In preparation for the 2020 season, the Houston Outlaws just signed a lease and moved into a 5900 square feet house in The Woodlands, a suburb northwest of Houston. However, the team will now be forced to move to a new house as neighbors in the West Isle subdivision are claiming the team’s intention to use the house as a training facility is a clear violation of community covenants.
Neighbors in the area are said to be worried about noise, traffic, and property values due to the house housing 18-20 people.
Nick Wolda, Director of Communications for The Woodlands Township told Houston affiliate KPRC:
All Home Business applications require review and action by the Development Standards Committee. The Residential Design Review Committee for Panther Creek reviewed the application for a home business and provided a recommendation. The recommendation will be presented to the Development Standards Committee at the time of their review. The meetings are open to the public.
The Panther Creek RDRC recommended the DSC deny the variance due to the following:
- The amount of the home used for the business operation
- The number of employees,
- Characteristics of the business the committee did not feel were in keeping with the Neighborhood Character
- Concerns for parking
The RDRC did mention that if the DSC considers an allowance, they strongly suggest the committee focus on parking issues and stipulations to have vehicles towed if found in violation.
The Home Business application is anticipated to be reviewed at the Development Standards Committee at their regularly scheduled meeting of February 5, 2020. The meetings is held here at our office at 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard. Here is a link to the posting agendas to verify the items scheduled for review on the agenda.
Outlaws General Manager Matt Rodriguez confirmed on Twitter that the team will be moving and settling into a new facility in the coming weeks. He also claims that neighbors sent TV reporters to the house to harass the players and coaching staff.