Planning & Development

Historic Commission and Appeals Board

Houston Preservation Appeals Board (HPAB)
Monday, December 22, 2025, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby St., Public Level, Houston TX 77002

CALL TO ORDER
Chair's Report
Director's Report

I. Consideration of and Possible Action on the Minutes for the HPAB Meeting of August 25, 2025.

II. Public Hearing and Consideration of and Possible Action on the Proposed 2026 HPAB Meeting Schedule.

III. Consideration of and Possible Action on an appeal of the decision of the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) on November 6, 2025, denying a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a New Construction of a Garage at 2903 Houston Avenue in the Germantown Historic District.

IV. Public Comments

V. HPAB Member Comments

Adjournment

The Historic Preservation Appeals Board reserves the right to convene an Executive Session on any item listed on this agenda as authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Gov’t Code Chapter 551, under any applicable exception, including but not limited to Sec. 551.071, Consultation with Attorney

Public Comments

The public may address the Historic Board on agenda items. Please submit comments or sign up to speak at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. All comments are made part of the public meeting record.

  • Submit comments on an item via email to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.
  • You may also call the Historic staff at 832-393-6556. A staff member will take your comments, which will be read and included in the public record.
  • The Appellant will be allowed to speak first and is allowed five minutes for an opening presentation. All other speakers will be called on in the order of sign up and can speak for one minute. See agenda for speaker guidelines.

Exhibits

If you have materials or graphic information for the Historic Board to consider, submit it via email to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov 24 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting for it to be included in the final agenda packet.

About the Board

The Historic Preservation Appeals Board (HPAB) is a 5-member board that hears appeals of decisions by the Houston Archaeological & Historical Commission (HAHC).

An applicant may appeal the decision of the HAHC by filing a written notice of appeal within 10 days of the HAHC decision (for demolitions, between 90-120 days after the HAHC decision). The written notice of appeal must include the grounds for the appeal and any supplemental material the appellant wishes the Board to review. The HPAB will not consider new information introduced at the hearing itself. Please see the adopted HPAB Procedural Rules (.pdf).

An email to the Planning & Development Department Houston Office of Preservation (HOP) staff is sufficient as written notice. Once an appeal request is received, staff schedules the hearing within 45 days, and notifies all parties of the date and time. The appellant is required to post a public notice sign on the property no later than 10 days prior to the hearing. See sign requirements (.pdf).

The HPAB may find in favor of the appellant, or uphold the decision of HAHC. In order to preserve the right to further appeal to City Council, the appellant may choose to hire a court reporter at the applicant’s expense.

Board Members

  • Truman Edminster, Position One
  • J.D. Bartell, Position Two, Chair
  • Douglas Elliott, Position Three, Vice Chair
  • Brie Kelman, Position Four
  • Stephen McNiel, Position Five

Executive Secretary

  • Vonn Tran - Director, Planning and Development

Meeting Documents

Minutes




2021 HPAB Meeting Minutes

2020 HPAB Meeting Minutes

2019 HPAB Meeting Minutes

2018 HPAB Meeting Minutes

2017 HPAB Meeting Minutes

2016 HPAB Meeting Minutes

→ View the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) Web Page

HPAB Links

Department Links

P&D Office - 611 Walker

611 Walker, Houston, TX 77002
 

Contact P&D Dept

Planning and Development Dept
611 Walker, 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 832.393.6600
planningdepartment@houstontx.gov