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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence PROPERTY OWNERS 1. Weingarten Realty Investors 2600 Citadel Plaza Drive,Suite 300 Houston,Texas 77008 Volume 7095,Page 066,D.R.B.C.T. Volume 7004,Page 158,D.R.B.C.T. Volume 7159,Page 213,D.R.B.C.T. 2. Rock Prairie Baptist Church 2405 Rock Prairie Road College Station,Texas 77845-5957 Volume 337,Page 680,D.R.B.C.T. Volume 768,Page 826,D.R.B.C.T. 6/13/03 Page 3 of 3 R ^r ?ln?('D 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Garland & Daisy Mcllveen 1501 Woodcreek Dr. College Station, TX 77845 SUBJ:Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a"green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. Garland Melly-enDaisy Mcilyj,g„,„„ I•rl a,in-n+,n crc IlaanllrlAr 2/c'non cn Iflr 07/05/2006 14:17 FAX 979 845 2891 TAMU BIOLOGY [7j 001 3 July 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Adam G. Jones and Ginger E. Carney 9311 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77845 SUBJ:Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store or any other "big box" retail store built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate the "green space," or buffer area)that would normally create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values, home resale and resident safety. 3. Our neighborhood has a large number of young children; we have three ages 5 and younger. The increased traffic from customers of the proposed retailers will endanger our children as well as others as they ride their bikes and walk in our neighborhood. We purchased our home 2 years ago because of the quiet streets and the fact that there was little traffic. We were assured at that time that no "big box" retailers would be building near the neighborhood due to zoning ordinances in place to prevent such an event. 4. Traffic at the Rock Prairie Road and Texas 6 and Longmire interchanges is already a problem. It is impossible to safely use the southbound exit at rush hour. Allowing additional large retailers to move into the area will significantly worsen the problem. We do not believe that traffic mitigation plans actually will serve to maintain the integrity of our neighborhood. College Station must decide that neighborhoods are important and make long-term (10-20yr) plans before taking action. Thank you for your consideration, Adam G. Jon s, jj Ginger , arNey 1404 Essex Green7P ?E lJ College Station, Texas 77845 July 3, 2006 The rezoning proposal put forth by Weingarten Realty to change the zoning classification of the entire Rock Prairie-SH 6 parcel in question to C-1 should be rejected; indeed, the Planning and Zoning Commission should seriously consider decreasing the zoning classification of the parcel to avert the transportation, ecological, and financial crises that residents of the area face. We have many reasons for opposing the Weingarten proposal. The first concerns the traffic situation at Longmire, Rock Prairie,the bridge, and the two access roads. This complex of roads already gridlocks—or gets close to gridlocking—every weekday. For example, at the end of the workday, the volume of traffic going southbound on the west access road, the volume of traffic going north and south on Longmire, the volume of westbound traffic on Rock Prairie turning south on Longmire, and the volume of traffic going eastbound over the Rock Prairie bridge overwhelms the carrying capacity of these roads. Not only does this congestion inconvenience thousands of travelers and damage the environment, but it also threatens public safety when ambulances are unable to get to and from the College Station Medical Center complex along Rock Prairie Road. There is no solution to this crisis, but the Planning and Zoning Commission should not try to make it worse. There is no way to increase the throughput of the traffic light at the intersection of the west access road and Rock Prairie given the converging streams of traffic there. The Rock Prairie bridge creates another bottleneck; unless the bridge is expanded to 7 lanes, there is no way of increasing its throughput either. These two bottlenecks then cause traffic to back up at the Longmire-Rock Prairie intersection. Given the exponential relationship between traffic flows and congestion, only a minor increase in traffic will significantly increase the frequency and duration of gridlock. The sources of increased traffic generation are already in place: the new restaurants being built in front of the Marriott hotel, the Riviera Day Spa, the commercial and retail property planned for Sebesta Road/Emerald Forest, and the new housing planned along Rock Prairie will all generate significant new traffic that will add to the gridlocking problem. Thus it borders on insanity to encourage a huge additional source of traffic generation as