* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES [CALL TO ORDER] AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS LISA CLARK AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 2:34 PM ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2026. THIS IS AN IN-PERSON MEETING TAKING PLACE AT 900 BAGBY. YOU MAY ALSO MONITOR OUR MEETINGS BY VIEWING H-T-V-H-T-V SPEAKERS. IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS AN ITEM FOR THE COMMISSION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE SPEAKER'S FORM BEFORE THE ITEM IS CALLED AND TURN IT INTO STAFF NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. CONSENT AND REPEAT SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED FOR ONE MINUTE. NEW SPEAKERS ARE TIMED FOR TWO MINUTES. OUR SPEAKER RULES ARE FOUND ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE SPEAKER SIGN IN FORM ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBERS SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ARE NOT TIMED. APPLICANTS HAVE THEIR ALLOTTED TWO MINUTES TIME, AS WELL AS REBUTTALS. NON APPLICANTS AND GENERAL SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES TIME. THERE'S NOT AN OPTION FOR REBUTTAL. EVEN IF YOU DID NOT USE YOUR FULL TWO MINUTES, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AGAIN, AND TIME CANNOT BE ALLOTTED TO ANOTHER SPEAKER. IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF 11 MEMBERS, I'LL CALL THE ROLE CHAIR CLARK IS PRESENT. VICE CHAIR GARZA PRESENT. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN PRESENT, COMMISSIONER BALLARD. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. HE PRESENT. COMMISSIONER HINES PRESENT. COMMISSIONER JONES? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER MAREZ PRESENT. COMMISSIONER NARANJO PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FAM. HE'S NOT HERE. COMMISSIONER PIERCE IS NOT HERE. COMMISSIONER PO. PERLE PRESENT. COMMISSIONER RIM PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SIGLER PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SYKES IS NOT HERE. COMMISSIONER VICTOR PRESENT. COMMISSIONER MONKA PRESENT. AND SECRETARY VRAN PRESENT. SO WE DO HAVE 16 MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE HAVE A QUORUM. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WANNA MENTION THAT HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. THAT MEANS WE WILL NOT HEAR ANYTHING ON THESE ITEMS, AND THERE WILL NOT BE A PRESENTATION. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. THE FIRST ITEM IS 70 NUMBER 72 COFFEE GUARD COMMONS. THE SECOND ONE IS 78 BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE GENERAL PLAN, AND 93, WHICH IS 801 MCGOWAN STREET. AND NOW [Director’s Report] I WILL CALL FOR THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. DIRECTOR TRAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CLARK COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC. I AM VON TRAN, SECRETARY OF THIS COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WELCOME. UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE 2026 PFI PLOTTING WORKSHOP. LAST WEEK, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, HARRIS COUNTY AND CENTER POINT, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FOR THE DAY OF LEARNING, COLLABORATION, AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING REGARDING PLATING, DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS, VARIANCES RIGHT OF WAY, RESEARCH AND OTHER ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, OR DEVELOPMENT TOPICS. THIS YEAR'S WORKSHOP WELCOMED 150 ATTENDEES. WE HAD A HANDFUL OF COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. UH, CHAIR CLARK, CO-CHAIR GARZA, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER CARO AND I BELIEVE ALSO, UH, COMMISSIONER BALDWIN FOR ATTENDING. AND I'M SORRY IF I MISSED SEEING ANYONE ELSE. UH, THE EVENT RAISED $27,250 TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE LONE STAR COLLEGE SURVEYING PROGRAM. SO WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO ALL ATTENDEES, PRESENTERS, AND PARTNERS WHO PARTICIPATED AND SUPPORTED SUPPORT THE EVENT TO MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL WORKSHOP. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. IN CLOSING FOR ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 6 0 0. YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE@HOUSTONPLANNING.COM. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TRAN COMMISSIONERS. [Consideration of October 15, 2026, Planning Commission Meeting Minutes] YOU HAVE THE, UM, MEETING MINUTES FOR OUR LAST MEETING OF OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 IN YOUR PACKET. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION, VICTOR? SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING [I. Presentation of Park and Recreation Dedication Fund 2026 Annual Report and Establish a Public Hearing for November 12, 2026 (Kenneth Allen, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department)] ON TO NUMER ONE PRESENTATION OF PARK AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND OUR 2026 ANNUAL REPORT AND WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. OH YEAH, I HIT, HIT THE BUTTON THERE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. [00:05:01] ALRIGHT. MUCH BETTER, RIGHT? YES, . WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KENNETH ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONERS. IT'S, IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT YOU TO YOU. THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHAPTER 42 OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ORDINANCE AND THE USE OF THE, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PARK SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, CHAPTER 42 AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE ARE SIMPLY PHENOMENAL FOR THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PARKS. YOU KNOW, FIRST I'D LIKE TO JUST GO AHEAD AND START WITH OUR MISSION AND VISION. UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH WELL MAINTAINED PARKS AND EQUITABLE RECREATION ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS CITYWIDE THIS MISSION. AND THIS VISION IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH MAYOR WHITMORE'S PRIORITIES FOR OUR CITY IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND USING PARKS AND RECREATION AS A VEHICLE TO, UH, ACCOMPLISH THAT. SO THE ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS RECENT CHAPTER 42 AMENDMENTS APPROVED BY ORDINANCE 2 0 2 6 DASH 0 6 2 3, WHICH INCLUDES NEW TERRITORY TYPES, UH, TO INCLUDE SUBURBAN URBAN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. IT REAFFIRMS THE LOW FEE OF $700 FOR MULTIFAMILY. WE ADOPTED FEE ONLY COLLECTED AT THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. WE ESTABLISHED AN APPEAL PROCESS. 30% OF FEES MAY NOW BE USED CITYWIDE, AND NOW WE HAVE FIVE YEARS TO OBLIGATE THE FUNDS. UM, THE FUNDS THAT WE ACQUIRE AND THE SOFT COSTS WE'VE INCREASED TO 10%. ALL CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT AND EXPENDING THE DOLLARS THAT WE ACQUIRE AS A RESULT OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT FEES. YOU WILL FIND THE TAXABLE LAND VALUE ANALYSIS IN THE REPORT, AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAN ALSO HELP ANSWER ANY RELATED QUESTIONS AFTER MY PRESENTATION. THE REPORT PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR ANNUAL REVENUE COLLECTION SINCE INCEPTION OF THE FEE, WHICH WAS 2007, AS WELL AS ANNUAL EXPENDITURES THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2026. IN SUMMARY, THE TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTED SINCE 2007 IS $1,000,004.30 WE'VE SPENT FROM THE FUND, A TOTAL OF 44.5 MILLION. THE REMAINING FUND, THE REMAINING FUND BALANCE, IS 59.9 MILLION. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE FUNDS UTILIZED BY PARK SECTOR, WHICH SEPARATES OUT THE 59 MILLION, UH, FUND BALANCE INTO OBLIGATED AND NON-ED COLUMNS. IT SHOWS WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 42.5 MILLION OBLIGATED FOR PROJECTS, AND THE BALANCE OF THAT IS 17.4 MILLION IN UNOBLIGATED FUNDS REMAINING. TO ADDRESS THIS $17 MILLION BALANCE, THE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING A FIVE YEAR FORECAST TO UTILIZE THESE UNALLOCATED FUNDS WITH THE INTENT TO DIRECT 30% IN CRITICAL NEEDS AND UNFUNDED SECTORS FOR PRIORITIES SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY PLAYGROUNDS, LIGHTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS POCKET, AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WITH 300 AND PARKS ACROSS 21 SECTORS. SOME OF THE KEY MATRIX AND IMPACT FROM THE FUND INCLUDE 114 PLAYGROUNDS UPDATED, 26 TENNIS COURT IMPROVEMENTS, AND 9 MILLION, I'M SORRY, NINE PAVILION RENOVATIONS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE FUND IS ALSO SUPPORTING THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INVESTMENT IN THIS CITY'S HISTORY, LEVERAGING OUR PUBLIC FUNDING TO ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGH MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND OTHERS. IT WILL SIMPLY REVITALIZE 25 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ALL ACROSS COUNCIL DISTRICT DISTRICTS. BY 2028 THROUGH THE FUND, THE CITY HAS ADDED 114 ACRES OF PARK LAND AS WELL. 65 OF THESE ACRES WERE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY THROUGH A $14 MILLION INVESTMENT. CLARK LAND DEDICATION BY, BY DEVELOPERS WAS IT ADDED. UM, IT ACTUALLY ADDED 50 ACRES FROM BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARKS. NOW, IN SUMMARY, THROUGH THE $104 MILLION COLLECTED BY THE FUND, 52% OF OUR PARKS ARE RECEIVING BENEFITS. TO DATE, 290 PARKS [00:10:01] PROJECTS ARE TARGETED THROUGH 2028. THE FUND CONTRIBUTE, WELL, IT ACTUALLY CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INVESTMENT IN THIS CITY'S PARK SYSTEM, SUPPORTING LAND ACQUISITION, PARK DEVELOPMENT, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, THAT'S NEEDED THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM. SO IN CONCLUSION, PARKS AND PRIVATE, THE PARKS AND PRIVATE PARKS ORDINANCE AND FEE IN LIEU OF FRAMEWORK CONTINUES TO ACTUALLY ADVANCE OUR MISSION BY CREATING VIBRANT COMMUNITY SPACES THAT STRENGTHEN CIVIC PRIDE, EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES, AND IT ALSO ENHANCE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. SO IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASES IN APPRAISAL, UH, LAND VALUES, I RECOMMEND ADJUSTING OUR FEE IN LIEU FROM $700 TO $900 PER DWELLING AND ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THIS RECOMMENDATION, THIS MODEST ADJUSTMENT. IT'S WELL BELOW THE ALLOWABLE AMOUNT UNDER STATE LAW, AND IT ALSO HELPS ENSURE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION, DEDICATION FUNDS KEEP PACE WITH RISING LAND VALUES AND GROWING COMMUNITY NEEDS. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN HOUSTON'S PUBLIC PARKS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO CRITICAL GREEN SPACE FOR THE CITY'S GROWING NEEDS. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, WE APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION. UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR BEFORE WE MOVE TO SPEAKERS? YES. COMMISSIONER VICTOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M 100% IN SUPPORT. A QUICK QUESTION. UM, WHAT ARE, WHERE DO THE OTHER CITIES WHEN YOU COMPARE THE $700 FEE VERSUS $900, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE HOUSTON STANDS IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES? WE'RE BASICALLY HALF OF WHAT THEY CHARGE. OKAY. THAT'S WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GET TO. OKAY, THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER CARROLL, WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE INCREASE? UM, I, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE THE NEW YEAR. SO JANUARY 1ST, 20? YES. APPROPRIATE 20 YEARS. YEAH. AND IT WOULD BE ON EVERY LOT THAT WAS SOLD OR FOR SALE ON THAT DATE? YES. SINGLE FAMILY. SINGLE FAMILY. YEAH. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. YEAH, AND THE BEGINNING DATE JUST DEPENDS ON WHEN IT GETS APPROVED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL. SO WE HAVE TO DO THE PUBLIC. WELL, THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE TO DO THE PUBLIC HEARING, ESTABLISH THAT, AND THEN IT'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO ON OR ABOUT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU. YEAH. YES. COMMISSIONER PAULING. ALSO JUST WANNA THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ALLEN, AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION BOTH TO THIS COMMISSION AND TO THE PUBLIC, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT PRICE, UH, AT CERTAINLY A MORE REGULAR INTERVAL THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU. GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY. AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR PARKS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AS THAT OUR CITY PARKS, ESPECIALLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS NEED MONEY. IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPENSIVE. MY TEAM, WELL, WE, WE WENT THROUGH AND WE TOOK A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF CRUMMY PARKS AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S BEING PASSED AROUND SOMEWHERE. OKAY, GREAT. DOCUMENT CAMERA, BECAUSE A PICTURE WORKS, UH, YOU KNOW, IS A THOUSAND WORDS OR WHATEVER THEY SAY. UM, THIS IS JUST A SMALL SAMPLING OF THE MANY NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, WHICH NEED SERIOUS ATTENTION, TIRED, OUTDATED PLAYGROUNDS, EMPTY PLAYGROUND PADS, BROKEN FENCES IN OPERABLE POOLS, AGING BUILDINGS, DILAPIDATED BASKETBALL, PAVILIONS, AND TENNIS COURTS. THE LIST GOES ON. SO MANY OF OUR HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS HAVE CRITICAL NEEDS. H PART ESTIMATES OVER $700 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED, PLUS WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR PARK INVENTORY. SO BUYING ACREAGE IS IMPORTANT. THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND PARK SCORE REPORT STATES THAT OF THE 13 MOST POPULOUS CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOUSTON RANKS AT THE VERY BOTTOM IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PARKS. WE MUST CORRECT THIS, THE CITY OWNS THE PARKS AND IT IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND THEM AND TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T