When Woodland Heights made application to become a historic district on June 8, 2010, they did it with 200 property track owners' signatures in favor of this decision, out of 392 total property tracks.  This equaled the necessary 51% support required for consideration as an historic district amongst these 392 property tracks. 

But on June 9th, the city started working on changes to what it means to be a homeowner in an historic district and created a new Historic Preservation Ordinance (HPO) that became effective October 13th.  The new ordinance is much stricter and removes property rights homeowners didn't agree to when they signed up originally.  Since October 13th, the support for being an historic district has declined to 170 homeowners or  43%.  This 43% support is probably optimistic as all homeowners are not yet aware of the changes that occurred on October 13th or even understand them yet.  Once a homeowner is goverened by the HPO, the city is not required to obtain homeowners' consent to change the HPO.

Yesterday, November 18th,  at the monthly Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) the 13 committee members voted to make formal what happened on June 8th.  On December 2nd, the City Planning Department will do the same as neither they nor the HAHC have the authority to consider any events that have occurred since June 8th in their decision making process. 

The authority to change what happened June 8th lies exclusively with City Counsel.  City Counsel can act any way they see fit and are not obligated to vote based on homeowners' signed petitions.    City Council may vote 1 of 3 ways:

1.  To keep the 392 homes as an historic district as made by application on June 8th
2.  To redraw the historic district lines incorporating tracks of property where they have XX% support in favor of being an historic district
3.  Reject the historic district application altogether (believed to be the least likely scenario)

If you feel what you signed up for when you agreed to be an historic district is not what you are getting now under the  new HPO, make sure you email and/or call the following people before December 2nd.  Making yourself heard is the best way to maintain control of your property rights.