West Lane Place Civic Association

HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

UPDATE ON PROGRESS

Subj: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: 10/29/00 5:07:17 PM Central Standard Time
From: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net (Michael S O'Brien)
Reply-to: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net
To: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net

HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION UPDATE

OCTOBER 29, 2000


IMPORTANT NOTICE
HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00
COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP


*******IMPORTANT NOTICE*******

Unless your civic organization is registered with the Planning and
Development Department, our hard fought gains that expanded notification
about development activity under Chapter 42, will go for naught.

Recently, your civic organization should have received in the mail a
document styled "CIVIC ASSOCIATION NOTIFICATION REGISTRATION FORM". The
Houston Homeowners Association is strongly urging civic groups to completely
fill out both part A (Required) and part B (optional). In fact, we are
going one step further and asking you to add in bold letters somewhere on
the form if your neighborhood is or is not deed restricted.

The new amendments went into effect on October 23rd and I have already seen
signs posted stating "request for variance".

If your neighborhood has not received your registration form or you have any
questions, please call Jason Jeffries with the Planning and Development
Department at 713-837-7813.

The Houston Homeowners Association has been advised that the biggest problem
that the Planning and Development Department is having with the registration
forms that have already been submitted, deals with the key map location. If
you do not have a "key map" book or are having a problem determining your
key map location, you can call Jason for help.

REMEMBER TO REGISTER


HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP

Reid Wilson was our guest speaker. He addressed HB3298 that was sponsored
by Garnet Coleman for the Houston Homeowners Association in the 1999 State
Legislature. The bill was drafted to allow neighborhoods that had allowed
their deed restrictions to lapse to be reinstated under Chapter 204 of the
Texas Property Code. Currently, such neighborhoods can only use Chapter 201
to reinstate. Chapter 204 is far more neighborhood friendly than Chapter
201. Chapter 201 requires the support of only 50% plus one homeowner to
allow reinstatement of deed restrictions. But, Chapter 201 also allows for
a "pro-active" opt out by property owners who do not want their properties
to be deed restricted. This causes a checkerboard effect in the
neighborhood with some lots deed restricted and others not. Many
neighborhoods have found out the hard way what a problem this can be.

Thus, the most important feature of HB3298 was to do away with this
pro-active opt out if the neighborhood was able to get a super majority
(75%) in support. With 75% or more support of the homeowners, 100% of the
properties would be deed restricted.

The Houston Homeowners Association will reintroduce this bill in the 2001
State Legislature.

For all those in attendance, that had deed restriction problems and asked
Reid a question about their problem, they got "excellent" free advice. Reid
also provided us with a new document styled "Texas Property Code Chapter 201
Problems and Solutions". Copies will be available at the Houston Homeowners
Association's November general meeting.

The Houston Homeowners Association wants to thank Reid Wilson for always
being there for us when we need him. Thanks Reid!!!


NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00

The next Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee meeting is
scheduled for Monday, October 30th at 9:30 A.M. in the City Hall Annex
Council Chambers at 900 Bagby. The only topic on the agenda is a
presentation on the three ordinances that deal with billboards that are on
the City Council agenda for Wednesday, November 1st. City Council agenda
item #31 deals with the ordinance creating the Gateway Houston Scenic
District. City Council agenda item #32 deals with the relocation of the
billboards on the Katy Freeway. City Council agenda item #33 deals with the
relocation of between fifteen and twenty miscellaneous billboards.

These three ordinances are being presented together on the agenda because
they represent a "win-win" situation for both sides of the issue. The story
circulating is that the billboard industry will not actively oppose item
#31, because they know that they are gaining a great deal from items #32 and
#33. The other side wanting to reduce the number of billboards will not
oppose items #32 and #33 because they gain from item #31. Therefore, the
passage of all three ordinances is all but assured.

As far as the Houston Homeowners Association is concerned there is still one
major unanswered question. This is the topic I spoke to at the Public
Hearing on October 25th. Are scenic districts still a viable tool for
residential neighborhoods to use for the elimination or reduction of visual
blight?

The Gateway Houston Scenic District designation was held up basically two
years while the City of Houston and the billboard industry haggled over
their lawsuit and the relocation of the Katy Freeway billboards. So as a
result, we get one new scenic district, the first since 1986, and they get
to relocate a number of billboards.

But, what happens when the next neighborhood applies for a scenic district
designation and there is no "bone" to throw to the billboard industry?
What then, no scenic district. If this is the case then the Houston
Homeowners Association believes that the billboard industry is getting the
lion's share of the spoils in this triumvirate of ordinances.