FALL INTO DISARRAY. SEVEN TO A HUNDRED PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY. THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK FUNDING FROM THE STATE, FROM GRANTS, FROM HARRIS COUNTY, FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE WILL HAVE A PARKS BOND ELECTION IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, BUT EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS FUNDING, IT WON'T BE NEARLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS OUR NEEDS. WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY, THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE FEE IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR PARKS. AS HAS BEEN STATED, THIS FEE HAS BEEN STAGNANT SINCE THE OPEN [00:15:01] SPACE ORDINANCE WAS CREATED 20 YEARS AGO. AND OUR COSTS OF COURSE HAVE GONE UP. I AM GRATEFUL TO MAYOR WHITTIER'S ADMINISTRATION, THE PARKS AND PLANNING DEPARTMENTS FOR RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE FROM 700 TO $900 PER SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTS. THIS INCREASED FUNDING WILL GIVE OUR PARKS A BOOST. WHILE I WOULD'VE BEEN FAVOR OF A LARGER INCREASE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO 1265, WHICH IS THE MAX ALLOWED BY BY THE STATE. AS COMMISSIONER BALDWIN SAID, WE'LL BE BACK ONCE A YEAR WHEN I'M IN OFFICE AND OUT OF OFFICE, I'LL BE BACK EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT APPRAISED VALUES. AND, AND I DO, I DO CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE AFFORDABILITY ARGUMENT AND THIS WILL IMPACT AFFORDABILITY. WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING A MORE GRADUAL APPROACH. SO THIS, UM, SLIGHT INCREASE WILL CERTAINLY HELP EACH YEAR. THE PLANNING AND PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRAM AND AN ASSESSMENT OF APPRAISED LAND VALUES. THE FEE AMOUNT WILL REV BE REVIEWED EACH YEAR BASED ON THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR RECENT WORK TO OPEN TO UPDATE THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE. WE NOW HAVE, UH, BETTER EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION WITH THE 30% BEING ABLE TO SPEND ANYWHERE. ALSO, THE MORE MONEY FOR DESIGN IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL. AND NOW IT'S TIME TO INCREASE THE FEE. AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRYN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS ON THIS ISSUE. YES, COMMISSIONER BALDWIN, CAN WE JUST TAKE CLARITY EACH YEAR, ARE WE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE OR IF, IF NEXT YEAR WE WANTED TO GO TO 1120, CAN WE DO SO OR WHAT IS THE, IS THERE A STAKE LAW? HECK YES. I CAN ANSWER THAT. , I THOUGHT YOU COULD JUST, I WANNA BE CLEAR WHAT WE COULD RAISE IT TO EVERY YEAR. 1265 IS THE MAX. I THINK THAT THE CPI THE INFLATION, UM, JUST IF YOU WENT ON INFLATION, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 1100, 1100, $10. ADJUST ON THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRITT VORA, VORA. I PROBABLY MISPRONOUNCED IT, SO PLEASE CORRECT ME. OKAY. HELLO. HELLO. UM, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, SO I THINK HELLO COMMISSIONERS. THAT WORKS. YEP. . I AM HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE PARKS AND AS, UM, A RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS, UM, I HAVE JUST SPENT THE LAST SIX YEARS ADVOCATING FOR LAWRENCE PARK TO GET RENOVATED. UM, AND AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAVE FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT THROUGH THE LET'S PLAY HOUSTON, UM, INITIATIVE. SO I HAVE SPENT THE PAST SIX YEARS REALLY DIGGING DEEP INTO THE PARK AND MEETING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATING FOR WHAT'S NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO I HAVE SEEN, UM, A FEW THINGS. ONE IS THAT WE ALREADY DON'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH THE PARKS THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO RIGHT NOW. UM, I KNOW THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE FOR ALL OF THESE GROUNDBREAKINGS, UM, WE'RE SEEING ALL OF THE CREWS COME IN AND MAKING THESE PARKS LOOK IMMACULATE AND GORGEOUS AND IT'S WONDERFUL, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY REALLY LOOK LIKE. SO, UM, WHAT IS BEING EXPECTED OF, UM, PEOPLE AND WHAT IS IS THE, THE, WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION IS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE MET AS IS. UM, ANOTHER THING IS THAT I'VE JUST SEEN HOW MUCH THESE PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED MORE OF THAT, UM, AND NOT LESS OF THAT. SO, UM, I THINK IT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BOILS DOWN TO, UM, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FACING AND, UM, CAN HELP US IN SO MANY WAYS. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE PARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JULIAN RAMIREZ. WE FEEL HONORED. WE HAVE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I FEEL HONORED TO MIKE. THANK YOU. I SHOULD KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, RIGHT? IT'S OKAY. YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE. NO, I, I FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TALK TO YOU GUYS. AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW YOU'VE ALL GOT DAY JOBS AND, AND, UH, YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE. SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU YOU PUT IN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I, I JUST WANNA SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID. YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE AN ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AT THE CITY LEVEL, NO OTHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. UM, IT, IT HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DO, AND I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES THAT WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SPEND ON OUR PARKS. FOR ME, PARKS ARE HEALTH, PARKS ARE PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THE TIME I GET TO SPEND IN IN MY PARKS, MEMORIAL PARK IS THE CLOSEST ONE, UH, IS VERY VALUABLE TO ME AND, AND VITAL TO KEEPING MY, MY MENTAL HEALTH INTACT. AND ALL HOUSTONIANS DESERVE ACCESS TO [00:20:01] A, A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT THEY CAN GO TO. AND, AND THIS ADDED FUNDING WILL HELP US DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY THAT WE DO THAT SUPPORTS OUR PARKS. TO THE EXTENT, UH, THAT WE HAVE THAT, UM, PROBABLY A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF OUR PARK SPENDING COMES FROM PHILANTHROPY THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY. BUT WE CAN DO MORE AS, AS A GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK THIS, UH, RECOMMENDED CHANGE IS ONE WAY TO DO THAT. SO I SUPPORT IT AND, UH, THANKFUL TO THE WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, DIRECTOR ALLEN, AND OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND, AND TO YOU FOLKS AS WELL. SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY AND IF NOT, THAT'S FINE AS WELL. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN MCFALL. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BEN MCFALL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING OVER 1700 MEMBERS AND OVER 750,000 APARTMENT HOMES IN THE HOUSTON REGION. AT A TIME WHEN HOUSTON FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING COSTS, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY. HAA IS CONCERNED THAT THIS FEE DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDENS THE MULTIFAMILY INDUSTRY ALONE. SINCE THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED, IT HAS GENERATED OVER A HUNDRED, APPROXIMATELY OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WITH MORE THAN TWO THIRDS, ROUGHLY 68 MILLION COMING FROM THE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS AND THE REMAINING ONE THIRD FROM SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES OFTEN INCORPORATE GREEN SPACE INTO THEIR DEVELOPMENTS, PROVIDING AMENITIES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN NEW SINGLE FAMILY CONSTRUCTIONS. AN INCREASE FROM 700 TO 900 MAY SEEM MODEST ON PAPER, BUT THE IMPACT ON MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING IS SIGNIFICANT. FOR A 388 UNIT APARTMENT COMMUNITY CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THIS CHANGE WOULD ADD OVER $77,000 IN DEVELOPMENT COSTS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS TRICKLE DOWN TO THE RESIDENT MAKING HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE AND ULTIMATELY MAKING THE CONSTRUCTION OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN, IN HOUSTON, HARDER AND LESS AVAILABLE WITH THIS HAA REQUESTS THAT THE COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL SEEK CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN GREEN SPACE IN HOUSTON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ADDRESS THE CURRENT DISPARITY IN FUND ALLOCATION AS THE MULTIFAMILY INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO UNFAIRLY BE PRI PRI THE PRIMARY FINANCIAL SOURCE FOR SUPPORTING THE PARK FUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. APPRECIATE IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL KELLY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BILL KELLY AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS. ENVIRONMENT TEXAS IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE NATURAL WORLD, AND AS SUCH, WE HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR INCREASING RESOURCES DEDICATED TO STATE PARK EXPANSIONS. WE HAVE THE SAME STANCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S POLICY CHANGES REGARDING THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE. NOW, ALONG WITH REPRESENTING ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, I WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UNDER MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER FOR EIGHT YEARS. SO WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CHANGES IN STATE LAW TO TRY AND RESTRICT THE ABILITY FOR FIVE CITIES TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THIS FEE. UH, WHEN WE LOOKED INTO IN 2023, UH, THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR, WE FOUND THAT THE CITY HAD NOT RAISED THIS FEE SINCE BILL WHITE'S SECOND TERM IN OFFICE. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS I WORKED FOR BILL WHITE, I WORKED FOR HIM SO LONG, I GOT HIS HAIRCUT. SO, UH, THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS STILL AT $700 IS NOT APPLYING THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO. OUR INCREDIBLE PARK RESOURCES, UH, ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, UH, COMES TO YOU TODAY STRONGLY BACKING COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN'S EFFORTS AS SHE HAS LED ON THIS ISSUE. AND WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT HER FOR BOTH THE GREATER EQUITY PROVISIONS THAT WERE PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO GREATER TRANSPARENCY. STAKEHOLDERS OFFER VALID CONCERNS TO SEE THAT FEES THEY PAY ON RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ARE EFFECTIVELY USED TO INCREASE PARK ACQUISITION AND IMPROVEMENTS. WE AGREE THAT GREATER TRANSPARENCY WITH THE COLLECTION AND USE OF THESE FUNDS WILL PROVIDE A MORE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE PICTURE OF PARK INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, IN ORDER FOR HOUSTON TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATED FUND, MORE MONEY IS NEEDED. WE SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MODERNIZE THIS FEE SO THAT HOUSTONIANS CAN BENEFIT FROM NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTIONS. AND SO THAT ACCESS TO PARKS ISN'T SOMETHING FOUND IN ONLY FIVE OF THE 21 PARKS SECTORS. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT AMENDING THE PARK AND PRIVATE DEDICATION, UH, REQUIREMENTS IN CHAPTER 42 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES TO UPDATE THIS FEE TO WHERE IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR NEXT YEAR AND FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PERFECT TIMING. I'M IMPRESSED. UM, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA HERNANDEZ. [00:25:06] GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MADRE. WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE PARKS EQUITY STUDENT COMMITTEE. MADRE FORCES TO ADVOCATE FOR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES, ESPECIALLY OF THOSE LOCATED UNDERSERVED AREAS. AND MOST OF THE TIMES UNDER SEEN BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH WE WALK WITH THEM, HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE VOICES OF THE LEADERS ALREADY LIVING AND EXPERIENCING THE DETERIORATION OF THEIR, OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, BUT ALSO SEEING THE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS DUE TO THE LACK MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN IN, IN GREEN SPACES, IN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES. NATURE IS CRUCIAL IN OUR LIVES AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN THEM FOR THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES. MY PARTNERS, MY PARTNERS AND I ARE CELEBRATE THAT THE SEVEN THREE SPLIT AMENDMENT PASSED, BUT WE THINK THAT THE CITY CAN STILL RAISE THE FEE, THE DEVELOPERS FEE TO GO TO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND. WE OWE IT TO MOTHER EARTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIMBERLY PHIPPS NICHOL. AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME HOW TO PRONOUNCE THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. WELL, WHEN YOU MENTIONED LAST TIME YOU STRUGGLED WITH IT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A GOOD TOOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU. UH, YES. I WAS HERE LAST TIME WHEN THE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT, UM, THE EQUITABLE SHARING OF THE PIE TO ALLOW FOR THE 30% USE, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE SECTOR IN WHICH THE FEE WAS RAISED. UM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING TO MOVE THAT FORWARD. