CITY& COUNTY
News from Bellaire, Houston & Harris County
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY Following several issues in the March 1 primary elections, Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria announced her resignation, effective July 1. The resignation came after the county was not be able to count and report votes by the statutory deadline and about 10,000 ballots were discovered after the final count. County officials said they will engage a third-party consultant to review election operations and make recommendations. Bellaire City Council will meet at 6 p.m. April 4 at 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire. Meetings are streamed at www.bellairetx.gov. West University Place City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at 3800 University Blvd., Houston. Meetings are available via teleconference. Find details at www.westutx.gov. Houston City Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. April 5 for public comment and 9 a.m. April 6 for regular business at 901 Bagby St., Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv. MEETINGSWE COVER
Council approves development permits on former Chevron campus
Houston hires lawfirm for redistrictingwork
BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
BY GEORGE WIEBE
HOUSTON During a March 2 meeting, Houston City Council approved an ordinance authorizing a legal service agreement between the city and the law firm Thompson and Horton LLP for redistricting services. Council Members Mike Knox, Michael Kubosh, Mary Nan Huffman and Amy Peck voted against the ordinance. Knox said his main issue is with Thompson and Horton’s plans to subcontract a portion of the work to West and Associates LLP, which he said could be construed as politicizing the process. Founding partner Royce West is a Democratic state senator. City Attorney Arturo Michel said there is no indicationWest would be working on the case. The council is expected to vote on multiple items in the future regarding redistricting criteria before any plan is adopted. Newmaps need to be in place in time for the city’s general election in November 2023.
BELLAIRE Plans for the North Bellaire Special Development District are in motion after Bellaire City Council at a March 22 meeting approved three special develop- ment permits. The site, located at Fournace Place and South Rice Avenue in Bellaire, is owned by SLS West Loop LP, which is planning to construct a mixed-use develop- ment. The proposed development is broken up into three sections to make oversight and potential alterations more manageable. Permits for two of the sections passed unanimously. The third permit passed with a 5-2 vote with Council Members Catherine Lewis and Jim Hotze voting against it. That section—also known as the “Rice Portion”—is the largest section at 9.6 acres, larger than the other two sections combined.
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Lewis, in explaining her oppo- sition, brought up concerns about increased traffic, light pollution, and the overall size and scale of the project. Other council members said they thought those concerns had been addressed in past meetings, when a slew of amendments were made on what would be allowed at the site. Lan- guage was amended to prohibit drive-thrus and to require opaque walls to block lighting from proposed parking garages, among other changes. “I think we’ve done a lot to address the concerns of the city,” Council Member Brian Witt said.
Easter at First Presbyterian Church 8:30 | 9:30 | 10:45 | 11:05
Join us in person or online as we celebrate our risen Savior!
5300 MAIN ST | 713.620.6500 | FPCHOUSTON.ORG/EASTER
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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • APRIL 2022
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