Houston Planning Commission Meeting - September 3, 2026
Houston Planning Commission Meeting - September 3, 2026
The Houston Planning Commission met on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall Annex (900 Bagby) to consider seven proposed amendments to the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP). Chair Lisa Clark presided over the meeting with 13 commissioners present. Staff presentations, public testimony, and commission votes occurred on each item. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Coastal Prairie Conservancy (Amendment 3G): Three speakers addressed the commission:
- Jim Look, a local landowner representing a multi-generational ranch family, expressed strong opposition to proposed roads through the Katy Prairie area, citing wildlife, wetlands, and the need to preserve green space. He stated that all local landowners oppose the roads.
- Mary Ann Piacantini, President and CEO of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, expressed full support for the amendment, noting that the Conservancy has permanently protected the land and that the road deletions align with conservation goals. She thanked staff for their careful review.
- Eliza Donovan, also representing the Conservancy, urged approval, emphasizing that the amendment involves no new roads across protected lands and that existing interior roads would remain as slow, calm routes for visitors.
- No other public comments were made on other items.
Discussion Items
- Amendment 2A – Gulfton Connector Busway Project (Metro): Staff presented a proposal to reclassify three thoroughfares (Chimney Rock Road, Gulfton Street, and Hillcroft Avenue) to transit corridor streets to support a 4.1-mile dedicated busway. Staff supported the request. No public testimony. The commission voted unanimously to approve and forward to City Council.
- Amendment 3B – Barker Cypress Road Realignment (BGE Engineering): Applicant proposed realigning an unimproved segment of Barker Cypress Road and deleting a north-south minor collector. Harris County had no objection. Staff supported. Unanimous vote to approve.
- Amendment 3C – Kermire Road Deletion (Meta Planning and Design): The applicant, Jennifer Curtis, requested withdrawal of the application to allow more time for evaluation of options for a server farm development. No opposition. The commission accepted the withdrawal.
- Amendment 3D – Mason Road Realignment (Meta): Applicant proposed realigning a segment of Mason Road to correct an inconsistency in the MTFP. Harris County did not object. Staff supported. Unanimous vote to approve.
- Amendment 3E – Southridge Road Deletion (Meta): Applicant Jennifer Curtis argued for deletion of a minor collector between Ella Boulevard and Kirkendall Road, citing opposition from Spring ISD (which provided a last-minute email of support for deletion) and concerns about mixing industrial truck traffic with school traffic. Staff and Harris County (Scott Barker, Office of County Engineer) opposed, stating the road is a vital east-west connection and that alternative alignments were not pursued. The commission voted to deny the request (Motion by Matis, second by Victor Mandepaka; all in favor).
- Amendment 3F – Vicksburg Boulevard Deletion (BGE): Applicant proposed deleting an unimproved segment of a major thoroughfare that now terminates in a cul-de-sac due to residential development. Fort Bend County removed the road from its own map in 2025. Staff supported. Unanimous vote to approve.
- Amendment 3G – Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC): Applicant proposed reclassifying, realigning, and deleting all major thoroughfares within approximately 20,000 acres of protected land along the Waller-Harris County line. Harris and Waller Counties expressed no objection. Numerous written comments supported the amendment. Staff supported. Unanimous vote to approve.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (forwarded to City Council): Amendments 2A, 3B, 3D, 3F, and 3G.
- Withdrawn: Amendment 3C.
- Denied: Amendment 3E (Southridge Road deletion).
- Next Steps: The Planning Commission's recommendations will be forwarded to City Council for action by September 30, 2026, concluding the 2026 MTFP amendment cycle.
- Abstention: Commissioner Porce Pertle abstained from voting on items 3C and 3D (noted during the meeting).
Meeting Transcript
From City Hall Annex, it's the Planning Commission meeting right here on HDB. 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026. I'm Lisa Clark, the chair of the Houston Planning Commission, and I'm calling this meeting to order as an in-person meeting at City Hall Annex 900 Bagby. Speakers, if you wish to address the Commission on an item, please fill out the speaker's form before the item is called and turn it into staff near the front door. Consent and repeat speakers are allowed for one minute, and new speakers are timed for two minutes. Speaker rules are found on the top portion of the speaker sign-in form attached to the agenda. Council members speaking on an item are not timed. Major thoroughfare and freeway plan applicants will have three minutes for their opening statements instead of the usual five. And non-applicants and general speakers are allowed for two minutes time. There is not an option for rebuttal, even if you did not use your full two minutes. To establish a quorum. Do you have an agenda with the names on it? I do. Okay. To establish a quorum of eleven members, I'll call the roll. Wait a minute. In just a second. I don't have an agenda. I know. Do you have your number of you? Here she comes. Okay. Got it. Thank you. I should have grabbed those while I was out there. Thank you. And then I lost it. Okay. Chair Clark is present. Vice Chair Garza. Present. Commissioner Baldwin. Present. Commissioner Carroll. Present. Commissioner Jones. Present. Commissioner Modes. Present. Commissioner Fam. Present. Commissioner Pierce. Present. Commissioner Porce Pertle. Present. Commissioner Sykes. Commissioner Victor. Present. Commissioner Montepaca.
openpublica.com