Weingarten proposes. But of course Weingarten will make its money and leave the residents of College Station with the mess. Acquiescing to Weingarten's zoning request will lead to a substantial increase in the likelihood of flooding in the area as well. A small creek runs behind my property. During substantial rainfalls, the creek can rise several feet, but fortunately it only drains the three cul-de-sacs of Woodcreek Estates. Should Weingarten's request be granted, I have little doubt at some point the creek will overflow and flood my house. Again, Weingarten will be long gone when that happens. While we are sure their hired hands will argue that such an eventuality has a low probability of occurring, we can just imagine their response if the P&Z Commission required them to buy all affected homeowners flood insurance. Acquiescing to Weingarten's zoning request will substantially destroy the quality of life in the Woodcreek area. As proof, one need look no further than how badly the Briarcrest area of Bryan has suffered as a result of the Super Wal-Mart located there. It will harm property values in the WoodcreeklRock Prairie area as well, due to increased congestion, noise pollution, and light pollution. Acquiescing to Weingarten's zoning request directly contradicts the stated mission of the City of College Station to "promote and advance the community's quality of life;" if it approves the zoning request, it would appear that the Planning and Zoning Commission is adopting a new mission statement: "to destroy the community's quality of life, one neighborhood at a time." In short, there is no value to College Station or its residents of approving Weingarten's zoning request. They wish to make more money, but at the cost of lowering the property values of homes in the surrounding area, increasing the potential for flooding, and generating monumental traffic jams. Inevitably the City of College Station will be forced to pay millions of dollars in the future to remedy the predictable problems caused by the construction of a huge commercial complex in such an unsuitable area. In summary, the Planning and Zoning Committee should reject Weingarten's zoning request and proactively work to shrink the amount of C-1 land currently authorized in the area. Sincerely, Michael W. Pustay Zandra Pustay JOSEPH T.O'LEARY 9205 WHITNEY COURT, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845-8787 PHONE: 979-764-2088 E-MAIL: jtoleary@cox.net fp/7,N A nI7D, 7/5/06 /6b ':: Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 To Whom It May Concern: I am a resident of the Wood Creek Subdivision. It has come to my attention that a proposal submitted by Weingarten Realty is being considered to change the designation of a parcel of land around the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 intersection from commercial to C-1 commercial use. As a result, certain types of development would be allowed to occur that are not permitted under the current designation, especially"big box"retail development. I oppose this change. Economic development is important to support the future of the College Station community. However, if the development that is encouraged destroys the economic, social and environmental quality of life of the residents who live in that community now and in the future, it seems to be an unacceptable tradeoff. Traffic congestion is already a serious, unresolved issue in that area. Current city planning proposals seem unlikely to fix the current problem much less prepare for the future. The failure to incorporate aesthetic values into virtually all the commercial development that has occurred in this community is an early warning of what we might expect and a very poor statement about community aesthetic values, an important issue discussed at the City Council's recent retreat. Finally if the development significantly impacts in a negative way the financial value of existing residential property benefiting in the short run the developer at the expense of the citizens of the community, then this is patently unacceptable. I request that the P&Z Commission not approve any request to make changes in the current land use plan designation for the property in and around the Rock Prairie Road/Highway 6 area and reject the Weingarten Realty proposal. / S" rcere , it \I% sP7 'L RSD L.D.HOBBS 1301 ESSEX GREEN COLLEGE STATION,TEXAS 77845 (979)693-7128 Dukshobbs1@cs.com 29 June 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station,TX 77845 Re: Weingarten Request for Rezoning South of Rock Prairie and East of Rudder Freeway Ladies/Gentlemen; One of the beautiful residential neighborhoods of College Station is in danger! Weingarten Reality has requested rezoning to C-1 the area South of Rock Prairie and East of Earl Rudder Freeway. Their plan is to place a Super WalMart and other retail