmental Management
Susan I. Sherrouse
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Pearland
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Bio: Employed full time as a Senior Project Information Manager for Fluor Corporation; Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Pearland, Texas (population est. 104,000 in January 2013); Texas APA 2011 Planning Commissioner of the Year; Former Vice-Chair of the Pearland Planning and Zoning Commission - six year member; Board Member - HGAC (Houston Galveston Area Council) Regional Plan for Sustainable Development; Alternate Member - HGAC (Houston Galveston Area Council)Transportation Policy Council; Board Member - Pearland CPAAA (Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association); Board Member - Keep Pearland Beautiful; Member, Convention and Visitor Board Task Force; Member, PEDC (Pearland Economic Development Corporation) Steering Committee; Former President of Silver Lake Lions Club; Former member of the Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance Board of Governors; Former Wesley Minister (Lay Chaplain)at The Methodist Hospital
Education: PMP (Project Management Professional)though PMI (Project Management International); Attended University of Houston - English Education; Training and Development Certification from University of Oklahoma
Past Assignments: Leading Effective Meetings - series of lectures; Speaker for GROW - Growing Representation and Opportunity for Women
Harold L. Ellis IV
City Planner
City of Pearland
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Bio: Harold Ellis is the City Planner for the City of Pearland's Planning Department, and has held this position since April 2012. In this capacity, Harold is responsible for the overall administration, planning, and daily operation of the Planning Department. Prior to Harold's role as City Planner, he was the Senior Planner for Pearland's Planning Department for approximately 2 years. Prior to working for the City of Pearland, Harold was a Planner for 3 ½ years in the City of Sugar Land he was a County Planner in Henrico County, Virginia for approximately 3 ½ years.
Education: Harold has a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas State University.
Past Assignments: Harold is currently serving on Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC's) Regional Plan for Sustainable Development - Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and was a 2012 committee member for Houston Urban Land Institute's Suburban Marketplace. Harold has made presentations on Planning and Development practices at various community and regional events such as the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, and service groups such as Pearland Rotary.
Lata Krishnarao, AICP
Director of Community Development
City of Pearland
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Bio: Lata Krishnarao is the Director of Community Development for the City of Pearland. In this capacity, Ms. Krishnarao oversees the Planning, Inspection Services and Permits, and Health and Environmental Services Departments. She has worked in planning field for the past 22 years, with nine of those years in Pearland. Prior to Pearland, she was employed by the City of Meriden, Connecticut as the Assistant Director of Planning.
Education: Ms. Krishnarao’s educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University, New York and she is a member of American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, and has attained the designation of LEED AP Neighborhood Development.
Past Assignments: Ms. Krishnarao has served on the Technical Advisory Committee for 2011-2013 Pedestrian/Bicycle Subcommittee; Houston Galveston Area Council’s (HGAC) Forecast Advisory Committee to forecast long range-growth in 2010; H-GAC’s Livable Centers Advisory Committee in 2009; Economic Alliance Houston Port Region’s Quality of Life Task Force Technical Advisory Committee since 2006; and Mayor’s Pearland Cultural Arts Committee. She has also made presentations at the Houston APA Section Meeting; H-GAC's Fall Planning Workshop on Sustainability - Dealing with Density; Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Group; Pearland Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals of Pearland – Lunch with Leaders; and to local service clubs such as Rotary and Lions’ Clubs. Ms. Krishnarao has been involved with the local Rotary Club as the international Chair and has co-ordinated several international service projects in the past 5 years.
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