The Houston Homeowners Association has at least three member groups that are
currently interested in pursuing a scenic district designation. It is high
time the administration gets a spine and stands up to the billboard industry
such that scenic districts will be a viable tool for neighborhoods in the
future.


COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP

The initial meeting of the committee to address problems related to the
falsification of residential building permit applications was held on
Monday, October 23rd at 3:00 P.M. This meeting was a result of the Houston
Homeowners Association's general meeting of September 25th. At that time,
Robert M. "Bob" Litke, Director Planning and Development Department, after
hearing a couple hours of "horror stories" from residential neighborhood
representatives about this topic, finally agreed to facilitate a series of
meeting in an attempt to solve the problem. Present at the meeting were
city officials including Mr. Litke, Council Member Annise Parker and a group
of neighborhood representatives.

Mr. Litke wanted to begin by reviewing the residential building permit form,
particularly the affidavit on the backside. His idea was to change the
layout of the form and to print it in larger type. One thing that I did not
realize was that the City of Houston's intent was to only deny the permit if
the applicant violated any of the three types of deed restriction that the
City enforces. The City enforces use (residential), setbacks and size of
lot and size, number and type of structures on a lot.

The neighborhood representatives wanted a strongly worded statement on the
form to the effect that the applicant could be subject to legal action by a
third party, namely a neighborhood organization, if they were to violate
other deed restrictions. Neighborhoods wanted a better feel for what
criminal and civil actions were to be taken by the City in such cases.

Unfortunately, the City Attorney Anthony Hall, even though invited, declined
to attend this meeting. His presence could have immediately answered a
number of questions and it is quite possible that he could have considerably
expedited the proceedings.

The next meeting will be held when Mr. Litke get the form redrafted. The
Houston Homeowners Association will keep you informed as our work proceeds.

To review building permits that have been pulled in your neighborhood log on
to the following address:
http://houston.onlinepermits.com

You can review by neighborhood name or by street address.


Thanks
Mike
281-496-0752
281-496-6896 Fax
michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net



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From: "Michael S O'Brien"
To:
Subject: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 15:35:30 -0600
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Subj: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: 10/29/00 5:07:17 PM Central Standard Time
From: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net (Michael S O'Brien)
Reply-to: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net
To: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net

HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION UPDATE

OCTOBER 29, 2000


IMPORTANT NOTICE
HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00
COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP


*******IMPORTANT NOTICE*******

Unless your civic organization is registered with the Planning and
Development Department, our hard fought gains that expanded notification
about development activity under Chapter 42, will go for naught.

Recently, your civic organization should have received in the mail a
document styled "CIVIC ASSOCIATION NOTIFICATION REGISTRATION FORM". The
Houston Homeowners Association is strongly urging civic groups to completely
fill out both part A (Required) and part B (optional). In fact, we are
going one step further and asking you to add in bold letters somewhere on
the form if your neighborhood is or is not deed restricted.

The new amendments went into effect on October 23rd and I have already seen
signs posted stating "request for variance".

If your neighborhood has not received your registration form or you have any
questions, please call Jason Jeffries with the Planning and Development
Department at 713-837-7813.

The Houston Homeowners Association has been advised that the biggest problem
that the Planning and Development Department is having with the registration
forms that have already been submitted, deals with the key map location. If
you do not have a "key map" book or are having a problem determining your
key map location, you can call Jason for help.

REMEMBER TO REGISTER


HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP

Reid Wilson was our guest speaker. He addressed HB3298 that was sponsored
by Garnet Coleman for the Houston Homeowners Association in the 1999 State
Legislature. The bill was drafted to allow neighborhoods that had allowed
their deed restrictions to lapse to be reinstated under Chapter 204 of the
Texas Property Code. Currently, such neighborhoods can only use Chapter 201
to reinstate. Chapter 204 is far more neighborhood friendly than Chapter
201. Chapter 201 requires the support of only 50% plus one homeowner to
allow reinstatement of deed restrictions. But, Chapter 201 also allows for
a "pro-active" opt out by property owners who do not want their properties
to be deed restricted. This causes a checkerboard effect in the
neighborhood with some lots deed restricted and others not. Many
neighborhoods have found out the hard way what a problem this can be.

Thus, the most important feature of HB3298 was to do away with this
pro-active opt out if the neighborhood was able to get a super majority
(75%) in support. With 75% or more support of the homeowners, 100% of the
properties would be deed restricted.

