Members of the Tomball Hills subdivision filled the Tomball council chamber, turning a routine meeting into a mix of emotions that even drew a warning from the Tomball police chief.

Residents of the subdivision were there to voice opposition to a zoning change request from Peter Hildreth, owner of Hilltop Tool Rental. Hildreth requested a zoning change to property he owns bordering the neighborhood to the west. Some of the property is actually subdivision parcels that Hildreth requested to be changed to commercial use.

Photo: Tomball Hills resident David Woods speaks to the council about a proposed zoning change on land bordering the subdivision. Council denied the zoning change Nov. 21.

Hildreth requested the change to improve the appearance of the property in order to benefit residents of the Tomball Hills subdivision and to expand his business, according to his attorney, Otis Bakke. Residents disagree, saying that Hildreth has repeatedly diminished the value of their property by cutting down trees that served as a buffer between the subdivision and his property.

“This started back in 2002,” David Woods, a Tomball Hills resident, told the city council. “Mr. Hildreth has said for awhile that he would plant trees and has since cut down several. He’s never followed through with anything.”

Bakke requested the matter be tabled, claiming that members of the homeowners association just now agreed to talk with Hildreth about the matter, but several residents scoffed at that claim.

“This week was the first time his attorney tried to contact the homeowners association,” Dennis Bell, Tomball Hills resident, said. “I believe it’s just another stalling tactic.”

Hildreth’s wife Sylvia told the council that it was the homeowners who were being unreasonable.

“I’m not sure what the homeowners issue is,” she said. “(Peter Hildreth) wants to make it look better, but every time he tries the city makes him stop. They think we are going to go away but he’s not − this is our business.”

Councilman Mark Stoll asked Sylvia Hilderith about the property’s deed restriction, a question she could not answer. Bakke stood up and offered to answer the question, at which point several in the crowd shouted at him to sit down. Tomball Police Chief Robert Hauck then intervened.

“I know that this is an emotional process,” Hauck told the crowd, “but if you can’t be here and be a part of the process and follow the rules then I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Several others in attendance than spoke to council, pleading with them to deny the change.

“I would encourage the council to turn this down,” Pat Bailey said. “It’s time to put this issue to bed and give these people some closure.”

Tomball Planning and Zoning received more than 100 comments regarding the issue, all of them opposing the change

Council was nearly unanimous in denying his request, with Councilman Preston Dodson abstaining.

Photo by Caleb Harris

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