Westlake Commons Variance
Greg Sergesketter – August 16th, 2022
Re: Westlake Commons:
To follow up on this, I have received additional information. Attached is the February 17, 2022, partial replat write-up and approval from the Houston Planning Commission to change the use restriction (and access via private road easements instead of public streets) to allow multi-family subject to a recorded deed restriction amendment to allow multi-family use. The approval is valid for one year unless the partial replat is recorded within that window of time. I understand that it hasn’t been recorded yet.
There is also a comment by Public Works-Office of City Engineer on page 2 of the Action CPC 101 Form that detention is required, but probably that comment will be withdrawn given the impervious cover won’t change. DeBartolo, the developer, will probably make a claim to a vested right, and that Public Works doesn’t get another bite of the apple because they’re not tearing down and rebuilding anything.
Notably in the attached package is the following, “The project involves renovation of a 19-story office building that sits on 4.537 acre parcel, constructed in 1983, remodeled in 2016, which was originally developed in 1983 as part of the Westlake Park Subdivision Section One, a 63-acre office park. Unfortunately, the office building flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and has sat vacant ever since. DeBartolo Development, based in Tampa, Florida, plans to renovate the abandoned office building to be used as class-A luxury multifamily use.”