The Houston Homeowners Association will reintroduce this bill in the 2001
State Legislature.

For all those in attendance, that had deed restriction problems and asked
Reid a question about their problem, they got "excellent" free advice. Reid
also provided us with a new document styled "Texas Property Code Chapter 201
Problems and Solutions". Copies will be available at the Houston Homeowners
Association's November general meeting.

The Houston Homeowners Association wants to thank Reid Wilson for always
being there for us when we need him. Thanks Reid!!!


NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00

The next Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee meeting is
scheduled for Monday, October 30th at 9:30 A.M. in the City Hall Annex
Council Chambers at 900 Bagby. The only topic on the agenda is a
presentation on the three ordinances that deal with billboards that are on
the City Council agenda for Wednesday, November 1st. City Council agenda
item #31 deals with the ordinance creating the Gateway Houston Scenic
District. City Council agenda item #32 deals with the relocation of the
billboards on the Katy Freeway. City Council agenda item #33 deals with the
relocation of between fifteen and twenty miscellaneous billboards.

These three ordinances are being presented together on the agenda because
they represent a "win-win" situation for both sides of the issue. The story
circulating is that the billboard industry will not actively oppose item
#31, because they know that they are gaining a great deal from items #32 and
#33. The other side wanting to reduce the number of billboards will not
oppose items #32 and #33 because they gain from item #31. Therefore, the
passage of all three ordinances is all but assured.

As far as the Houston Homeowners Association is concerned there is still one
major unanswered question. This is the topic I spoke to at the Public
Hearing on October 25th. Are scenic districts still a viable tool for
residential neighborhoods to use for the elimination or reduction of visual
blight?

The Gateway Houston Scenic District designation was held up basically two
years while the City of Houston and the billboard industry haggled over
their lawsuit and the relocation of the Katy Freeway billboards. So as a
result, we get one new scenic district, the first since 1986, and they get
to relocate a number of billboards.

But, what happens when the next neighborhood applies for a scenic district
designation and there is no "bone" to throw to the billboard industry?
What then, no scenic district. If this is the case then the Houston
Homeowners Association believes that the billboard industry is getting the
lion's share of the spoils in this triumvirate of ordinances.

The Houston Homeowners Association has at least three member groups that are
currently interested in pursuing a scenic district designation. It is high
time the administration gets a spine and stands up to the billboard industry
such that scenic districts will be a viable tool for neighborhoods in the
future.


COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP

The initial meeting of the committee to address problems related to the
falsification of residential building permit applications was held on
Monday, October 23rd at 3:00 P.M. This meeting was a result of the Houston
Homeowners Association's general meeting of September 25th. At that time,
Robert M. "Bob" Litke, Director Planning and Development Department, after
hearing a couple hours of "horror stories" from residential neighborhood
representatives about this topic, finally agreed to facilitate a series of
meeting in an attempt to solve the problem. Present at the meeting were
city officials including Mr. Litke, Council Member Annise Parker and a group
of neighborhood representatives.

Mr. Litke wanted to begin by reviewing the residential building permit form,
particularly the affidavit on the backside. His idea was to change the
layout of the form and to print it in larger type. One thing that I did not
realize was that the City of Houston's intent was to only deny the permit if
the applicant violated any of the three types of deed restriction that the
City enforces. The City enforces use (residential), setbacks and size of
lot and size, number and type of structures on a lot.

The neighborhood representatives wanted a strongly worded statement on the
form to the effect that the applicant could be subject to legal action by a
third party, namely a neighborhood organization, if they were to violate
other deed restrictions. Neighborhoods wanted a better feel for what
criminal and civil actions were to be taken by the City in such cases.

Unfortunately, the City Attorney Anthony Hall, even though invited, declined
to attend this meeting. His presence could have immediately answered a
number of questions and it is quite possible that he could have considerably
expedited the proceedings.

The next meeting will be held when Mr. Litke get the form redrafted. The
Houston Homeowners Association will keep you informed as our work proceeds.

To review building permits that have been pulled in your neighborhood log on
to the following address:
http://houston.onlinepermits.com

You can review by neighborhood name or by street address.


