Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission denies variance for Northwood Crossing replat after neighbor opposition
Summary
The Houston Planning Commission voted to deny a requested variance for Northwood Crossing after neighbors and the Northwood Manor Civic Club said they were not notified and argued the proposal would violate deed restrictions and harm neighborhood character; legal staff said the subject lots may not be covered by the deed restrictions because they originate from a water-well reserve.
The Houston Planning Commission on Aug. 31 voted to deny a variance requested for the Northwood Crossing replat following extensive neighborhood opposition.
Fred Woods, president of the Northwood Manor Civic Club, led public comment urging denial, saying residents received no mailed notice and that the proposal would violate deed restrictions and risk flooding and parking problems. “Allowing this variance would violate both deed restrictions,” Woods said, asking the commission to keep the neighborhood consistent.
Staff and legal counsel told the commission the parcel at issue derives from a prior water-well reserve and, as a result, may not be subject to the neighborhood’s deed restrictions as written. Planning staff said the applicant could use a two‑week deferral period to coordinate with the civic club, neighboring owners and legal staff, but commissioners instead moved to deny the variance.
Commissioner Baldwin moved to deny the variance; Commissioner Robbins seconded. After questions from other commissioners about notice and the applicant’s claimed hardship, the motion to deny carried by voice vote.
The public record at the hearing included neighbors’ concerns that subdividing the reserve into smaller lots would change neighborhood character, strain on-street parking and increase runoff in an area they described as having antiquated drainage. Legal counsel said a court could ultimately resolve enforceability questions about the deed restrictions, but that for this parcel staff could not rely on the restrictions to block the plat.
Next steps: the denial of the variance concludes the commission’s action on this application for now. The developer may pursue other local approvals or legal remedies; neighbors were advised to consult counsel if they wish to pursue injunctive relief or a declaratory action on deed‑restriction validity.