properties in that area with the WalMart immediately adjacent to Rock Prairie near the intersection with Stonebrook. I certainly have no problem with "property rights"and the right to buy,own and sell properties for a profit. That is a basic freedom and a foundation of Capitalism. However,the rights of one should be in balance with others. Placing a Super WalMart at Rock Prairie and Stonebrook greatly impacts the rights of property owners in the beautiful neighborhoods of the Woodcreek Subdivision. It would result in a large number of people converging on that area from all over Brazos and Grimes Counties and would result in trash,crime and heavy traffic in what are now quiet,clean and safe neighborhoods with beautiful homes and well manicured landscapes. Property values would plummet! I know all of us have heard the old saw,"not in my backyard!"However,Briarcrest in Bryan is a prime example of what happens when a Super WalMart is located in the"backyard" of a nice residential neighborhood. Trash is a problem,crime rates are up and property values are down. The problems in Woodcreek would be much worse. Stonebrook,a residential street,would become a major traffic artery with traffic becoming even heavier with the additional impact of commercial developments to the north between Woodcreek Drive and Emerald Forest. With those developments,Foxfire and Stonebrook will become the major southbound thoroughfare(unless an overpass is built at Sebesta to provide southbound movement). The additional congestion at Stonebrook and Rockprairie created by a Super WalMart would be virtual traffic gridlock,making the current problems at Rock Prairie and Longmire insignificant in comparison. There are possible answers to the problem that would be fair to the Woodcreek Homeowners,the owners of the currently undeveloped land south of Rock Prairie, and the Developers. I believe the Master Plan calls for areas of green-space south of Rock Prairie along the projected path of Lakeview Drive,the extension of Stonebrook. The Weingarten project could be flipped with green-space adjacent to Rock Prairie and the major retail tenant(WalMart or whoever) located at the far south end and no access from Rock Prairie. Ideally,the development would be accompanied by a Rudder freeway on-ramp and overpass south of the development for both north and south access on Rudder with no egress into residential areas. However,even before any change in zoning,a truly effective traffic mitigation plan should be implemented. Too often in the past,traffic studies have been conducted AFTER the problem has been created. The area between Woodcreek and Emerald Forest is a case in point. It's a classic example of"Cart-before-the-horse"problem solving. This time,let's follow the law,common sense,and maintain neighborhood integrity by letting the horse pull the cart. Sincere`S L.D. Hobbs JDPlanning and Zoning Commission July 3,2006 E© IVE City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 To whom it may concern, I am writing this letter to urge the Panning and Zoning Commission to reject the proposed change in zoning for the parcel of land bounded by Rock Prairie and State Highway 6 to C-1 commercial use. The proposed location of the large box development will have serious traffic impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods due to inadequate road infrastructure. I read with great interest,the recent articles in the Eagle on the College Station City Council retreat to affirm the priorities and values of our city government. Specifically, I was encouraged by the importance placed on"Quality of Life"for our neighborhoods. As a homeowner in the Woodcreek subdivision,I can relate first hand to the Quality of Life that we have in our neighborhood. Our subdivision is pedestrian and child friendly because of the relatively low traffic flow that we presently experience. In the mornings and evenings, large numbers of people take advantage of the relative quiet and sparse traffic to walk or jog in our streets. Moreover,our neighborhood is home to the unique feature of the twin ponds that provide a habitat for children friendly ducks. The ducks cross back and forth across Woodcreek Drive during the day in search of food and shade. This daily procession is a joy to watch for families and a delight to neighborhood children. It's a small thing,but this feature is one of the items that makes our neighborhood unique. When the Courtyard Marriott was opened at the entrance to our neighborhood,without the developer or city providing a connecting street to Rock Prairie,traffic unfamiliar with the duck crossing and in a hurry to use neighbor streets to seek a south State Highway 6 entrance on several occasions ran over ducks in the street. The planned big box development with its increased traffic and the planned movement of the Rock