2020
A LONG ROAD built for more than $100 million if fully developed, Sheena said. None of the existing infrastructure is planned to be torn down or redesigned. In October 2021, SLS commissioned a report by Community Development Strategies—an economic research and consulting rm—which found the property would be worth $120 mil- lion if fully developed and contribute $32.9 million in taxes to the city of Bellaire over the course of 39 years after it is built. The city of Bellaire is not funding the project in any way, including through tax abatement or economic development agreements. Planning and permits When rst acquired by SLS, the plan was to transform the area into a multifamily housing zone according to Sheena. However, those plans were shot down by the Bellaire Planning and Zoning Commission, he said. “We were told no multifamily and no assisted living,” he said. So plans evolved, and the city took the reins on determining what would be allowed in the district, Sheena said. “City Council said that I’m not the applicant. …The city of Bellaire would be the applicant trying to rezone my property,” he said. In April 2021, Bellaire held public hearings to give residents a chance to voice their feelings and concerns about the development. That May, Bellaire o cially rezoned the district where the campus will be located, calling the new zone the North Bel- laire Special Development District. Over the next 10 months, the city went through another round of pub- lic hearings and several ordinance 2018
The process of bringing Bellaire Place to fruition dates back to 2018.
Jan. 27, 2020: Council hires professional consulting contractor to draft zoning district
the campus. The special development permits were approved unanimously at the March 21 meeting for the Freeway Portion and the Fournace Portion, but two council members—Lewis and Jim Hotze—opposed the Rice Portion for not meeting enough of the residents’ concerns. E ects on the neighborhood Throughout the permitting phase, one concern came up repeatedly from both the City Council and the residents who live near the project: tra c. “I am worried about the poten- tial tra c that this project will cause to the people who live on Tamarisk [Street], Wedgewood [Drive] and Anderson [Street],” resident Benjamin Lewin wrote in comments submitted to the council on Feb. 16. Other problems expressed by res- idents at that time included light and noise pollution and the potential for an increase in crime. However, not all resident feedback was to relay worries. “A nice development like this will dramatically improve the quality and residential character of the surround- ing area,” resident Ra Zitvar wrote to council on Feb. 16. Although Council approved the site plan, Friedberg said no more than 70%of the total square footagemay be developed without further approval, as part of the agreement between the city and SLS. The city is also preparing for the potential future widening of South Rice Avenue, though such a project would be taken on by the city of Hous- ton and Bellaire would not be directly involved. Sheena said the project is still a long way from breaking ground, but con- struction could begin in early 2023. “There is a demand in Bellaire for
2019
2021
Sept. 2018: SLS Properties purchases 30 acres from Chevron
Nov. 5, 2018: Bellaire City Council approves permits for four- story, 1,700-car garage
May 25, 2021: Council approves North Bellaire Special Development District April 5, 2021: Council holds public hearing allowing residents to give input on district
revisions. Over that time, restraints were placed on the developer with amendments to the ordinance that prohibited drive-thrus, tattoo parlors and throughways to Mayfair Street. Residents expressed concerns about building height and light pol- lution that could come from lighting placed on the roofs of parking garages, according to city council member Catherine Lewis. As a result, the council reduced the maximum height of buildings and added a requirement that opaque walls be placed to block lighting from the garages during their February 21 meeting. Four years following the district’s acquisition, Bellaire City Council approved the special development permits for SLS on March 21, green- lighting the next steps required for work on the project to begin. “We have set the framework for a strong, commercially viable develop- ment which should provide numerous bene ts to Bellaire and its residents while doing it in a responsible manner focused on minimizing or mitigating the impacts of the development on surrounding areas,” said Ross Gordon, Bellaire council member and former planning commission chair. The campus was divided into three pieces for ease of making amend- ments—a “Freeway Portion” covering the easternmost part of the campus; a “Fournace Portion” covering the cen- ter; and a “Rice Portion,” the largest section covering the western part of
Feb. 21, 2022: Council makes key amendments to NBSDD, including rules related to tra c and light pollution Jan. 24, 2022: Second round of public hearings hosted on special development permit requests for Bellaire Place
2022
March 21, 2022: Council approves permits for Bellaire Place
2023
Early 2023: Earliest projection for when ground could break on the project
SOURCES: SLS PROPERTIES, CITY OF BELLAIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
nearby gathering spaces, restaurants, services and retail shops, and I hope that this development can contribute to an ever enhancing quality of life for our Bellaire community,” Gordon said.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
5/31/22.
5107 Bellaire Boulevard• Bellaire• 713-677-0746
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • MAY 2022
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