Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission Meeting – June 18, 2026

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) met on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM local time. Chair David Buchek called the meeting to order with a quorum present. The meeting included a public hearing on HAHC policy and procedures, approval of meeting minutes, two protected landmark designations, a detailed discussion of the Norhill Design Guidelines, and consideration of several certificates of appropriateness (COAs). Key decisions were made on policy direction and specific COAs, with several items deferred or approved with conditions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent calendar for 12 certificate of appropriateness items as recommended by staff: E4 (1215 Ashland), E5 (121 East 18th Street), E6 (405 Highland), E8 (pulled from list), E9 (2132 Trune Street alteration/addition landmark), E10 (2132 Trune Street new construction garage/carport landmark), E11 (1993 West Gray sign alteration landmark), E12 (811 West Millwood demolition garage/carport Norhill), E13 (811 West Millwood new construction garage/carport Norhill), E14 (1923 Washington sign alteration Old Sixth Ward). All passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item A (Policy & Procedures): No public speakers.
• Item B & C (Landmark Designations): No public speakers; community support was noted in staff presentations via a letter from Preserve Southampton.
• Item D (Norhill Design Guidelines): Multiple residents and stakeholders spoke in strong support of the guidelines, urging the commission to move forward. Speakers included Emily Ardwan (Preservation Houston) who raised concerns about conditioned space definitions and consistency of language; Adam Till, Virginia Kelsey, Ty Keikoa (on behalf of Councilmember Mario Castillo), Dwayne Bradley, Mary Schultz, Kimberly Sturrock, John Santorelli, Rebecca Hackworth, Lawrence Phibo, and Karen Stokes. All supported the guidelines, though some noted minor suggestions (e.g., plate heights, porch language).
• Item E1 (1118 2 Lane): No public speakers.
• Item E2 (4601 Oak Ridge): Applicant Jordan Prentice spoke in favor of his proposal, asking for a front porch. No other public testimony.
• Item E3 (509 Euclid): Applicant spoke in favor; neighbors Charlotte Scales and Jane Buchanan opposed the addition due to impact on a large historic live oak tree (shared with the adjacent Avery House landmark) and excessive scale. Applicant rebutted that he sought to preserve the tree and that other nearby homes were similar size.
• Item E7 (7718 Morley Street): Homeowner (speaking through translator) explained he painted brick unknowingly and requested to keep the paint due to financial hardship. He had letters of neighbor support.

Discussion Items

• Item A: Policy and Procedures (No Vote Taken)
  • Discussion on four topics: abstention votes, recording of abstentions, draft staff reports, and speaker time. Commissioner Broadbeck cited an Attorney General opinion allowing abstentions; legal counsel Matthew Smith argued city ordinance (Sec. 33-240A/B) mandates a binary approve/disapprove vote. No conclusion reached; vote deferred to next month.
  • Staff confirmed that after March 2026, no applicant materials are added to staff reports after Friday posting, and that public comments will be posted 24 hours in advance (per planning commission policy). Speaker time rules to be codified: applicant 3 minutes, opponent 2 minutes, rebuttal 2 minutes, with possibility for additional time by motion.
• Approval of Minutes – April 23 & May 21, 2026
  • Motion to approve with corrections (changing Commissioner Broadbeck's abstention vote and removing a sentence about abstention policy) failed for lack of second. A second motion to approve as written passed.
• Item B (2322 Dunstan Road) & Item C (2107 Tangley Street)
  • Staff presented each property as meeting criteria for protected landmark designation. Both passed unanimously.
• Item D: Norhill Design Guidelines
  • Staff Terrence Jackson reviewed changes made in response to March comments. Key items: definitions (compatibility, massing, conditioned space); FAR chart adjusted; roof pitch, plate heights, dormer placement, and materials clarified. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Commissioners discussed: conditioned space counting toward FAR (Commissioner Cosgrove opposed, wanting to exclude attic/garage conditioning); FAR lot range increments (Commissioner Cosgrove suggested larger ranges for consistency); plate height and porch massing concerns. A motion to approve the guidelines with conditions (strike conditioned space from FAR, recalibrate FAR chart for logical progression, correct typographical errors) passed. Staff to post revised language within one week.
• Item E1 (1118 2 Lane) – Applicant proposed removing stone veneer due to structural issues and replacing with siding. Commissioner Davis presented evidence (Sanborn maps and city directories) showing the house originally had stone, not siding. Motion to approve COA with condition to retain, repair, and reinstall original stone veneer passed.
• Item E2 (4601 Oak Ridge) – Applicant requested a front porch. Staff recommended denying it. Commissioner Blakely moved to approve staff recommendation but allow the porch as shown if constructed removably and with simplified columns. Motion passed 8-2.
• Item E3 (509 Euclid) – Large addition staff recommended denial on criteria 1,4,5,8,9. Commission deferred the item to next month to allow applicant to address massing, historical fabric (asbestos siding), and tree impact.
• Item E7 (7718 Morley Street) – After hearing homeowner's hardship, staff recommendation to deny COA and require paint removal was upheld on a vote (6-2?). Commission noted difficulty of enforcement but approved denial to protect district character.

Key Outcomes

• Policy & Procedures: No vote; discussion to continue next month.
• Minutes: Approved as originally recorded.
• Landmark Designations: Unanimously passed for the Irene and George Robinson House (2322 Dunstan Road) and the Merle and Vernon Williams House (2107 Tangley Street).
• Norhill Design Guidelines: Approved with conditions (strike conditioned space from FAR, recalibrate FAR chart, typographical corrections). Staff to post revised text by June 25, 2026.
• COA E1 (1118 2 Lane): Approved with condition to retain and repair original stone veneer.
• COA E2 (4601 Oak Ridge): Approved with conditions for porch (removable, simplified columns).
• COA E3 (509 Euclid): Deferred to July 2026 meeting.
• COA E7 (7718 Morley Street): Denied; paint removal required (no immediate enforcement unless future permit needed).