Prairie north bound State Highway 6 entrance will force more non-neighborhood traffic down Woodcreek Drive and will probably destroy this wonderful neighborhood Quality of Life feature. As a College Station business owner with an annual payroll in excess of$2.5M, I am not against commercial development. I do insist on planned development and adequate infrastructure to support it. I also want to see commercial development that supports neighborhood Quality of Life. We recruit professionals back to College Station based on this issue. Our recruits never ask if we have a Super Wal- Mart near their homes. They come back because they want to get away from big city clutter and traffic. They want quiet neighborhoods that are pedestrian and child friendly. They want good schools and connections with their neighbors. They want a Quality of Life that they cannot find in the urban sprawl of Dallas or Houston. I urge you to maintain our neighborhood integrity and the great Quality of Life that we presently experience. Vote against the request to change the property zoning designation to C-1. Resp; i Ily, / • /i /L.rry D Teverbaugh,Ph.D.,PE Presid,nt and CEO K2Sh:re LLC • July 2, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission o EC "? City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Re: Weingarten Realty Proposal Dear Sirs: My wife and I are residents of Woodcreek and are completely against the proposal of Weingarten Realty to have the property on the SE corner of Rock Prairie Road rezoned to be C- 1. That proposal and any other like it should be denied. We agree with all of the statements made in the Open Letter to the Citizens of College Station on page A-11 of the Sunday BCS Eagle. Adding big box stores like a Super Walmart to the mix around 6 and Rock Prairie would DREADFULLY increase the already bad traffic congestion that already exists there. We can only imagine what the traffic would be like if, in addition to developments already planned, a Super Walmart or its equivalent(along with other elements in the Weingarten proposal)were approved. Don't be fooled by Weingarten's statements that they have plans that would sufficiently mitigate the traffic problems their proposal would create. Whatever they would do,the traffic volume on both frontage roads, the Rock Prairie bridge, and main neighborhood roads would be significantly increased. With all of this added traffic, and the noise and hassle, our property values would suffer. Weingarten Realty is out to make big bucks at the expense of your constituents and fellow residents. Weingarten Realty doesn't care about the welfare of the residents in this area. As fellow residents you should take into account our best interests, not the interests of big developers and big corporations. Thank you. Dennis R. Lassila, Ph.D., CPA Carol J. La 9239 Brookwater Circle College Station, TX 77845 d-lassila@cox.net 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Frederick B. & Lisa D. Lawrence SCENTED 9302 Bloomfield Lane 111100 College Station, TX 77845 SUBJ: Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. 4pA / c enck c. Lawrence, his-,: k.. Lawrence. Jul 05 06 02:35p BB 831-684-1319 p.1 ?-5-06 FiT140(04977 College Station Planning&Zone Commission As a resident of the Woodcreek subdivision @ 9321 Whitney Lane,College Station please accept this letter as a formal appeal for denying Weingarton Reality to have the Property re-zoned at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. Further, I appeal to you to disallow Wal-Mart or any other large scale developments from being developed in this area. Wal-Mart brings with it a host of negative impacts that threaten the social and economic balance of the current community and its surroundings. Please keep the "green space"this is what makes neighborhoods such as ours attractive. By selling out you loose something in the community and City that can never be regained. If this was your neighborhood would you allow this to happen?! I urge you not to let this happen to ours! Please! Sincerely, _—.—, / ,i//-/-- 1,-- u ee W. Beadnell.+'�� ��"*z.„(C,/,/ Lisa Lindgren Rezoning Proposal at Southeast corner of Rock Prairie and HWY 6 Page 1 From: "Zardkoohi, Asghar" <AZardkoohi@mays.tamu.edu> To: <JProchazka@cstx.gov> 17-7\ Date: 7/5/2006 9:42:06 pm , ,t ►-, , Subject: Rezoning Proposal at Southeast corner of Rock Prairie and HWY 6 Dear Ms. Prochazka: My wife and I would appreciate it if you would please incorporate the below concerns in the Planning and Zoning Commission's deliberation regarding the proposed rezoning of 80 acres at the sourtheast corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 South to C-1 commercial. Concern No. 1: Rock Prairie traffic is already very congested. This is especially true during rush hours, especially between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Concern