Historic and Design Review Commission Meeting – April 1, 2026

The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) met on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. to consider a consent agenda and a pulled item (115 Main Plaza). The commission approved the minutes from the March 18, 2026 meeting, adopted the consent agenda (with one item pulled), and after discussion, approved the certificate of appropriateness for the Main Plaza Conservancy's proposed pavilion and food/beverage project with staff stipulations.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – The March 18, 2026 HDRC meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda Items – The following nine items were approved unanimously, with staff stipulations, after item 5 was pulled for separate discussion: North Frio from IH 10, West Houston 226 Bushnell, 40 5432 Lanhart, 2102 Broadway, 309 319 West Travis, 500 North Santa Rosa, 323 West Martin, 327 West Martin, and 526 Cameron.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were signed up, and no voicemails were received. The only speakers were the project representatives and the Main Plaza Conservancy chair.

Discussion Items

• 115 Main Plaza (Item 5) – The Main Plaza Conservancy, represented by Natalie Smith (chair), along with Alison Chambers (architect, Fort Pell and Carson) and Elaine Kearney (TBG Partners), presented a proposal for a permanent pavilion, catering kitchen, dining area, and stage on the historic plaza. Key elements included:
  • A 22-foot-4-inch-tall pavilion (double the height of the existing shade structure) to serve as a performance stage and provide shade.
  • A 1,200-square-foot food/beverage component (catering kitchen, not full commercial) to generate revenue for conservancy operations.
  • ADA accessibility improvements, including a gentle slope (<2%) from the cathedral toward the river.
  • Preservation of all heritage trees, new plantings, and artificial turf in shaded areas (noted as potentially high heat impact).
  • Lighting: smart system with dimming, pole-mounted lights, step lights, and stage lighting.
  • Plans for inlaid granite paving and a timeline component to tell the plaza's history, including the Canary Islands founding.
  • Power hookups for food trucks (but not for large events like Fiesta, which require 75 vendors).
• Commissioner Questions and Concerns:
  • Several commissioners expressed concerns about the pavilion's height (22'4") and scale relative to the plaza, especially the view corridor from Commerce Street and the cathedral. Vice Chair Fetzer suggested studying a two-level roof to reduce mass.
  • Commissioner Velasquez emphasized restoring the historic "Plaza de las Islas" identity and requested more prominent acknowledgment of the cathedral's main doors and the view from Commerce Street.
  • Commissioner Savino asked about the commercial kitchen, dumpster location, and requested an elevation study from the north (Commerce Street) to show the cathedral's view.
  • Commissioner Group noted the height difference from the current shade structure (approximately double) and asked about tree placement.
  • Commissioner Holland questioned the transparency of the pavilion and the primary axis to the cathedral.
  • Commissioner Givata asked about pet-friendly areas and maintenance (day porter, storage).
  • The applicant responded that the Archdiocese supports the project, and the design intentionally preserves view corridors to the cathedral and courthouse, with the restaurant being largely glass to maintain transparency.
• Commissioner Recommendations: The commission encouraged the applicant to return to the Design Review Committee (DRC) for further refinement, particularly on transparency, view corridors, paving design, and accessibility directly from the center of the plaza.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Approve – A motion was made and seconded to approve the certificate of appropriateness for 115 Main Plaza with staff stipulations. The motion passed unanimously (8-0, with all commissioners voting aye, including Commissioner Holland after a brief audio issue).
• Next Steps – The applicant will receive a certificate of appropriateness within 10 days. The commission requested further study on several design elements (transparency, view corridors, paving, accessibility) before final approval, but the project was approved as presented with staff conditions.