HISD Requests Variances For Sign Ordinances: Now Scheduled for October 20, 2022

UPDATE 10/21/2022: Because a unanimous decision was required to approve the requests the appeal for the oversized scoreboard was voted down.  However, by unanimous vote the Board of Adjustment voted in favor of additional signage at Bellaire High School even though they violated our zoning ordinances.  Here’s a link to that meeting.

UPDATE: The September 15th meeting was cancelled and is now scheduled for October 20, 2022 

After the completion of the new Bellaire High School and the ball fields at Bissonnet and Avenue B, the Houston Independent School District is not happy with Bellaire’s sign ordinances.  An HISD representative is scheduled to appear before the Board of Adjustment on Thursday, September 15, 2022, October 20, 2022, due to the denial of sign permits per City Ordinances as follows:      

1. Docket # BOA-2022-02: A public hearing on an application filed by Jeffrey Chapman, Principal, PBK, on behalf of HISD, owner, for an appeal to allow an additional two wall signs at the property located at 5100 Maple Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401, and which does not comply with the maximum allowed number of wall signs found in Chapter 24, Planning and Zoning, Section 24-1012, Permitted Signs for Institutions, Subsection A (3), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Bellaire, Texas. The property is located within the R-1 Residential Zoning District.  Maximum number of one sign per institution per Section 24-1012 (A)(3)(a):
2. Docket # BOA-2022-03: A public hearing on an application filed by Jeffrey Chapman, Principal, PBK, on behalf of HISD, owner, for an appeal to allow a 14 foot monument sign at the property located at 5100 Maple Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401, and which does not comply with the maximum height allowed monument sign found in Chapter 24, Planning and Zoning, Section 24-1012, Permitted Signs for Institutions, Subsection (B)(1)(c), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Bellaire, Texas. The property is located within the R-1 Residential Zoning District.  Installation of a 576 square foot scoreboard, located in an R-3 residential zone at 6300 Avenue B, per Section 24-1003 (55).   A 14-foot tall monument sign at Bellaire High School which exceeds the maximum 8-foot height allowed per Section 24-1012 (B)(1)(c).
3. Docket # BOA-2022-04: A public hearing on an application filed by Jeffrey Chapman, Principal, PBK, on behalf of HISD, owner, for an appeal to allow a Baseball scoreboard at the property located at 6300 Avenue B, Bellaire, Texas 77401 and which does not comply with the maximum allowed square footage of a scoreboard found in Chapter 24, Planning and Zoning, Section 24-1003, General Definitions and Definitions of and Requirements for Signs, Subsection (55), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Bellaire, Texas. The Property is located within the R-3 Residential Zoning District.
4. Docket # BOA-2022-05: A public hearing on an appeal filed by Jeffrey H. Chapman, AIA, PBK, on behalf of Houston Independent School District, owner, of the denial of a waiver of dumpster screening requirements for Bellaire High School, 5100 Maple Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401, as required by Chapter 24, Planning and Zoning, Section 24-513, Landscaping, Screening and Buffering, Subsection (D), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Bellaire, Texas. The property is located within the R-1 Residential Zoning District.

HISD got pretty much everything they wanted during the planning phase for the fields, including a second field for softball.  What do you think about HISD’s efforts to circumvent our zoning ordinances? 

Public Comments can be sent to inspections@bellairetx.gov and to the BOA members at boa@bellairetx.gov

51 Trees May Be Removed From The Gordon Elementary Campus

Please email concerns or questions to the Mayor and members of City Council via our City Clerk, Tracy Dutton, at tdutton@bellairetx.gov.  Let Council know what you think.