Rules governing fences, roofs, generators, and trees in The Woodlands are up for discussion Wednesday, July 29, when the Township's Development Standards Committee and Residential Design Review Committees hold a joint public meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard.
The session is the committees' second joint meeting of 2026, according to the posted agenda. Residents may address the committees during the public comment period, with each speaker limited to three minutes.
The agenda's central item is "Consideration and Discussion of the Residential Development Standards." While the agenda does not detail which specific provisions are on the table, the DSC has been working since at least June 2025 on revisions covering generator placement, roofing materials, tree requirements, and fencing, according to minutes from a Friday, June 27, 2025 DSC workshop.
The two committees will also exchange formal recommendations. At the February 5 joint meeting, DSC Chairman Arthur Bredehoft said the RDRCs' recommendations are important to the committee's decision-making on variance requests from homeowners.
Bredehoft leads a seven-member panel. At least five members are required to have experience in architecture, engineering, contracting, or building code enforcement. He was elected chairman at the Wednesday, January 7, 2026 DSC meeting alongside Vice Chairman Dan Kolkhorst.
Commercial impact
The DSC's authority extends well beyond residential properties. The committee reviews and approves facade changes, signage, landscaping, lighting, and outdoor seating for commercial properties across Town Center, Market Street, Hughes Landing, Research Forest, and other business corridors. Recent commercial cases have involved Sprouts Farmers Market, Planet Fitness, Whataburger, and Academy Sports & Outdoors, according to January 2026 meeting minutes.
DSC decisions are final and binding under Section 9.11 of The Woodlands Covenants.
Business owners planning exterior modifications at properties in those corridors must submit applications for committee review.
Department restructure
At the February 5 joint meeting, Kimberly McKenna, director of Covenant Administration, presented a departmental restructure that created three separate divisions: Commercial Operations, Residential Compliance and Revitalization, and Residential Planning and Permitting. That reorganization governs how applications from both homeowners and businesses are processed.
The DSC has also been working to finalize revised Commercial Planning and Design Standards. At the June 2025 workshop, Bredehoft said he wanted the amended commercial standards recorded by end of 2025. Vice Chairman Kolkhorst was tasked with reviewing those standards with Howard Hughes Holdings leadership and plan review committees.
What's next
Wednesday, July 29 is also the submission deadline for applications to be heard at the next regular DSC meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Residents seeking ADA accommodations for meetings can call (281) 210-3800.
Meeting minutes from the joint session are expected to be posted to the Township website after the meeting concludes.