Thanks
Mike
281-496-0752
281-496-6896 Fax
michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net



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Sun, 29 Oct 2000 21:25:09 +0000
Reply-To:
From: "Michael S O'Brien"
To:
Subject: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 15:35:30 -0600
Message-ID: <000101c041f0$29c1d820$5ee7490c@preferred-user>
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Subj: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: 10/29/00 5:07:17 PM Central Standard Time
From: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net (Michael S O'Brien)
Reply-to: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net
To: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net

HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION UPDATE

OCTOBER 29, 2000


IMPORTANT NOTICE
HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00
COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP


*******IMPORTANT NOTICE*******

Unless your civic organization is registered with the Planning and
Development Department, our hard fought gains that expanded notification
about development activity under Chapter 42, will go for naught.

Recently, your civic organization should have received in the mail a
document styled "CIVIC ASSOCIATION NOTIFICATION REGISTRATION FORM". The
Houston Homeowners Association is strongly urging civic groups to completely
fill out both part A (Required) and part B (optional). In fact, we are
going one step further and asking you to add in bold letters somewhere on
the form if your neighborhood is or is not deed restricted.

The new amendments went into effect on October 23rd and I have already seen
signs posted stating "request for variance".

If your neighborhood has not received your registration form or you have any
questions, please call Jason Jeffries with the Planning and Development
Department at 713-837-7813.

The Houston Homeowners Association has been advised that the biggest problem
that the Planning and Development Department is having with the registration
forms that have already been submitted, deals with the key map location. If
you do not have a "key map" book or are having a problem determining your
key map location, you can call Jason for help.

REMEMBER TO REGISTER


HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP

Reid Wilson was our guest speaker. He addressed HB3298 that was sponsored
by Garnet Coleman for the Houston Homeowners Association in the 1999 State
Legislature. The bill was drafted to allow neighborhoods that had allowed
their deed restrictions to lapse to be reinstated under Chapter 204 of the
Texas Property Code. Currently, such neighborhoods can only use Chapter 201
to reinstate. Chapter 204 is far more neighborhood friendly than Chapter
201. Chapter 201 requires the support of only 50% plus one homeowner to
allow reinstatement of deed restrictions. But, Chapter 201 also allows for
a "pro-active" opt out by property owners who do not want their properties
to be deed restricted. This causes a checkerboard effect in the
neighborhood with some lots deed restricted and others not. Many
neighborhoods have found out the hard way what a problem this can be.

Thus, the most important feature of HB3298 was to do away with this
pro-active opt out if the neighborhood was able to get a super majority
(75%) in support. With 75% or more support of the homeowners, 100% of the
properties would be deed restricted.

The Houston Homeowners Association will reintroduce this bill in the 2001
State Legislature.

For all those in attendance, that had deed restriction problems and asked
Reid a question about their problem, they got "excellent" free advice. Reid
also provided us with a new document styled "Texas Property Code Chapter 201
Problems and Solutions". Copies will be available at the Houston Homeowners
Association's November general meeting.

The Houston Homeowners Association wants to thank Reid Wilson for always
being there for us when we need him. Thanks Reid!!!


NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00

The next Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee meeting is
scheduled for Monday, October 30th at 9:30 A.M. in the City Hall Annex
Council Chambers at 900 Bagby. The only topic on the agenda is a
presentation on the three ordinances that deal with billboards that are on
the City Council agenda for Wednesday, November 1st. City Council agenda
item #31 deals with the ordinance creating the Gateway Houston Scenic
District. City Council agenda item #32 deals with the relocation of the
billboards on the Katy Freeway. City Council agenda item #33 deals with the
relocation of between fifteen and twenty miscellaneous billboards.

These three ordinances are being presented together on the agenda because
they represent a "win-win" situation for both sides of the issue. The story
circulating is that the billboard industry will not actively oppose item
#31, because they know that they are gaining a great deal from items #32 and
#33. The other side wanting to reduce the number of billboards will not
oppose items #32 and #33 because they gain from item #31. Therefore, the
passage of all three ordinances is all but assured.

As far as the Houston Homeowners Association is concerned there is still one
major unanswered question. This is the topic I spoke to at the Public
Hearing on October 25th. Are scenic districts still a viable tool for
residential neighborhoods to use for the elimination or reduction of visual
blight?

The Gateway Houston Scenic District designation was held up basically two
years while the City of Houston and the billboard industry haggled over
their lawsuit and the relocation of the Katy Freeway billboards. So as a
result, we get one new scenic district, the first since 1986, and they get
to relocate a number of billboards.

But, what happens when the next neighborhood applies for a scenic district
designation and there is no "bone" to throw to the billboard industry?
What then, no scenic district. If this is the case then the Houston
Homeowners Association believes that the billboard industry is getting the
lion's share of the spoils in this triumvirate of ordinances.