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, UM, TAKING ON THAT, UH, THAT ROLE OF SPEARHEADING THAT. UM, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE DIVIDE THE PIE IF IT'S NOT GETTING BIGGER IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE IS BECAUSE HOUSTON IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. AND SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE THIS FEE. UM, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, I AM A PARK SECTOR 14 RESIDENT. LEVY PARK IS IN MY BACKYARD AND I SPENT THREE DAYS THERE LAST WEEK WATCHING HOW IMPORTANT THAT PARK IS, NOT JUST TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN WALK THERE LIKE ME, BUT PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY SHOULD, THEY DESERVE IT. HOUSTONIANS DESERVE GREAT PLACES LIKE LEVY PARK. MOST OF MY WORK, HOWEVER, IS IN COMMERCIAL DESIGN AND PLANNING. AND I WORK MOSTLY IN PARK SECTORS, 15 AND 17, THIRD WARD AND FIFTH WARDS. AND THE FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH DO NOT HAVE THE ACCESS THAT I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE AT LEAST THE $900 INCREASE. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT HIGHER, QUITE FRANKLY. BUT I LOVE COMMISSIONER BALDWIN'S REQUEST. CAN WE COME BACK FOR MORE EACH YEAR? UH, YES, LET'S DO THAT. LET'S BRING US IN LINE WITH THESE OTHER CITIES SO THAT WE ARE NOT SOLELY RELYING ON PHILANTHROPY TO PROVIDE GREAT PARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, COMMISSIONER BALDWIN. JUST ECHOING YOUR DEAL. I BELIEVE EVERYONE WANTS THE FEE TO BE RAISED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE MAYOR MADE IT CLEAR AND WE HONORED HIS WISHES TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY. AND I I THINK THIS WAS A VERY GOOD COMPROMISE. IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND MAYBE AFFORDABILITY WILL BE EASIER IN THE FUTURE AND THE PRICE CAN GO UP. SO I THINK WE HAD TO RESPECT EVERYONE AND INCLUDING THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THOSE PEOPLE IMPACTED. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CODY MILLER. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI THERE, COMMISSIONERS. UH, MY NAME IS CODY MILLER. I WORK FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. WE'RE A TRADE ASSOCIATION THAT COMPRISES OF 1500 PLUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALL WORK IN SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILDING. UM, AND, UH, I I CAME HERE AND SPOKE, UM, IN LATE SPRING WHEN YOU ALL WERE CONSIDERING THE PARK REDISTRIBUTE REDISTRIBUTION WHEN A PARK FEE WAS, WAS, WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT. AND MY POSITION THEN IS THE SAME POSITION THAT I HAVE NOW, IS THAT WE ARE NOT AGAINST A NOMINAL PARK FEE INCREASE UP FROM 700 TO $900. WE ARE, WE JUST, WE WANNA BE SURE, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND OTHERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THIS, WE WANNA BE SURE THAT THE PARKS, THE, THE MONEY THAT IS COLLECTED IS SPENT TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED TO BE SPENT AND WHERE IT'S, WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT. AND WE ALSO ARE ASKING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY. I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THIS PARK FEE AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE, WHERE IS MY MONEY GONE? AND I'M HOPING THAT WITH, WITH MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE REGULAR REPORTING LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE, UM, WE CAN HAVE THAT, UH, THAT CLARITY ON WHAT THE FUNDS ARE SPENT ON. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. UM, BUT COUNT US IN ON $900. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN SCHULTZ. [00:30:05] GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. UM, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT MATTER. I'M JUSTIN SCHULTZ, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO I'M THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. WE ARE NOT PART OF THE CITY. WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS HAS WORKED TO IMPROVE PARKS AND TRAILS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. UH, WE OVERSAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAYOU GREENWAYS AND WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. OUR CURRENTLY RENOVATING 25 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, $60 MILLION INVESTMENT AS DIRECTOR ALAN MENTIONED THE LARGEST SINGLE INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. AND WE ARE DOING THAT THANKS TO PARK DEDICATION FUNDS ABOUT $10 MILLION IN PARK DEDICATION FUNDS IS SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM. AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND A PREVIOUS PROGRAM, ABOUT $20 MILLION OF PARK DEDICATION FUNDS HAVE GONE TO IMPROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ACROSS THIS CITY. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO DO MORE. I THINK TODAY IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT JUST TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOMETHING, $64 PER CAPITA IS WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO SPEND IN HOUSTON $64. COMPARE THAT TO OUR FRIEND UP NORTH DALLAS. ALMOST DOUBLE THAT. COMPARE THAT TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $158. WE'RE AT $64. THIS IS HELPING MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AND I HOPE WORKING WITH Y'ALL, WE CAN GET THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR VALLEY PRESLEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES. I'M TAYLOR VALLEY PRESLEY, THE PARKS EQUITY ANALYST AND ADVOCATE FOR THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RESILIENCE. HOUSTON COMMUNITIES VALUE OUR PARKS AS INTEGRAL PIECES OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDE A PLACE FOR SHADE TO GATHER, TO EXERCISE, TO SOCIALIZE AND TO PLAY. WE WANT THEM ALL TO CONTINUOUSLY GROW AND THRIVE NO MATTER THE SIZE OR THE ZIP CODE. HOWEVER, WE ARE AWARE THAT THIS REQUIRES PROPER FUNDING AND PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PARKS IS SEVERELY LACKING IN THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS AND TO PARKS AND LARGE CITIES AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY. THE RECENT AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING A 70 30 SPLIT OF COLLECTED FUNDS WAS A GREAT START, BUT WE STILL URGENTLY NEED MORE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND IN GENERAL, THE CITY CAN STILL RAISE THE FEE FROM THE CURRENT $700 PER DWELLING UNIT WHILE STILL BEING CONSIDERED A LOW FEE OPTION, WHICH WAS DEFINED PREVIOUSLY BY DIRECTORS TRAN AND ALLEN, AND A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AS LESS THAN 2% OF THE MEAT OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT EXCEED 12 96 26. ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, $700 IN 2007 ADJUSTED TO SEPTEMBER, 2026 IS NOW APPROXIMATELY $1,134 AND IS STILL CONSIDERED BELOW THE 12 96 26 THAT I PREVIOUSLY QUOTED. THE FEES REMAIN AT $700 SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. THE FEE RAISES WILL NOT SUFFICE GIVEN THE STATE OF MANY OF OUR PARKS HERE IN HOUSTON. I THINK EVERYONE HERE CAN AGREE THAT $700 IN THE, IN TWO, THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS VERSUS $700 IN THE LATE 2020S DOES NOT GO NEARLY AS FAR. AND RAISING THE FEE TO INFLATION IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOWARDS OUR PARKS AND ULTIMATELY OUR QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND, WHILE BOTH STAYING IN COMPLIANCE AND KEEPING HOUSING WITHIN REASONABLE MARGIN. AFTER ALL, GREAT COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT WITH MORE THAN JUST CONCRETE. FOR THESE REASONS, WE ASK FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS FEE TO BE RAISED TO MATCH VALUES ADJUSTED TO TODAY'S WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELANIE YOUNG. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. UM, MY NAME IS MELANIE YOUNG AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE SUNNYSIDE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE HOUSTON LAND BANK. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE FEE INCREASE FOR THE, UM, PARKS. UM, I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT D WHERE WE HAVE THE 10 WORST PARKS, UM, IN SUNNYSIDE. YOU ALL MAY HAVE HEARD THAT WE RECENTLY LOST GRIMES PARK, WHICH WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT TWO DECADES, IF NOT MORE. SO WITH THAT DECREASE IN PARK SPACE AND ALSO HAVING SOME OF THE WORST PARKS AND UM, DISTRICT D AS WELL AS HOUSTON, UM, I REALLY ADVOCATE FOR THIS FEE TO RAISE SO WE CAN HAVE PLACES TO WALK TO GATHER AND TO HOST, UM, EVENTS. SUNNYSIDE ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF DIABETES. HYPERTENSIONS WE COULD BE SOLVED WITH JUST, UM, FRIENDLY PLACES [00:35:01] TO GO AND WALK, UM, AND EXERCISE. WE'VE STARTED SOME, SOME WALKING CLUBS, SOME RUN GROUPS. UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS CAN'T MAKE IT TO, UM, SOME OF THE PARKS IN THE AREAS BECAUSE GRIME PARKS HAS CLOSED. UM, BUT RECENTLY THROUGH LET'S PLAY HOUSTON, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO START THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING, UM, BRICKER PARK, UM, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UM, WHICH WE HOPE TO START TO HOST, UM, MORE EVENTS. SO I REALLY ADVOCATE FOR THIS FREE THIS FEE RAISE SO THAT WAY WE CAN START TO BETTER THE PARKS AND SUNNYSIDE AND THE AREAS AROUND IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARYANNE PASSE. PASSE. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD TO SEE YOU. HI, I'M MARYANNE PINI. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COASTAL PERRY CONSERVANCY. AND MOST OF YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER ME FROM THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT. BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF SEARS PARKS EQUITY, UM, COMMITTEE. AND I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS INCREASE. I WOULD LIKE MORE, AS MANY OF US WOULD. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER IS I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MAINE, SO I'M KIND OF A MANIAC. AND WHEN I CAME HERE I REMEMBERED THAT HOUSTON SAID THAT THEY COULD DO ANYTHING AND THEY WERE THE BIGGEST, THE BEST, THE BRIGHTEST. AND IT IS KIND OF SAD THAT WE'RE NOT THE BIGGEST AND BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN OUR PARK DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE ARE AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE OF THE TECH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS, UH, PARK SCORE. WE'RE ALSO WAY BEHIND DALLAS FORT WORTH, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SAD 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE, UH, THE, THE, THE ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE. IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANNA SHOW OUR CITIZENS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THESE PARKS, ESPECIALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, ARE OF EXTRAORDINARY BENEFIT TO OUR PUBLIC. NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY OFFER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY OFFER HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES. THEY OFFER MENTAL HEALTH, NOT JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR AND WATER QUALITY. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER, AND I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR'S POINT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, BUT I STILL REALLY WISH THAT YOU COULD GO UP HIGHER THAN THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARINA BLESSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING ME HERE. MY NAME IS KARINA BLESSED, I'M THE FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF FOND PARK, LOCATED IN ZIP CODE 7 7 0 2 3. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR LOSING OUR RESIDENTS TO OUR SUBURBS. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY, HOWEVER, WE KEEP LOSING RESIDENTS TO PEARL LAND, LAKE CITY, AND THE OTHER BEAUTIFUL CITIES THAT HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE HIGHER FEES FOR THEIR PARKS AND INVEST IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THEIR RESIDENTS. SO YES, WE HAVE GIVEN A 20 YEAR BREAK TO THE DEVELOPERS HERE AND I AM BEGGING YOU TO RAISE THAT BECAUSE IT IS STRATEGIC IN KEEPING AND INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT DECIDE TO STAY IN OUR CITY. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS STRATEGICALLY. LAKE CITY SPENDS $3,000 IN FEES, DALLAS 1165, LET'S RAISE IT TO 1166. SO WE'LL BE BETTER THAN DALLAS, SHALL WE? SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO US. WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE DATA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AND WE'LL BE IN CONTACT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER THAT I HAVE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY, STAFF, ARE YOU GONNA COME BACK UP AND REITERATE WHAT WE'RE DOING OR SHALL I, I GUESS I SHALL. UM, NO, WE'RE, WE'RE CREATING THE PUBLIC HEARING. OH, I'M SORRY. SO WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING OF NOVEMBER 12TH, 2026 FOR INCREASING THE PUBLIC PARK, THE PARK FEE TO $900 VERSUS, UH, 700. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BALDWIN, SECOND CAROL. MOTION BALDWIN. SECOND CAROL. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANKS EVERYONE. NOW WE'LL MOVE ALONG [Platting Activities a & b] TO ROMAN NUMERAL TWO PLATING PLANNING ACTIVITY. AND, AND PLEASE NOTE, I'M SURE YOU ALREADY GOT THIS, BUT COMMISSIONER FAM ARRIVED. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS RAMON JA, LEON SECTIONS A B ARE PRESENTED AS A GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES CONSENT AND REPLAY, ITEMS NOT REQUIRING NOTIFICATION. SECTIONS A AND B UH, ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 70 SECTION A. CONSENT ITEMS ARE NUMBER ONE THROUGH 35 AND SECTION B REPL ITEMS ARE NUMBERS 36 TO 70. NO ITEMS NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION. UH, MADAME CHAIR, IF THIS, UH, IF, [00:40:01] IF THERE IS NO INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, REQUEST THE APPROVAL OF ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSENT AND REPLY ITEMS NOT REQUIRING NOTIFICATION. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE, UM, SPEAKERS FOR TWO ITEMS, ITEM 56 AND 60 AND I KNOW I HAVE SOME ABSTENTIONS. UM, COMMISSIONER HY? YES, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM ITEMS 7, 8, 14 AND 37. OKAY. COMMISSIONER MAREZ? YES MA'AM. CHAIR, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM 7, 8, 23, 24, 26, 29, 54 AND 55. OKAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? OKAY, LEMME JUST MAKE SURE I GET THIS ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO I NEED A MOTION. SAVE AND ACCEPT ITEMS 7, 8, 14, 23, 24, 26, 29, 37, 38, 54, 55, 56 AND 60. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION. MOTION. SECOND HINES. SECOND HINS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NOW I NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 7, 8, 14, 23, 24, 26, 29, 37, 38, 54, 55, 56 AND 60. MOTION. MOTION SER SECOND JONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. UM, NOW WE NEED TO, OH, I INCLUDED 56 AND 60. I'M SORRY, I SHOULD NOT HAVE, I NEED A PRESENTATION FOR 56. DO I NEED TO WALK BACK THAT MOTION? UM, YOU DO YOU AMEND YOUR, YEAH. OKAY. YOU AMEND IT BY TAKING 56 AND 60 OUT. COMMISSIONER JONES, YOU AGREE? YES. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO NOW WE'RE HEAR, UM, A PRESENTATION ON 56. GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS VIDA BANDI. ITEM 56 IS LIN MANNERS. UM, IT'S A REPL WITHIN THE CITY AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S A SHALL APPROVE ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MY SPEAKER IS TONY NELS AND THIS ONE IS FOR ITEM 56. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TONYA WELLS. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT HIGH STREET DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1908 AND INCORPORATED IN 1915 AS THE FIRST INCORPORATED AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUNICIPALITY IN TEXAS. IT WAS FOUNDED BY BLACK RESIDENTS SEEKING SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS SEGREGATED. HOUSTON DENIED THEM MORE THAN A CENTURY. LATER. INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS FACES A TROUBLING PARALLEL. DEVELOPMENT IS INCREASING, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH IS NOT KEEPING PACE. RESIDENTS CONTINUE, UH, TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT DRAINAGE, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, SEWER CAPACITY, AND DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS MOVE FORWARD. THE CITY BENEFITS FROM DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS, PROFIT FROM DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHO IS CONSIDERING THE COST TO THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS FACE RISING PROPERTY TAXES AND OTHER FINANCIAL PRESSURES WHILE BEING LEFT TO LIVE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CANNOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH FOR SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES. THESE BURDENS CAN THREATEN THEIR ABILITY TO REMAIN IN THE HOMES AND COMMUNITY. THEY HELPED BUILD CONSIDER THE RESPONSE FOR THE OWNER OF THE NA NAIL AND MANOR DEVELOPMENT WHEN THE FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF SENIORS WERE RAISED. WHY SHOULD THIS DEVELOP? WHY SHOULD HIS DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS BE BASED ON SENIORS BUDGETS? THAT QUESTION ILLUSTRATES THE VERY PROBLEM WE ARE CONFRONTING. IF THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED, WHO IS PROTECTING THEIR ABILITY TO, TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY DEFER THE PARA ESTATE AT NALAN, NALAN MANOR AND AMIGOS DISTRIBUTORS PLACE PROJECTS AND THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE CITY MEETS DIRECTLY WITH INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS TO ADDRESS EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES. WE EXPECT A DOCUMENTED IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH IDENTIFIED FUNDING, RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS AND MEASURABLE TIMELINES. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO RESPONSIBLE DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT THAT PROVIDES A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR DEVELOPERS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FINISH. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SENTENCES. I HAVEN'T STOPPED YOU YET, MA'AM, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. WE OPPOSE A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE CITY AND DEVELOPERS BENEFIT WHILE COMMUNITY. WHILE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEAR THE COST, OUR FOUNDERS FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF BLACK FAMILIES TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN A THRIVING COMMUNITY. INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS WILL [00:45:01] NOT ACCEPT A FUTURE IN WHICH THAT QUALITY OF LIFE IS SACRIFICED BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT HAS FAILED TO KEEP PACE WITH DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER, UH, KELVIN WILLIAMS ON ITEM 56. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KELVIN WILLIAMS. THEY CALL ME THE URBAN FARMER AND I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALL MY LIFE, UH, FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY. WHEN I MOVED OVER IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, I WATCHED THE DEVELOPMENTS COME IN AND WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY, UH, HAVING ALL THE DIFFERENT RULES THAT THEY HAVE THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE RULES HAVE NEVER APPLIED TO US AS, WHEN I SAY APPLIED TO US AS FAR AS THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS BEING THE FIRST BLACK INCORPORATED CITY. UH, PEOPLE WHO COME THERE, THEY DON'T SEE IT AS THAT. THEY SEE IT AS THAT THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND CHANGE IT. SO WHEN YOU ALL RUBBER STAMP, UH, THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME TO OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT ALLOWING THEM TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN YOU SEND PEOPLE WHO, UH, THEY DON'T, THEY THEY GETTING PAID, THEY GETTING PAID TO REPL STUFF. BUT WHEN THEY COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, IF THEY PUTTING SOMETHING IN THAT OUR COMMUNITY DON'T NEED, WE ARE THE ONES SUFFERING. JUST LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKS. I COULD TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT WE TALKING ABOUT A PACIFIC SUBJECT RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. WE HAVE A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THERE THAT WORK THERE. WHEN IT COME TO FLOODING, WHEN IT COME TO ANYTHING THAT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE AT PRECINCT ONE, THE HARRIS COUNTY CERT TEAM, THEN WE DO EMERGENCY STUFF IN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE UNITED STATES. EVERYBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BAG THAT UP. WELL WE DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENCY COMING ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCY COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING US WITH PACIFIC SUBJECT. WE ARE WILLING TO MEET WITH ANYBODY WHO WANT TO HELP US HAVE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T NEED, UH, ALL THE NEW CITY ORDINANCE 'CAUSE WE BEEN GETTING A LOAN JUST FINE. BUT THAT'S IF WE CAN TALK TO PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT GETTING FINANCE THROUGH OUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S WORKING TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOSING SCHOOLS SO WE LOSING OUR IDENTITY BECAUSE WE PROPERTY IS GETTING TOWED DOWN FROM WHEN Y'ALL GET PERMITS OUT. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. I HAVEN'T STOPPED YOU. GO AHEAD. OKAY. SO WHAT I WANT TO EVERYBODY TO KNOW IS INDEPENDENT HEIGHT IS THE THE NUMBER ONE COMMUNITY OF GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT'S ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK TO ANYBODY AND, AND REASON ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YES. COMMISSIONER GARZA. SIR, QUESTION FOR YOU. UM, SO MS. WELLS WHO SPOKE BEFORE YOU ASKED FOR IT TO BE DEFERRED AND YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SHALL APPROVE ITEM, IT MEETS ALL THE ORDINANCES. WE WILL EVENTUALLY APPROVE IT. SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU YOU TALKED ABOUT MEETING WITH AND TALKING TO, ARE YOU ASKING FOR A DEFERRAL TO TALK TO THE DEVELOPER? YES. THAT, THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA IS WHEN PEOPLE BUT TO THE DEVELOPER TO SPEAK TO THE DEVELOPER, I MEAN TO THE OWNERS. 'CAUSE YOU GOT OWNERS, YOU GOT DEVELOPERS, YOU GOT ALL KIND OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND THEY COMING IN THERE WITH ONE THOUGHT AND NOT LOOKING AT WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY BILLING STUFF THAT PEOPLE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANYWAY, THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S EITHER YOU MOVING US OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? OR YOU GONNA GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM AND TALK WITH THEM AND EXPLAIN ABOUT HOW WE ALREADY DEVELOP IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE DIDN'T NEED NOBODY AT ONE TIME. ALRIGHT. YEAH, THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION. OKAY. MY QUESTION IS, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. MM-HMM . MY QUESTION IS, YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT MET WITH THE BUILDER DEVELOPER AT THIS POINT IN TIME AT ALL? NO. AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT? YES. ALRIGHT. SO LET ME DEFER TO STAFF. STAFF WE DO NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON. OH, WE DO. SO LET WE DO, YEAH, LET ME, OKAY. I WAS GONNA FOLLOW THAT UP. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. SO MS. OWENS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND HELP US OUT HERE? WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOYCE OWENS AND I REPRESENT THE BUILDER AND THE DEVELOPER. UH, I ACTUALLY MET WITH, UH, MS. TANYA AND MR. I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME. I'M SO SORRY THAT JUST SPOKE, UH, ON THE 20TH. AND THAT'S WHAT I SAID WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE. UH, SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS, AS SHE STATED TODAY, PUBLIC WORKS AS FAR AS FLOODING, THAT WAS NOT UNDER CHAPTER 42. I EMPATHIZE WITH THEM AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO CHAPTER 42 IN ALMOST 23 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN COMING HERE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH WE DO PLATING. AND SO IF DEED RESTRICTIONS, THE AREA'S NOT RESTRICTED BY DEED RESTRICTIONS. UM, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO PURSUE A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OR A MINIMUM BUILDING LINE THAT WOULD PROTECT THE AREA, [00:50:01] THEN THERE'S NOT A LEGAL RIGHT TO REQUEST A DEFERRAL. I'VE MET ONE ON ONE OCCASION, UM, I WASN'T SURE, I THOUGHT I WAS MEETING WITH THE BOARD, BUT TO SAY THE DEVELOPER HAS TO COME OR TO, UH, PAY INTO SOME OF THE VISIONARY THINGS THEY HAVE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PART, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. A DEFERRAL, AS I SAID BEFORE, I DID MEET, UM, I THINK WITH THEIR WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT'S IN LINE WITH CHAPTER 42 RIGHT NOW. THERE'S, IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME. AND SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS I MADE WAS TO HAVE SOME PARTNERSHIPS. I KNOW I WORK WITH PRAIRIE REVIEW AND I'VE WORKED WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN. THEY HAVE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS IN URBAN PLANNING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THEIR INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO COME IN AND SEE IT IS THE GEN GENTRIFICATION. HOW CAN WE ALL COME TOGETHER WITH WHAT WE HAVE NOW TO BETTER THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, SO TO YOU CAN'T GO AND TEAR DOWN THE TOWN HOMES OR WHATEVER, OR WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE WHERE, WHO DO YOU WANNA ATTRACT THERE? YOU KNOW, DO YOU NEED A DOG PARK? WE TALK ABOUT PARKS. ARE THERE LAND THAT COULD BE A, A SPARK PARK? DIFFERENT THINGS, AMENITIES THAT COULD COME TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK AS A WHOLE, AN INTERN OR THE UNIVERSITY A PRAIRIE VIEW COMING IN TO ASSIST THAT. UH, I HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMAZON, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED IN THE COMMUNITY? A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, A UNITED WAY USED TO DO NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. SO, UH, MY, MY REQUEST TODAY IS, UH, YOU UNBELIEV ASK THAT YOU, UM, APPROVE THE PLAT. WE'RE JUST TAKING ONE LOT AND DIVIDING IT INTO TWO TO PROVIDE TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU ARE CORRECT. THIS IS A SHALL APPROVE. UM, AND WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PLATING HERE. UH, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ASK IS DIRECTOR TRAN AND STAFF, MAYBE YOU ALL COULD DIRECT THEM TO AN AGENCY WITHIN THE CITY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM AND TALK TO THEM. OR EVEN I LIKE YOUR IDEA TOO, SOMEONE AT PRAIRIE REVIEW. SO IF WE COULD MAYBE ASSIST IN THAT, THAT IS THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO TODAY. YES. UM, THANK YOU CHAIR CLARK FOR THAT REQUEST. AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO SHARE ALSO THAT, UH, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. WE HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS. WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THREE IMMEDIATE, UH, PROJECTS WITH THEM. UH, WORKING ON MINIMUM LOT SIZE, UH, HERITAGE DISTRICTS, UH, SOME SIGNAGE, PLAQUES FOR THE STARK WEATHER HISTORIC DISTRICT IN ADDITION TO MANY THINGS. BUT I REALLY LIKED, YOU SENT US A LETTER, UH, MAYBE PULLING IN SOME MORE RESOURCES OF OUR PARTNERS, THE UNIVERSITIES, AND DEFINITELY I THINK THAT'S, UH, A VERY, VERY, UH, GOOD IDEA. I THINK IT TAKES ALL OF US. I THINK THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING IS NOT JUST INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, IT'S ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NOT JUST HOUSTON HAS, BUT ALL CITIES HAVE AS THEY GROW. ALRIGHT? AND SO IT IS A TRADE OFF OF GROWTH AND ALSO PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY AND THE FINE LINE AND HOW WE DO THIS WILL REQUIRES EVERYBODY TO COME TO THE TABLE AND PUT THEIR BEST FOOT EFFORT AND IN GOODWILL. I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THERE. SO THANK YOU MS. JOYCE. THANK YOU MS. TANYA WELLS AND OUR OTHER RESIDENT WHO CAME UP AND SPEAK TODAY. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT WE ESPECIALLY ENJOY AND HAVE THOUGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME PRETTY GOOD, UH, PROGRESS. AND, UM, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING MORE PROGRESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. OKAY. THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER I HAD FOR ITEM 56. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? YES, COMMISSIONER MAREZ. UM, I WAS JUST GONNA POINT OUT THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS REPRESENTATIVE, MR. BROWN, IS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM THAT PERHAPS, UH, AN EXCHANGE OF CONTACT INFORMATION BE DONE AS WELL. I SEE HIM STANDING UP, WHICH IS HIS CUE TO SAY YES, HE WILL. . THANK YOU MR. BROWN. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL IN FRONT OF YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION GARZA. MOTION GARZA. SECOND. SECOND MAREZ. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 60. ITEM 60 PARA STATES AT LIN STREET. UH, THIS IS A SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY WITH THREE LOTS THAT TAKE ACCESS FROM A 16 FOOT SHARED DRIVEWAY. IT MEETS CHAPTER 42 REQUIREMENTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE. THANK YOU. [00:55:01] OKAY, SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TONY. WE, UH, EXCUSE ME, NES. SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS TANYA WELLS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHT STREET DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. AND SO, UM, WE HAVE, WE ARE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE. UM, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE, THE BUILDERS ARE NOT COMING TO THE TABLE. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA SET THE SCENE FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE, UM, WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NO ZONING, THERE'S NO DEED RESTRICTIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE THINGS. WE'RE NOT JUST COMING UP HERE JUST SAYING, OH, DON'T HAVE ANY DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS TO PROTECT THE CITY BECAUSE, UH, PROTECT INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS NOTICED THIS, BUT WE HAVE TWO DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING ON NALAN STREET AND THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOUSES IN BETWEEN. SO NOW YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO THEN ONE HOUSE ON THIS END OF NALAN IS BEING TORN DOWN AND THEN EVENTUALLY ANOTHER HOUSE ON NALEN IS BEING TORN DOWN. AND THEN ON ONE, YOU HAVE TWO HOMES MAYBE AND MAYBE POSSIBLY FOUR UNITS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SAID, MAYBE POSSIBLY FOUR UNITS COMING IN ON ONE. AND THEN WE'VE ALREADY CONFIRMED THREE ON THE OTHER. SO YOU'RE TAKING AWAY TWO HOMES AND NOW YOU'RE PUTTING IN POTENTIALLY SEVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE. MEANWHILE, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH, UH, DIRECTOR TRAN IN HER OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THESE THINGS INTO PLACE WHERE IT PROTECTS THE SENIORS, IT PROTECTS THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE NOBODY'S WORRIED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GONNA GO UP. AND THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THEIR, THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO SOCIETY. THEY'VE CHECKED EVERY BOX THAT EVERYBODY SAID THEY SHOULD. AND NOW AS THEY'RE IN THEIR OLDER YEARS, NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT CAN THEY EVEN STAY IN A HOME THAT MANY OF THEM BUILT BY HAND. BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN WHO DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR US. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE. THEY BRING HOMES THAT DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE WHAT'S IN THE, IN THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. NO ONE GIVES THE COMMUNITY A THOUGHT UNTIL WE COME HERE. AND SO I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK THAT WE'RE JUST COMING UP HERE JUST TO SAY, OH NO, WE DON'T LIKE IT. WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHO'S GONNA FIGHT FOR THESE SEIZURES IF WE DON'T? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? YOU, YOU GUYS ARE WORRIED ABOUT PARKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE OUT THEIR DRIVEWAYS WHENEVER IT RAINS FOR A STEADY 30 MINUTES. NOBODY ELSE IS WORRIED ABOUT THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT CONVERSATION. WE NEED A WIN-WIN SITUATION, NOT DEVELOPERS COMING IN AND MAKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THE CITY MAKING MONEY OFF OF WHATEVER FEES OR EVERYTHING. WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE SENIORS WHO CAN'T GO OUT AND GET ANOTHER JOB TO TAKE CARE OF STUFF? WE'RE WAY OVER TIME. SO I, I NEED TO STOP, BUT I DO NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS BODY DOES CARE ABOUT ITS RESIDENTS. WE ALL VOLUNTEER A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT. WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE DO UNDERSTAND WE DO CARE, BUT WE HAVE LIMITATIONS. WE HAVE TO GO BY WHAT STATE LAW REQUIRES OF US AND WHAT THE ORDINANCE STATES. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE TODAY IS WE'RE HEARING YOU, WE'RE LISTENING TO, YOU WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME RESOURCES FOR YOU AND DR. DIRECTOR TRAN EXPLAINED THAT HER STAFF IS WORKING WITH YOU ON SOME ITEMS. WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. BROWN WHO'S WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND HOPEFULLY HE CAN HELP YOU WITH SOME OF THE DRAINAGE AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. UM, SO IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HEAR YOU, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE LIMITATIONS TOO AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO AS THIS BODY AND SO DOES THE SENIORS. AND WE WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH MR. MR. BROWN. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING TO YOU ALL, WE'RE ALREADY TAKING STEPS. WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING BACK, WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WE STILL NEED HELP AND AND WE APPRECIATE IT. WE REALLY DO. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELVIN WILLIAMS. I DON'T WANT TO COME UP HERE AND GO OVER WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW AND WE KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS, WE KNOW THE LAW AND STUFF, BUT WHAT I'M TELLING YOU ALL IS LIKE SHE SAID, IT IS PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE, THAT THEY GRANDFATHERS BUILT THE HOUSE, THEY BUILT THAT COMMUNITY. AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE ALL THIS EVEN EXISTED. IT WAS A SYSTEM SET UP OF COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GONNA, THAT'S WHY I SAY EVERY PART OF THE CITY THAT'S INVOLVED IN IT, THAT ALLOWED THAT HOUSE TO BE TORN DOWN IF WE WERE IGNORED. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SAY NOTHING, DON'T, NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AIN'T NOBODY LOOKING AT IT. SO THE RUBBER STAMPING IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M [01:00:01] SAYING? YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU HELP HIM, BUT FOR EONS, THE HELP HASN'T HELPED. SO AT THIS TIME WHEN WE SAY FOR THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND UH, AS FAR AS, UH, THE SYSTEM RUSHING STUFF THROUGH, YOU MIGHT SAY THE PROCESS IS RIGHT, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WE HEAR INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COME UP WITH IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UH, HAVE A DEED RESTRICTION OR WHATEVER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DOING THAT. WE, WE ARE NOT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO BUILD AND WHAT THEY CAN'T BUILD. BUT I'VE SEEN THEM BUILD THREE STORY HOUSES THAT'S GOT 12 ROOMS IN IT AND THEY USING IT FOR ROOMING HOUSES. SO YOU, BY THE TIME THEY GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, I'M JUST SAYING THE STUFF IS BUILT, THEY MOVING FAST. AND UH, I'M JUST SAYING STOP THE RUBBER STAMPING. UH, LET US COMMUNICATE ALL THE WAY. LET US CHECK OFF EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT AND NOT FIND OUT ABOUT IT LATER AFTER THEY DONE BILLED THREE ON ONE LOT. AND HERE YOU GO. YOU GOT SEWER BAGGING UP. I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THAT ON 44TH STREET. I CAN TELL YOU MANY STREETS OVER THERE THAT HAVE, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOBODY'S HELPING US GET IT. AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE'RE, WE'RE NOT RUSHING THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS, IS THE PROCESS, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT IF YOU ALL WILL GET WITH STAFF AND REALLY WORK THROUGH THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE SETBACKS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WILL HELP PROTECT, YOU CAN STOP FROM SUBDIVIDING. IF YOU SET A MINIMUM LOT SIZE, THEN THEY CAN'T GO BELOW THAT. WHICH MEANS IF YOU SET YOUR STANDARD IS 5,000 SQUARE FOOT, LET'S SAY PER LOT, THEY CAN'T REDUCE THAT LOT DOWN TO LESS THAN THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE KEEP BRINGING THESE THINGS UP, UP TO YOU ALL THAT IS ONE OF YOUR BEST PROTECTIONS BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THAT VERSUS YOU'D HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET 75% VOTE TO DO DEED RESTRICTIONS OR A HUNDRED PERCENT, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOUR COMMUNITY WORKS. SO THAT IS A QUICKER WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUAN CASTILLO. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD PUT COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. . I WOULD'VE CALLED YOU FIRST TOO. I KNOW. IN THAT CASE, I APPROVE MY PLA. OH, YOU'RE NOT, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE HIM. I KNOW. JUST LIKE HIM. OH MY GOSH. OKAY. I CORRECT. WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN, BUT YOU DO, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE HIM. ALRIGHT, SO CAN YOU APPROVE MY PLAN, ? NO. UM, ARE YOU RELATED? NO, I'M NOT. NO, NO. YOU SHOULD BE OKAY. I SAID YES. ALRIGHT, I'LL NO, UM, EXCUSE MY, EXCUSE ME IF I DON'T ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PROPERLY. UM, BUT, UM, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I DID MEET WITH MS. WELLS AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT SHE'S SAYING. I, I I, I, EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID, WE, I SAT DOWN WITH HER THIS WEEK. UH, SHE'S RIGHT. THE DEVELOPER WAS NOT ABLE TO MEET 'CAUSE SHE'S OUT OF, SHE'S OUT OF THE, UM, OUT OF STATE RIGHT NOW. BUT I DID MEET WITH HER AND I LISTENED TO ALL HER CONCERNS AND AGAIN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT SHE'S SAYING. UNFORTUNATELY. WE, WE ARE MEETING CHAPTER 42 REQUIREMENTS AND SHE DOES HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS REGARDING THE DENSITY AND THE LOOK. AND I DID PROMISE HER THAT, THAT MAYBE THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS MEET, MEET WITH OUR ARCHITECT AND GET SOME IDEAS FROM HER OR WHAT THE LOOK THAT SHE'S EXPECTING, UM, OR THAT SHE'S RECOMMENDING TO MAINTAIN THE, UH, INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO FORTH. UH, I DID SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND I KIND OF BRAINSTORM ON, ON THINGS THAT CAN, THAT THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT, UH, THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN, IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DISCUSSED DETENTION, WE DISCUSSED MINIMUM LOT SIZES, MINIMUM BUILDING LINES AND SO FORTH. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT SHE'S SAYING. I'M BASICALLY JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, UH, FOR ME. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, I'M HOPING YOU APPROVE MY PLAN, YOU KNOW, WELL, I'M, I KNOW THAT THIS COMMISSION IS GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH THEM AND IF YOU CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, GO VERY FAR IN NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONSHIPS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. I HAVE, YES. MS. OWENS, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? IF I MAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. I'M JOYCE OWENS AND THE ONE THING IN MY MEMORY, COME ON BACK TO ME HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT, WE HAVE IT. ONE THING IS, IS, IS DIRECTOR TRAN IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING [01:05:01] WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO COME, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS A, UM, UM, TO KNOW, OR THE COMMUNITY KNOW BEFORE WE GET TO PLANNING COMMISSION THAT SOMETHING IS COMING BECAUSE, UM, BUILDERS AND EVERYONE WHO'S DO, UH, REPL, THEY'RE NOT, EVERYBODY DOESN'T COME IN FROM THE OUTSIDE. SOME PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE SOME LAND AND WE SEE A WAY THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM DIVIDING THIS AND SELLING IT. SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS SOMEBODY COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IF IT COULD, NO, BECAUSE, UH, THE DEVELOPER, THE OWNER, THEY INVEST TIME, MONEY IN, UH, SURVEYING, PLATING CIVIL ENGINEERING BECAUSE A GREAT PORTION IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONCEPTUAL DRAINAGE PLAN. AND SO BY THE TIME WE GET HERE, THEY'VE MADE AN INVESTMENT. AND SO IF WE COULD LOOK AT A WAY TO POSSIBLY HAVE COMMUNICATION EARLIER IN THE PROCESS AND ALSO WITHIN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THERE ARE SEVERAL SUBDIVISIONS. OURS IS IN OXFORD PLACE. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. SO IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF, I DON'T, AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN , BUT TO SAY ALL OF THE SUBDIVISIONS THAT ENCOMPASSED, UM, UH, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS 'CAUSE OUR DEEP RESTRICTIONS EXPIRED IN 1961. SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN I GOT A CALL. THIS IS PART OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND EVERYBODY DOESN'T KNOW INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, BUT WE'RE LEARNING AND SO WE'RE, WE ARE OPEN TO THOSE THINGS AND MAYBE HAVING CONVERSATIONS EARLIER IN THE PROCESS MAY MAKE IT A BETTER PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MS. BANDY, EXPLAIN WHEN SOMEONE'S DOING A MINIMUM LOT SIZE, AT WHAT POINT, UM, DO, DOES THE COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THAT? LIKE 10%? UM, IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER? YES, FROM THE COMMUNITY REGION CALLING TEAM. CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? I'LL, SO MY QUESTION WAS JUST TO EXPLAIN, SO WHEN, UM, AN APPLICANT BRINGS IN A MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION, AT WHAT POINT DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW THAT THEY WILL, THE, THE PROPERTY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTY OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED ONCE THE UM, CALCULATIONS, UH, CALCULATIONS HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE TEAM, THE APPLICANT WILL KNOW WITHIN TWO DAYS FROM RECEIVING THE APPLICATION. AND ANYONE THAT'S LOOKING AT LAND IN THAT AREA, OH, THAT WILL HAPPEN. UH, ALSO WITHIN THE TWO DAYS BECAUSE WE'LL PUT THE HOLDS ON IMMEDIATELY. OKAY. SO IF SOMEONE GOES DOWN TO SUBMIT OR PULL A PERMIT FOR ANYTHING, THAT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST TWO DAYS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. DOES THAT HELP MS. OWENS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THEN, UH, MS. BANDY, A QUESTION TO YOU AND THE DIRECTOR IS ONLINE IN OUR GIS MAPPING OR SOMEWHERE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO SHOW ALL OF THE LITTLE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS? OH, SOMEONE ELSE? YES. MADAM CHAIR, ALL OF THE MINIMUM, LOT SIZE? YES. MADAM CHAIR, ALL OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATIONS THAT COME IN AND HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE GIS MAP ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC HOUSTON MAP. FEWER IS THE WEBSITE WHERE, UM, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LAYERS CAN BE LOOKED AT, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUBDIVISION MAP LAYER, THE PLATTING ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE LAYER AND THE MINIMUM BUILDING LINE. THOSE LAYERS ARE AVAILABLE AND ANYONE CAN ACCESS THEM. SO IF I WENT TO LOOK AT A, A LITTLE COMMUNITY, A SUBDIVISION IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, I'D BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT IT ACTUALLY IS PART OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HOPE THAT HELPS MS. OWENS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL IN FRONT OF US. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION GARZA. MOTION GARZA. SECOND HIGHS. SECOND HINES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON NOW TO ROMAN NUMERAL, EXCUSE ME, TO D SUBDIVISION PLATS. NOPE. TO C RE PLAATS REQUIRING [c. Replats requiring Public Hearings with Notification (Ken Calhoun, Aracely Rodriguez, and Dorianne Powe-Phlegm)] PUBLIC HEARINGS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS KEN CALHOUN. ITEM 71 IS JUTLAND HOMES. THE SUBJECT SIDE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AT THE CORNER OF JUTLAND AND ANGLETON. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LAWS. THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT WILL VIOLATE BUILDING LINE D RESTRICTIONS, STATUTE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REFER TO PLAT PER APPLICANT'S REQUEST. MADAM SHERIFF, PLEASE COMMISSION. YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. [01:10:02] THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 71 IS OPEN. I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO HEARING NONE? I WILL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION. MOTION. MOTION POURS PER SECOND. SECOND MAR. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 72. WITHDRAWN. WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU. ITEM 73. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS DORIAN POE PHLEGM. ITEM NUMBER 73 IS MILL RIDGE VILLAGE, SECTION ONE. THE SITE IS IN HOUSTON EAST EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY SOUTH OF EXISTING REGENCY WOOD DRIVE AND REGENCY GREEN DRIVE EAST OF MILL RIDGE DRIVE IN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. THE REASON FOR REPL IS TO CREATE 147 LOTS AND 15 RESERVES. THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING TWO VARIANCES. THE FIRST VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW REGENCY WOOD DRIVE TO TERMINATE IN A CUL-DE-SAC AND NOT PROVIDE A NORTH SOUTH STREET THROUGH THE SUB TRACT. THE SECOND VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW A REDUCED BUILDING LINE OF 10 FEET INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 20 FOOT. THE PLAT WAS DEFERRED AT THE LAST PLA COMMISSION. PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED TO DEFER THE PLAT. AGAIN, THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS DEFER THE PLAT PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST. STAFF HAS RECEIVED COMMENTS CONCERNING DRAINAGE, THE NUMBER OF HOUSES PROPOSED POINTS OF ACCESS AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION. MADAM CHAIR, IF THE PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 73 IS CONTINUED. I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO HEARING NONE? I'LL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION. MOTION JONES. SECOND FA. SECOND FAM. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. I COULD HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. . ITEM 74. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS ELLI RODRIGUEZ. ITEM 74 PARTIAL OF SAND WOOD SECTION TWO AND THREE PARTIAL WE LAB NUMBER ONE. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY LIMIT EAST OF GASNER ROAD AND NORTH OF BRIER FOREST DRIVE. THE PURPOSE OF THE WELA IS TO CREATE ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT AND TO MODIFY THE BORDERLINES. NO VARIANCES ARE BEING BEING REQUESTED. WITH THIS ITEM, THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND THAT RECEIPT ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN EVENT SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED. WE PLA REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLOT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTION ON THE FACE OF THE BLOOD OR THOSE FILES SEPARATELY. THAT RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLOT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITION. MADAM CHAIR IS APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION. YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 74 IS OPEN. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO HEARING NONE? I'LL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION. MOTION BALLARD. MOTION BALLARD. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 75. ITEM 75 IS RICHLAND DRIVE VILLAS, THE SCIENCE IN HOUSTON, CORPORATE LIMITS SOUTH ALONG RICHLAND, RICHLAND DRIVE EAST OF DENTON STREET. THE REASON FOR RELIGHT IS TO CREATE TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND THE BUILDING LINE. THERE ARE NO VARIANTS REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM. REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED. SEPARATELY, THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE CBC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS. STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS IN ADVANCE. MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 75 IS OPEN. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO HEARING NONE? I'LL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION. MOTION. MOTION POURS FA. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND FAM. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO 76. ITEM 76 IS SAVILLA COMMERCIAL, THE SCIENCE AND HOUSTON CORPORATE LIMITS AT THE SOUTHWEST INTERSECTION OF HOMESTEAD ROAD AND SOUTH HALL STREET. THE REASON FOR RELA IS TO CREATE ONE [01:15:01] COMMERCIAL RESERVE AND REVISE THE BUILDING LINE. THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM. REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED. SEPARATELY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE CBC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS. STAFF HAS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS IN ADVANCE. MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 76 IS OPEN COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IF NOT, I WILL CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76. OKAY. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION MOTION, VICTOR SECOND JONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING [d. Subdivision Plats with Variance Requests (Petra Hsia, Tammi Williamson and John Cedillo)] ON TO D SUBDIVISION PLAS WITH VARIANCE REQUESTS. GOOD AFTERNOON MA'AM. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS PETRA SHAW. ITEM 77 IS BOCKER MANOR. THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE, THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS HARRIS COUNTY OUTSIDE OF SIX 10 WEST OF NORTH WAYSIDE DRIVE ALONG BAER STREET. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A LOT AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE FOR FIVE FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG A 60 FOOT UNNAMED, UNDEVELOPED LOCAL STREET AND TO ALSO ALLOW A LOT IN THE CITY TO BE LESS THAN 3,500 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE. STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH REQUESTS. THE SUBJECT SITE IS PLATTED AS A NARROW 32 BY A HUNDRED FOOT LOT WITHIN THE RECORDED SUBDIVISION OF HOLMAN'S. ADDITION, BOUNDED BY BARKER STREET TO THE EAST IN AN UNNAMED 60 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY TO THE SOUTH. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REPL THE PROPERTY TO REQUEST A REDUCED FIVE FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG THE UNNAMED RIGHT OF WAY AND TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY TO BUILD A DUPLEX. THE UNNAMED RIGHT OF WAY IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE AS IT IS NOT NEEDED TO MEET INTERSECTION SPACING REQUIREMENTS. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO CONSTRUCT A DUPLEX ON THE PROPERTY WITH EACH UNIT MEASURING LESS THAN 1500 SQUARE FEET, THUS REQUIRING ONLY TWO PARKING SPACES IN TOTAL. ONE FOR EACH UNIT, BOTH OF WHICH WILL BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE DRIVEWAY. PUBLIC WORKS HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO THE REQUESTS BEING MADE. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BALDWIN. MOTION BALDWIN. SECOND. SECOND MODEST. ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. YES. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN COMMENT, BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED ON THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS, ALLOWING THESE SMALLER TRACKS OF LAND ALLOW FOR THESE SMALLER HOUSES OF 1500, WHICH ALLOW FOR A CHEAPER PRICE POINT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THIS IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT? JUST POINTING IT OUT. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT. SO YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, MOVING ON TO 78 IS WITHDRAWN. SO 79 ITEM 79, MADAM CHAIR, I'M GONNA RECUSE FROM THIS ITEM. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. HE, UM, ITEM 79 IS BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE, SECTION 48. THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ETJ HARRIS COUNTY WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE GP DEVELOPMENT SOUTH OF BRIDGELAND CREEK PARKWAY, WEST OF THE GRAND PARKWAY, AND EAST OF KATY HAWLEY ROAD. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 94 LOTS AND THREE RESERVES FOR LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW MORE THAN 150 LOTS WITHOUT A SECOND POINT OF PUBLIC STREET ACCESS TO USE A TEMPORARY ACCESS EASEMENT AS THE SECOND POINT OF ACCESS. STAFF IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST. THE SITE IS A GREENFIELD SITE WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE GP. THE COMBINED LOT COUNT FOR BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE SECTION 48 AND 54 EXCEEDS 150 LOTS AT 196 LOTS, WHICH REQUIRES TWO POINTS OF PUBLIC STREET ACCESS. THE FIRST POINT OF ACCESS IS PROVIDED FROM MIGRATION WAY TO BRIDGELAND CREEK PARKWAY. THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED SECOND POINT OF ACCESS IS FROM THE INTERSECTION OF MIGRATION WAY IN THE FUTURE NATURE PRESERVE WAY THROUGH A PROPOSED ACCESS EASEMENT TO THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTED HOUSE HALL ROAD. ALTHOUGH THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO USE HOUSE HALL ROAD FOR ACCESS, THERE ARE PLANS TO ABANDON THIS ROAD AND IS, IT IS NOT SHOWN AS A PROPOSED OR EXISTING STREET PATTERN ON THE APPROVED BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE GENERAL PLAN. BOTH THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF USING A ROAD AS A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THAT IS PLANNED FOR ABANDONMENT AND IS NOT REFLECTED ON THE GENERAL PLAN AS A PERMANENT STREET. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THROUGH THE PLANNED STREET NETWORK. PREVIOUSLY APPROVED STREET DEDICATION PLOTS IF RECORDED, WOULD PROVIDE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS AND MEET ALL ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS TOGETHER. THESE DEDICATIONS WOULD PROVIDE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THROUGH A STREET NETWORK SHOWN ON THE GP. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO SUBMIT THE STREET DEDICATION PLA FOR [01:20:01] NATURE PRESERVE WAY BETWEEN MIGRATION WAY AND POLLINATOR DRIVE. THIS DEDICATION WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A SECOND PUT OF ACCESS THROUGH THE PLAN STREET NETWORK. ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, THE STREET DEDICATION FOR NATURE PRESERVE WAY IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED AND RECORDED DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2027 WITH THE CURRENT VARIANCE BEING REQUESTED TO AVOID DELAYS IN RECORDING SECTIONS 48 AND 54 STAFF RECOGNIZED THE COORDINATION OF THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE SUBDIVISION PLATS AND STREET DEDICATIONS WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE. GP INVOLVES MULTIPLE APPLICANTS WITH VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS MOVING FORWARD ON DIFFERENT TIMELINES. HOWEVER, THE HARDSHIP PRESENTED APPEARS TO STEM FROM MISCOMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION ISSUES RELATED TO THE PHASING OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS, A SELF-IMPOSED HARDSHIP RATHER THAN FROM CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE REQUESTED VARIANCE. THEREFORE, STAFFS IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE, BUT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THEREFORE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DENY THE VARIANCE BUT APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BOB TERRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE SUBMITTED THIS PLAT ALONG, UH, SHE SAID WITH ALONG SECTION 54 AND MIGRATION AWAY, SECTION 54, UH, SECTION FOUR FOR ACCESS. UH, THE, AND THE COMBINED TWO SUBDIVISIONS, DO WE REQUIRE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS? UH, WE FELT LIKE THAT THE HOUSE HALL BEING A PUBLIC STREET, UH, THAT WE HAVE A, A CONNECTION THERE, UH, THROUGH, UH, A TEMPORARY ACCESS EASEMENT, WHICH WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A NATURE PRESERVE WAY, UH, WAS, UH, RECORDED, IN WHICH CASE THE EASEMENT WOULD NO LONGER BE NEEDED. UH, IT WOULD BE A PAVED 28 FOOT, UH, STREET, UH, ALL WEATHER SURFACE. UH, AND WE'VE FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING THE ABANDONMENT OF HOUSE HALL ROAD. UH, IT CURRENTLY IS PUBLIC. UH, AND, UH, FELT LIKE, WELL, IF NECESSARY, WE MAY BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER, UH, EASEMENT, UH, TO CONNECT THE END OF OUR CURRENT EASEMENT TO KATY HOCKLEY ROAD, WHICH TO THE WEST, UH, THAT WOULD STILL GIVE ACCESS, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING TO THE SECTION 48 AND WOULD GIVE 'EM ACCESS TO ANOTHER PUBLIC STREET, UH, AND SATISFY THE, TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TWO POINTS OF ACCESS. UH, UH, AND THERE AGAIN, AT SUCH TIME AS THE NATURE PRESERVED WAY IS DEDICATED, WHICH LIKE SHE SAID, WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2027, THEN THE EASEMENTS WOULD NO LONGER BE NEEDED AND, UH, WE COULD DO AWAY WITH THEM. AND, UH, WE FELT LIKE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION AND, UH, UH, HOPE THAT WE COULD GET SOME, UH, GET GOOD RESULTS ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I OVERLOOKED YOU. I'M SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. JUST A QUESTION FOR THE AP APPLICANT IS JUST, UM, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN A DEFERRAL HAD A QUESTION. THE QUESTION WAS, UH, COMMISSIONER MORRIS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN A DEFERRAL, UH, IF IF NEEDED. YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN TAKE, WE CAN TAKE A REFERRAL IF THAT'S NECESSARY. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . OUR NEXT SPEAKER. I KNOW I'M GONNA MESS YOUR NAME UP, SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY PETE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT THERE AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME BEFORE I SAY IT. PERFECT. UH, PETE HANKER. THANK YOU. SO THE, UH, THE U IS SILENT. THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M AN, I'M THE ENGINEER, UM, AND BOB IS THE SURVEYOR ON THIS PROJECT. SO JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE, UM, SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS, IS REALLY A, A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AS YOU KNOW. UM, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE TWO POINTS OF ACCESS BEYOND 150 LOTS. AND WE FEEL THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT. I KNOW THAT THE CONCERN WAS IN PARTICULAR THAT, UM, HOUSE AND HALL IS GOING TO BE ABANDONED AND WE'RE FULLY AWARE OF THAT. AND SO OUR THOUGHT WOULD BE IS TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS EASEMENT ALL THE WAY TO KATIE HOCKLEY, UM, TO APPEASE THE CONCERNS OF THAT. AND IT, IT'S REALLY, IT, IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO THE TIMING OF THINGS. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GETTING HERE TO THE END OF THE YEAR TRYING TO CLOSE ON LOTS THINGS LIKE THAT. I KNOW IT'S NOT ALL OF YOUR CONCERN, BUT THAT IS KIND OF THE MOTIVATING FACTOR. UM, NATURE PRESERVE AWAY. UM, WE, WE ALREADY HAVE A CPC 1 0 1. UM, PLANS ARE IN A REVIEW. IT IS, IS GOING TO BE, UM, I MEAN IT'S OUR, THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, RECORDED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR, AND THAT WILL PROVIDE OUR SECOND POINT OF ACCESS. UM, [01:25:02] AGAIN, IT IS JUST, UH, UH, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR, FOR A CONSIDERATION OF THAT. UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY AND, UM, THEY'RE HERE FOR THE DURATION. UM, WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY REAL BREAKS HERE. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE ACCESS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THOSE, THOSE SECTIONS. SO, UM, I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, UM, AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT, SO COMMISSIONERS. YES. COMMISSIONER GARZA. SO MS. SHAW, UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT FOR SOME TIME, BUT WHAT HE PRESENTED TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY, CORRECT? IT'S THE SAME. YEAH, IT'S THE SAME, YEAH. OKAY. WAIT, SO, UH, MR. KER? YES, MR. HANKER, UH, THERE WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED ON TUESDAY THIS WEEK, UM, THAT WE FELT, UH, THEY HAD HAD APPEASED ONE OF THEIR, THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ABANDONMENT OF A HOUSE AND HALL ROAD THAT WE, WE WOULD, WERE WILLING TO DO A, AN ACCESS EASEMENT FROM THE INTERSECTION TO, UH, KATY HOCKLEY ROAD. MM-HMM . AND KATY HOCKLEY IS WHERE? UH, IT'S DIRECTLY, IT'S JUST OFF. OH, UH, IT'S, IT'S WEST OF THIS INTERSECTION. OKAY. YES. OKAY. SO MS. BANDY, YOU HAD SOMETHING. THANK YOU SIR. UM, MICHELLE? YEAH. UM, THE APPLICANT NOTED THAT THIS WAS HOW THEY WANTED TO PROCEED TO THE PROPOSAL THEY WANTED TO PROCEED WITH AT PLANNING COMMISSION? YES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. BANDE, DID YOU HAVE, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? JUST ONE QUICK THING TO ADD. UM, ANY REVISED INFORMATION PROVIDED ON A TUESDAY STILL HAS TO BE REVIEWED, UH, WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO, UM, IF THE PROJECT WAS DEFERRED, IF WE COULD HAVE GONE WITH THE DEFERRAL, THEN THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DEFERRAL. WE COULD HAVE, UH, REVIEWED THE MATERIAL. THANK YOU. OH, NO, NO. THIS WAS HAPPEN. INFORMATION, YES. THE ITEM THAT APPLICANT WANTED TO PROCEED WITH, UM, IN THIS WAY, HOWEVER, IF WE WERE ABLE TO DEFER, WE COULD HAVE THANK YOU. I SEE. OKAY. YES. COMMISSIONER MAREZ AGAIN FOR MY CLARIFICATION. SO I KNOW THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO SUPPLY AN ADDITIONAL EASEMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US. IT'S JUST UM, A VERBAL COMMITMENT THAT WOULD FOLLOW, BUT IT'S NOT PART OF WHAT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO, TO VOTE ON TODAY. NO. THIS IS WHAT WAS HOW THEY WANTED TO PROCEED. THIS WAS THE PROPOSAL. YEAH. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, YES, COMMISSIONER MAREZ. SORRY, I, I GUESS GOING BACK TO THE APPLICANT, WOULD YOU LIKE A DEFERRAL? NOT LOOKING GOOD, ? UM, BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY VOTE ON WHAT'S PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US. YEAH, YEAH. WE CAN ONLY, WE CAN ONLY VOTE ON WHAT IS IN THE RECOMMENDATION OR IF THE APPLICANT REQUESTS A DEFERRAL THAT CAN BE REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. YEAH. WELL AT THIS TIME, YES, YOU WILL WILL ACCEPT A DEFER. WE REQUEST STATE A DEFERRAL ON THE PLAN AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . OKAY, SO IS THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION, COMMISSIONER MORRIS? YEAH, I WILL PUT FORWARD THE MOTION TO DEFER THE APPLICATION INSTEAD OF DENY AND HOPEFULLY, YEAH. AND YOU'LL SECOND WHO SAID THAT? VICTOR. OKAY, SO MOTION BY MAD SECOND BY VICTOR. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND SO YOU'LL TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY, I GUESS GET IT TO HARRIS COUNTY AND YOU GUYS BOTH WILL DISCUSS OR UM, THEY WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THE REVISED MATERIALS WITH THE PROPOSAL. OKAY. NEW PROPOSAL. YEAH. OKAY. SO DO YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND WHAT, OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 80. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS TAMMY WILLIAMSON. ITEM 80 IS CYPRUS TRAILS AT BAUER LANDING SECTION TWO. THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN NORTHWESTERN HARRIS COUNTY ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF BOWER ROAD NORTH OF FM 29 20 AND SOUTH OF SPRING CREEK. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A SUBDIVISION OF 158 LOTS AND FIVE RESERVES AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW TWO GROUPINGS OF SIX LOTS [01:30:01] TO TAKE SOLE VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM A FLAGSTAFF IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED MAXIMUM OF FOUR LOTS PER FLAGSTAFF STAFF REQUESTS A DEFERRAL FOR TWO WEEKS PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST. AS THIS IS THE SECOND DEFERRAL STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION? YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. THE SITE IS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CYPRESS TRAILS AT BAUER LANDING GENERAL PLAN IN THE ORDINANCE. A FLAG LOTT DESIGN ALLOWS MULTIPLE LOTS TO SHARE ACCESS THROUGH ONE DRIVEWAY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR FLAG LOTS AND THIS PROPOSED PLAT MEETS ALL BUT ONE, THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS UP TO FOUR LOTS TO SHARE ACCESS FROM ONE DRIVEWAY. WHILE WHAT IS PROPOSED IS THE TWO GROUPINGS OF SIX LOTS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN YELLOW TO FORM A FLAG LOT CONFIGURATION. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A SECOND DEFERRAL TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FINAL LOT LAYOUT BEING PROPOSED WILL BE. SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR CLIENT STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE. AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION JONES. SECOND. SECOND BALLARD. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO 81 CHAIR. YES, I RECUSED FROM 81 TO 84. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS JOHN PHILLIPS . ITEM 81 IS GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE GENERAL PLAN. THE SUBJECT SIDE IS A 450 ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION NORTH ALONG GRAND PARKWAY AND WEST OF HOLSWORTH SAWMILL ROAD. THE GENERAL PLAN IS INTENDED FOR SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH LARGE DETENTION RESERVES AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW TO EXCEED MINIMUM INTERSECTION SPACING BY ALLOWING 532 FEET BETWEEN MOSSY, UH, EAST MOSSY ROAD, EAST MOSSY OAK ROAD, AND LIGHT SHADE CROSSING. STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST. SPRINGWOOD VILLAGE IS A MAJOR FER THAT IS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED. SECTIONS ONE AND THREE ARE PROPOSED IN THIS AGENDA AND INTEND TO TAKE ACCESS VIA THE ONLY GIVEN BREAK IN THE EXISTING MEDIAN ALONG SPRINGWOOD VILLAGE, WHICH IS 532 FEET FROM EAST MOSSY OAKS. THIS IS A, AN 11% DEVIATION FROM THE STANDARD BOTH INTERSECTIONS OF EAST MOSSY OAKS AND SPRINGWOOD VILLAGE. AS SEEN IN INTERSECTION ONE AND GRANT PARKWAY AND SPRINGWOOD VILLAGE ASCENA INTERSECTION TWO HAVE A FOUR-WAY TRA UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE SAFETY OF THE SIGNAL INTERSECTIONS AND THE SMALL DEVIATION FROM THE INTERSECTION SPACING MINIMUM COMBINED TO ENSURE THE GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE WOULD NOT BE INJURIOUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CCP C 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS. MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION MOTION. MOTION POURS. SECOND CAROL. SECOND CAROL. ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 82. UH, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ITEMS 82 THROUGH 84 AS ONE. YES SIR. ITEMS 82 THROUGH 84 ARE GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE SECTIONS ONE, TWO, AND THREE. THESE SUBJECT SITES ARE LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY, EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION NORTH ALONG GRAND PARKWAY, 99 AND WEST OF HALLS WORTH SAWMILL ROAD. THESE SECTIONS PROPOSED SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND ACCOMPANYING RESERVES AND SECTIONS ONE AND THREE ARE REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW LOTS TO TAKE ACCESS VIA A PRIVATE ALLEY, UH, IN LIEU OF PUBLIC STREET FRONTAGE. SECTION TWO DOES NOT REQUEST A VARIANCE BUT IS ATTACHED TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL PLAN WHICH MEETS ALL CHAPTER 42 REQUIREMENTS. SECTION ONE PROPOSES A TOTAL OF 208 LOTS AND INTENDS FOR 84 OF THOSE LOTS TO TAKE ACCESS VIA THE PRIVATE ALLEY SHOWN IN RED SECTION THREE PROPOSES 94 TOTAL LOTS BUT AND INTENDS FOR 51 OF THOSE LOTS TO TAKE ACCESS VIA THE PRIVATE ALLEY SHOWN IN RED. BOTH SECTIONS ONE AND THREE ARE, UH, ATTACHED TO THE INTERSECTION VARIANCE ON THE GENERAL PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. STAFF AND HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING HAVE CONCERNS AS SOME OF THE ALLEY LOTS SHOWN IN PINK DO NOT COMPLY WITH FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS OR REQUIREMENTS. UH, THE OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER HAS ALSO STATED CONCERNS TO ADDRESS UTILITY ACCESS AS THE ALLEY LOTS ARE COMPLETELY SEGREGATED FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY BY A TWO FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE EASEMENT. THE APPLICANT DID HAVE A MEETING WITH PLANNING PUBLIC WORKS AND HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER IN THE DEFERRAL PERIOD AND HAS PROVIDED UTILITY DRAWINGS WHICH ARE UNDER REVIEW BY PUBLIC WORKS. UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE APPROVE SECTION TWO, BUT TO DEFER SECTIONS ONE AND THREE, UH, FOR TWO WEEKS TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO CO UH, FURTHER COORDINATE WITH FIRE MARSHAL AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING THE FIRE SAFETY ISSUES AND UTILITY ACCESS. MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES THAT'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEMS 82 THROUGH 84 FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION? MOTION GUARD? I HEARD A LOT AT ONE TIME. UH, I SAW COMMISSIONER FAMS MOUTH MOVING. SO , SO MOTION FAM. WAS IT YOU AND NARANJO? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO ITEMS UNDER [Platting Activities g - j] EF SO WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO G [01:35:01] EXTENSION OF APPROVAL. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MY NAME IS RANDY LILLY. IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SECTIONS GHI AND J AS ONE GROUP? ABSOLUTELY. SECTION G IS EXTENSION OF APPROVAL, CONSISTS OF ITEMS 85 THROUGH 91 SECTION H. NAME CHANGES CONSISTS OF ITEM 92, SECTION I. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE CONSISTS OF NO ITEMS. SECTION J ADMINISTRATIVE CONSISTS OF NO ITEMS. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT REQUESTS THE APPROVAL OF ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SECTIONS GHI AND J. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT I'M GONNA ABST FROM, UH, ITEMS 85, 87 AND 88. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M NOT LAUGHING AT YOU, IT'S JUST EVERYBODY AT ONCE, SO, UM, WE'VE GOT THAT ABSTENTION. THANK YOU. AND I THINK I HEARD UH, COMMISSIONER BALLARD MOTION. WHO MADE THE SECOND? ANYBODY MAKE A SECOND? OKAY. SEGLER SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON [k. Development Plats with Variance Requests (Ed Buckley and Malcolm Oliver)] TO K DEVELOPMENT PLATS. UH, 93 IS WITHDRAWN. SO ITEM 94? YES. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ITEM 94 IS 1501 WICKMAN STREET. THE SITE IS LOCATED WEST OF MONT STREET AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10 AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF WICKMAN STREET AND SECOND STREET. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND IS REQUESTING A REDUCED BUILDING LINE OF FIVE FEET ALONG SECOND STREET. INSTEAD OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 10 FOOT BUILDING LINE STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST. ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL PLAT, SECOND STREET WAS SHOWN TO EXTEND PAST THE VARIANCE SITE BEFORE INTERSECTING WITH WHITE OAK BAYOU. SOMETIME AFTER THE PROPERTY WAS PLATTED, WHITE OAK BAYOU WAS DIVERTED AND THE LOT NOW BACKS DIRECTLY ONTO THE BAYOU. INSTEAD OF, UM, THE LOTS THAT WERE PLATTED ORIGINALLY. THIS MAKES SECOND STREET, A DEAD END PAPER STREET. THE PROPOSED HOME IS TAKING ACCESS FROM WICKMAN STREET AND NO IMPROVEMENTS ARE PROPOSED ALONG THE PAPER STREET. SECOND STREET AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE REQUEST. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BALDWIN. MOTION BALDWIN. SECOND HINES. SECOND HINES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON [III. Establish a public hearing date of December 3, 2026] TO ROMAN THREE. ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF DECEMBER 3RD, 2026 FOR ANDORRA'S. REST, UH, ALLAH, UH, ISLA VILLAS, OLIVE VILLAS, CHURCHES, CULLEN CRUISE AUTO SHOP, EASTWOOD STREET VILLAS, GALAHAD STREET HOMES HIGH MEADOWS, SECTION TWO, PARTIAL REPL NUMBER ONE AND VIBE AT LITTLE YORK. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION. MOTION SIGLER SECOND FAM. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. UH, ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR [IV. Public Hearing and Consideration of a Special Minimum Lot Size for the 2400-2500 Block of Wichita Street in the Riverside Terrace Subdivision Sections 1 and 3 – MLS 927 (Eriq Glenn).] ESTABLISH, UH, EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC HEARING IN CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS ERIC GLENN. THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION NUMBER 9 27 FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 9,750 SQUARE FOOT SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK FOR THE 2,400 THROUGH 2,500 BLOCK OF WICHITA STREET NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES BETWEEN EMANCIPATION AVENUE AND LIVE OAK STREET. THE BLOCK IS LOCATED IN THE RIVERSIDE TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CO COUNCIL, DISTRICT D AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 83 MCGREGOR. THE APPLICATION AREA CONSISTS OF 18 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS REPRESENTING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE LOTS IN THE APPLICATION AREA, AND ZERO COMMERCIAL LOTS REPRESENTING 0% OF THE APPLICATION AREA. A LOT SIZE OF 907 9,750 SQUARE FEET EXISTS ON 15 LOTS IN THE APPLICATION AREA. THE APPLICATION AREA IS WITHIN THE RIVERSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISION PLATTED IN 1924. THE EARLIEST HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED IN 1936. THE APPLICANT PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FROM OWNERS OF 10 OF THE 18 LOTS, REPRESENTING 54% OF THE TOTAL LAND AREA. NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE MAILED OUT TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE APPLICATION AREA. STAFF RECEIVED ONE WRITTEN PROTEST FROM A PROPERTY OWNER. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO FORWARD THAT APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. ALSO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZ SUBMITTED A LETTER OF APPROVAL THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE READ. UM, READING THAT DOWN, YES. RIVERSIDE TERRACE IS MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF HOMES. IT'S A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD RICH IN ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER, GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT, AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE WORKED FOR DECADES TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR COMMUNITY. COUNCILWOMAN OZ FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT AS HOUSTON CONTINUES TO GROW, WE MUST ENSURE THAT PROGRESS DOES NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS WHO HELP BUILD THIS CITY. THIS DESIGNATION IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER [01:40:01] OF WICHITA STREET DISCOURAGE INCOMPATIBLE LOT SUBDIVISION AND RESPECT THE INVESTMENTS HOMEOWNERS HAVE MADE IN THEIR PROPERTIES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. WE CAN AND MUST DO BOTH. THE COUNCILWOMAN BELIEVES RESIDENTS DESERVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. PRESERVING RIVERSIDE TERRACE IS NOT ABOUT RESISTING CHANGE, IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT CHANGE RESPECTS THE HISTORY, STABILITY, AND IDENTITY OF THIS COMMUNITY. UM, SHE RESPECTFULLY RESPECT COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT D RESPECTFULLY URGE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THIS DESIGNATION AND ADVANCE IT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MADE HOUSTON WHAT IT IS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. END OF HER REMARKS. GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO HAVE A SPEAKER. PHYLLIS MOSS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PHYLLIS MOSS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE A 38 YEAR RESIDENCE OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE AND WE LIVE AT 25 20 WICHITA STREET. I'M HERE TO ASK THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE. THIS IS A RENEWAL APPLICATION OKAY. OF OUR SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK. UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MAINTAINED A HIGHLY DISTINCT IDENTIFIABLE LOCK CHARACTER FOR GENERATIONS. THIS CHARACTER IS EXACTLY WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY A STABLE AND DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL WE HAVE TO PRESERVE THAT SHARED STRUCTURAL HISTORY AND PREVENT OUT OF SCALE PREDATORY DEVELOPMENT THAT STRIPS AWAY OUR GREEN SPACE AND STRAINS OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE ONE VOTE IN OPPOSITION IS THE ONLY HOME ON OUR BLOCK THAT IS OWNED BY A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER. OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE SHOWN OVERWHELMINGLY CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FOR THESE PROTECTIONS. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO STOP PROGRESS. WE ARE SIMPLY LOOKING TO SUSTAIN THE EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER THAT WE INVESTED IN AND HAVE WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN GRANTING THIS RENEWAL, ENSURE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS FOR YEARS TO COME. PLEASE HONOR THE CONSENTS OF THE HOMEOWNERS LIVING IN THIS BLOCK AND RECOMMEND THIS RENEWAL FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BALLARD. MOTION BALLARD. SECOND BALDWIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING [V. Public Hearing and Consideration of a Special Minimum Lot Size for the 2300 Block of Wroxton Road in the Southampton Place Extension – MLS 929 (Jacqueline Brown).] ON TO RE NUMERAL FIVE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS JACQUELYN BROWN. THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 6,000 SQUARE FOOT SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK FOR THE 2300 BLOCK OF ROCKTON ROAD NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES BETWEEN MORNINGSIDE DRIVE AND GREENBRIAR DRIVE. THE BLOCK IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHAMPTON NEIGHBORHOOD IN COUNCIL DISTRICT C AND UNIVERSITY PLACE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. THE APPLICATION AREA CONSISTS OF 25 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS REPRESENTING 89% OF THE LAND IN THE APPLICATION AREA AND THREE MULTIFAMILY LOTS REPRESENTING 11% OF THE APPLICATION LAND AREA. THE APPLICATION IS IS WITHIN THE SOUTH HAMPTON PLACE EXTENSION SUBDIVISION PLOTTED IN 1925 WITH THE EARLIEST HOMES CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE 1930S. THE APPLICANT PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FROM OWNERS OF THE OF 15 OF THE 28 LOTS REPRESENTING 54% OF THE TOTAL LAND AREA. NOTIFICATION WAS MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS AND ONE TIMELY WRITTEN PROTEST WAS RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION PERIOD, STAFF RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL PROTEST AND ONE ADDITIONAL LETTER OF SUPPORT STAFF'S REC. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO FORWARD THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A SPEAKER, STEVEN S AND I'M SURE I MISPRONOUNCED THAT, SO PLEASE CORRECT ME. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR CLARK AND COMMISSIONERS. UH, STEVEN J SAVA. OKAY. UM, MY WIFE DAPHNE AND I OWN 2332 ROCKTON ROAD. INSIDE THE PROPOSED BLOCK, WE SUPPORT THE APPLICATION AND ASK YOU TO APPROVE IT AS PROPOSED. UH, I JUST HAVE THREE POINTS. UH, FIRST, THIS SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT TOOL WAS ENACTED FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, CONDITIONED THE WAY IT IS. UM, CURRENTLY, UH, THE 6,000 FOOT MINIMUM SQUARE LOT CHANGES. NOTHING. IT JUST PRESERVES WHAT'S THERE. UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS BLOCK SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE DEFAULT NON-URBAN STANDARD WOULD ALLOW FOR ALMOST DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF HOMES ON THE STREET. STREET [01:45:01] IS VERY NARROW. IT HAS NO SIDEWALK CUT. SO MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE WALKING THEIR DOGS OR WALKING TO AND FROM, UH, RICE VILLAGE ARE IN THE STREET. SO IF WE PUT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF LOTS THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE PARKING. UM, ALSO THE RESTRICTION COSTS NOTHING TO THE OBJECTING OWNERS. THEY CAN STILL REMODEL, REBUILD, SELL, UM, IT ONLY STOPS ONE SUBDIVISION. UM, ALSO IN ON THE BLOCK THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE HOMES IN CONSTRUCTION. ONE THAT WAS COMPLETED. THEY'RE ALL 6,000 LOT HOMES. SO THIS WOULD, UH, NEGATIVELY CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I ASK THE BOARD TO, UH, APPROVE THE APPLICATION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION. MOTION SIGLER SECOND BALLARD. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. [VI. Public Comment] I DO HAVE A SPEAKER, I BELIEVE. UM, ALEXANDER SPIKE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I CAME HERE TO, OR ACTUALLY EXCUSE ME, LET ME START FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. MY NAME IS ALEXANDER SPIKE. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS AT THE MID MIDTOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. NUMBER 62. CAME HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90, NUMBER 93, THE MCGOWAN STREET GAS STATION. UM, WE, UM, ARE RELIEVED TO SEE THE VARIANCE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN A DESIGN THAT IS MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IE WALKABLE, MORE SHADED, UM, AND WITH A STOREFRONT CLOSER TO THE SIDEWALK. SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING WITH THE DEVELOPERS. HAD WE GOT A MEETING WHICH NEVER MATERIALIZED DESPITE THE PURSUIT OF OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUANTITY OF STATIONS. AND I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THE PROPOSED, UM, RULES FOR GAS STATIONS COMING THROUGH FROM CITY COUNCIL AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. UM, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS WILL BE NUMBER FIVE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE, UH, AND POTENTIALLY A SIXTH ONE IN PLACE OF WHERE THE KIRBY MANSION CURRENTLY STANDS. UM, WE ONCE AGAIN WANT TO REITERATE TO, UM, THE APPLICANTS IF THEY ARE LISTENING, UM, THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH THEM AND DISCUSS HOW THIS COULD GO FROM JUST ANOTHER STATION, UH, INTO SOMETHING THAT SERVES A COMMUNITY NEED. UM, WE STILL THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT. UM, THIS BEING A BLOCK AWAY FROM METRO RAIL, WE THINK THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE PROPERTY AND THE LACK OF HOMES ON THIS SPOT IS A BIT UPSETTING. UM, FINALLY I'LL SHARE THAT, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER THAT STATION WILL BECOME AFTER ITS LIFE IS A GAS STATION. UM, UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. OKAY. THAT WAS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO IT IS 4:22 PM AND I'M ADJOURNING THIS MEETING. THANK YOU EVERYONE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.