Commission approves Woodland Heights replat despite neighborhood objections; project to go to historic review

The Houston Planning Commission approved a replat that would divide a parcel in Woodland Heights into two single‑family lots, clearing a procedural step while leaving design and historic‑preservation questions for later review.

Planning staff recommended approval, saying the proposed lots meet the neighborhood’s minimum lot‑size standard and that compliance with historic‑district rules (including certificate of appropriateness requirements) will be reviewed at permitting and at the Houston Historic Commission. The commission voted in favor of staff’s recommendation; a motion to approve was made by Commissioner Baldwin, seconded by Commissioner Garza, and the chair announced, “Motion carries.”

The item drew extensive public comment from neighbors, who warned the proposed replat would make it difficult to meet deed‑restriction setbacks and the Woodland Heights historic guidelines. Tim McCahon, who lives two houses west of the site, cited a deed restriction provision he said requires new structures abutting a public street be placed “at least 10 feet from the property line” and questioned whether two new homes could meet that requirement given the proposed lot layout.

Other residents raised concerns about traffic, drainage and neighborhood character. Multiple speakers said the southern side of the block consists of larger lots and single houses with deep yards, and that splitting the parcel into two smaller lots would be out of character. Several residents urged the commission to either deny or defer so the neighborhood and applicant could coordinate on design and setbacks.

The developer, Anthony Monaco, attended and told commissioners he has met multiple times with historic‑preservation staff and said he intends to follow rules and guidelines: “Everything I do, I do a lot of due diligence. I'm by the book. I follow laws. I follow facts,” Monaco said. He asked the commission to approve the replat to allow the project to proceed to the historic‑review stage.

Planning staff told the commission the deed‑restriction record includes multiple historic documents and a range of setback language; staff said the plat meets current Chapter 42 requirements and the minimal lot size for the district (5,000 square feet), and that the historic commission will review COA and design consistency at the building‑permit and COA stage.

Ending: The approval clears the plat step. Any certificate of appropriateness, setback determinations and detailed design review will be handled by the Houston Historic Commission and permitting staff; residents were advised to bring deed‑restriction claims and design concerns to those subsequent proceedings.