The Houston Homeowners Association has at least three member groups that are
currently interested in pursuing a scenic district designation. It is high
time the administration gets a spine and stands up to the billboard industry
such that scenic districts will be a viable tool for neighborhoods in the
future.


COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP

The initial meeting of the committee to address problems related to the
falsification of residential building permit applications was held on
Monday, October 23rd at 3:00 P.M. This meeting was a result of the Houston
Homeowners Association's general meeting of September 25th. At that time,
Robert M. "Bob" Litke, Director Planning and Development Department, after
hearing a couple hours of "horror stories" from residential neighborhood
representatives about this topic, finally agreed to facilitate a series of
meeting in an attempt to solve the problem. Present at the meeting were
city officials including Mr. Litke, Council Member Annise Parker and a group
of neighborhood representatives.

Mr. Litke wanted to begin by reviewing the residential building permit form,
particularly the affidavit on the backside. His idea was to change the
layout of the form and to print it in larger type. One thing that I did not
realize was that the City of Houston's intent was to only deny the permit if
the applicant violated any of the three types of deed restriction that the
City enforces. The City enforces use (residential), setbacks and size of
lot and size, number and type of structures on a lot.

The neighborhood representatives wanted a strongly worded statement on the
form to the effect that the applicant could be subject to legal action by a
third party, namely a neighborhood organization, if they were to violate
other deed restrictions. Neighborhoods wanted a better feel for what
criminal and civil actions were to be taken by the City in such cases.

Unfortunately, the City Attorney Anthony Hall, even though invited, declined
to attend this meeting. His presence could have immediately answered a
number of questions and it is quite possible that he could have considerably
expedited the proceedings.

The next meeting will be held when Mr. Litke get the form redrafted. The
Houston Homeowners Association will keep you informed as our work proceeds.

To review building permits that have been pulled in your neighborhood log on
to the following address:
http://houston.onlinepermits.com

You can review by neighborhood name or by street address.


Thanks
Mike
281-496-0752
281-496-6896 Fax
michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net



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Sun, 29 Oct 2000 21:25:09 +0000
Reply-To:
From: "Michael S O'Brien"
To:
Subject: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 15:35:30 -0600
Message-ID: <000101c041f0$29c1d820$5ee7490c@preferred-user>
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Subj: HHA UPDATE 10-29-00
Date: 10/29/00 5:07:17 PM Central Standard Time
From: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net (Michael S O'Brien)
Reply-to: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net
To: michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net

HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION UPDATE

OCTOBER 29, 2000


IMPORTANT NOTICE
HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00
COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP


*******IMPORTANT NOTICE*******

Unless your civic organization is registered with the Planning and
Development Department, our hard fought gains that expanded notification
about development activity under Chapter 42, will go for naught.

Recently, your civic organization should have received in the mail a
document styled "CIVIC ASSOCIATION NOTIFICATION REGISTRATION FORM". The
Houston Homeowners Association is strongly urging civic groups to completely
fill out both part A (Required) and part B (optional). In fact, we are
going one step further and asking you to add in bold letters somewhere on
the form if your neighborhood is or is not deed restricted.

The new amendments went into effect on October 23rd and I have already seen
signs posted stating "request for variance".

If your neighborhood has not received your registration form or you have any
questions, please call Jason Jeffries with the Planning and Development
Department at 713-837-7813.

The Houston Homeowners Association has been advised that the biggest problem
that the Planning and Development Department is having with the registration
forms that have already been submitted, deals with the key map location. If
you do not have a "key map" book or are having a problem determining your
key map location, you can call Jason for help.

REMEMBER TO REGISTER


HHA GENERAL MEETING 10-23-00 RECAP

Reid Wilson was our guest speaker. He addressed HB3298 that was sponsored
by Garnet Coleman for the Houston Homeowners Association in the 1999 State
Legislature. The bill was drafted to allow neighborhoods that had allowed
their deed restrictions to lapse to be reinstated under Chapter 204 of the
Texas Property Code. Currently, such neighborhoods can only use Chapter 201
to reinstate. Chapter 204 is far more neighborhood friendly than Chapter
201. Chapter 201 requires the support of only 50% plus one homeowner to
allow reinstatement of deed restrictions. But, Chapter 201 also allows for
a "pro-active" opt out by property owners who do not want their properties
to be deed restricted. This causes a checkerboard effect in the
neighborhood with some lots deed restricted and others not. Many
neighborhoods have found out the hard way what a problem this can be.

Thus, the most important feature of HB3298 was to do away with this
pro-active opt out if the neighborhood was able to get a super majority
(75%) in support. With 75% or more support of the homeowners, 100% of the
properties would be deed restricted.

The Houston Homeowners Association will reintroduce this bill in the 2001
State Legislature.

For all those in attendance, that had deed restriction problems and asked
Reid a question about their problem, they got "excellent" free advice. Reid
also provided us with a new document styled "Texas Property Code Chapter 201
Problems and Solutions". Copies will be available at the Houston Homeowners
Association's November general meeting.

The Houston Homeowners Association wants to thank Reid Wilson for always
being there for us when we need him. Thanks Reid!!!


NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING 10-30-00

The next Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee meeting is
scheduled for Monday, October 30th at 9:30 A.M. in the City Hall Annex
Council Chambers at 900 Bagby. The only topic on the agenda is a
presentation on the three ordinances that deal with billboards that are on
the City Council agenda for Wednesday, November 1st. City Council agenda
item #31 deals with the ordinance creating the Gateway Houston Scenic
District. City Council agenda item #32 deals with the relocation of the
billboards on the Katy Freeway. City Council agenda item #33 deals with the
relocation of between fifteen and twenty miscellaneous billboards.

These three ordinances are being presented together on the agenda because
they represent a "win-win" situation for both sides of the issue. The story
circulating is that the billboard industry will not actively oppose item
#31, because they know that they are gaining a great deal from items #32 and
#33. The other side wanting to reduce the number of billboards will not
oppose items #32 and #33 because they gain from item #31. Therefore, the
passage of all three ordinances is all but assured.

As far as the Houston Homeowners Association is concerned there is still one
major unanswered question. This is the topic I spoke to at the Public
Hearing on October 25th. Are scenic districts still a viable tool for
residential neighborhoods to use for the elimination or reduction of visual
blight?

The Gateway Houston Scenic District designation was held up basically two
years while the City of Houston and the billboard industry haggled over
their lawsuit and the relocation of the Katy Freeway billboards. So as a
result, we get one new scenic district, the first since 1986, and they get
to relocate a number of billboards.

But, what happens when the next neighborhood applies for a scenic district
designation and there is no "bone" to throw to the billboard industry?
What then, no scenic district. If this is the case then the Houston
Homeowners Association believes that the billboard industry is getting the
lion's share of the spoils in this triumvirate of ordinances.

The Houston Homeowners Association has at least three member groups that are
currently interested in pursuing a scenic district designation. It is high
time the administration gets a spine and stands up to the billboard industry
such that scenic districts will be a viable tool for neighborhoods in the
future.


COMMITTEE MEETING ON BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECAP

The initial meeting of the committee to address problems related to the
falsification of residential building permit applications was held on
Monday, October 23rd at 3:00 P.M. This meeting was a result of the Houston
Homeowners Association's general meeting of September 25th. At that time,
Robert M. "Bob" Litke, Director Planning and Development Department, after
hearing a couple hours of "horror stories" from residential neighborhood
representatives about this topic, finally agreed to facilitate a series of
meeting in an attempt to solve the problem. Present at the meeting were
city officials including Mr. Litke, Council Member Annise Parker and a group
of neighborhood representatives.

Mr. Litke wanted to begin by reviewing the residential building permit form,
particularly the affidavit on the backside. His idea was to change the
layout of the form and to print it in larger type. One thing that I did not
realize was that the City of Houston's intent was to only deny the permit if
the applicant violated any of the three types of deed restriction that the
City enforces. The City enforces use (residential), setbacks and size of
lot and size, number and type of structures on a lot.

The neighborhood representatives wanted a strongly worded statement on the
form to the effect that the applicant could be subject to legal action by a
third party, namely a neighborhood organization, if they were to violate
other deed restrictions. Neighborhoods wanted a better feel for what
criminal and civil actions were to be taken by the City in such cases.

Unfortunately, the City Attorney Anthony Hall, even though invited, declined
to attend this meeting. His presence could have immediately answered a
number of questions and it is quite possible that he could have considerably
expedited the proceedings.

The next meeting will be held when Mr. Litke get the form redrafted. The
Houston Homeowners Association will keep you informed as our work proceeds.

To review building permits that have been pulled in your neighborhood log on
to the following address:
http://houston.onlinepermits.com

You can review by neighborhood name or by street address.


Thanks
Mike
281-496-0752
281-496-6896 Fax
michael.o.brien3@worldnet.att.net



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