No. 2: The Medical Center Hospital and many doctors' offices are on Rock Prairie Road and many residents in the Wood Creek and Fox Fire subdivisions are senior citizens or families with small children. Naturally, given the size of these two subdivisions medical emergencies do arise. The proposed rezoning will definitely make the current situation worse and may cause long delays in taking emergency patients to the hospital. Concern No. 3: The proposed rezoning has the potential to increase the frequency of accidents on both sides of the bridge connecting the east and west feeder roads on Rock Prairie. There are already too many accidents in this area. Making this situation worse is just not right for the residents. Concern No. 4: The proposed rezoning will have no positive impact to the local economy. There will be a simple shifting of sales away from the existing grocery stores and other retail stores in the area to the Super Wal-Mart. A similar shift will take place from existing Home Depot and Lowes to the new Lowes. Concern No. 5: Property taxes will definitely go down given the fact that property values of homes in Wood Creek and Fox Fire will be adversely affected. Reduction in property taxes must be taken into account, as other taxes must be increased to cover the revenue shortfalls. Concern No. 6: Given the increase in the traffic in the area, there will be an increase the amount of pollution. This will definitely affect hospital patients and residents in this area. My family and I strongly reject the rezoning proposal. Thank you. Best regards, Asghar and Maria Zardkoohi 9204 Lake Forest Court North College Station, Tx 77845 979-696-5259 I . EF:(,----,-7,7, c,„-___,, Betty Trost 1403 Stonebridge Court College Station, TX 77845 July 2, 2006 Planning&Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Dear Commissioners: As a homeowner in Woodcreek, I am urging the commission to vote against re-zoning the Weingarten Realty application to C-i on Rock Prairie Road. I believe the commission is charged with"preserving quality of life, protecting neighborhoods and protecting the integrity of neighborhoods". My home is located in Woodcreek directly on the right at the Rock Prairie entrance and this will definitely effect the quality of life in my area. Remember what Briarcrest Drive and University Drive looked like pre-large commercial development?Please don't make this same mistake again. Thank you sincerely for your deep consideration in the future development of this very busy intersection. 46-127 Betty Trost N N Cr, kc1 2-3 cA0 N � � w � w N � J 0 N 0 W (/� 0 Perry/I. a4dkithmT 9211 fake farea Court(Arara Cdlege Ste n, Texas 77845 c." 4,I 0 ax 41e -a✓ a-a- a- lb-r1.R-Ilk A;%•-• � ..�- `'`5 OEZAric w . - �- otarn4,4-5 &L-tt_f„ rtlAzt 1-44. tzet-•-k -e `f /t-a . ,v. Gar a-t4 1 7k4",1371Z 11W4> Cy) 7146. 5 Jt7r off° ‘(ii • " J14,t1. a. d. jjzac p ."_ „7 1 1300 WARE ARE eourt C Lc4 eofiE9E JExas 77845-9322 2--oo L • AdY Pd " IL-CI % Co F -�. , / X. 7 7 7 2 - V •1 4_, Oz,_e____64t7jTh . I ni dowe want? What kird of community da- :al By HUGH STEARNS would do? up will be? Is it the shareholders and Special to The Eagle This development would signifi- executives of Weingarten, who, from' cantly lower the value of nearby resi- afar, are trying to decide how to max- as • ho gets to decide what our dential property, thus decreasing the imize their short-term personal prof- town roftown will look like or what overall tax base, not to mention the its from development in our commu- l- its retail makeup will be? quality of life of the people who live nity? Or is it the people of this com- - Right now in College Station, there in those homes. munity who have a vision of the is a national real estate investment In 2007, construction on the Barron quality of life that we want for our- company wanting to make that deci- Road overpass will begin. During the selves and for our children in years sion for us. Weingarten Realty time of construction, the traffic prob- to come? Investors is trying to locate a big-box lems will be even worse in this part For most of us, this vision includes retail center at the southeast corner of town, especially at the location of wise growth and development that is of Rock Prairie Road and Texas 6 this proposed development. Because mindful of our quality of life, our that would be anchored by a Super the area is not equipped to handle local business owners anti a full n Wal-Mart. This is Phase 1 of a much the volume of traffic, cars and trucks range of economic impact to our larger project. will be forced into nearby neighbor- community. Aren't these the funda- To do this, Weingarten must go hoods. mentals of democracy? before our Planning and Zoning 1 These developments are not Though I am confident that our Commission and our City Council to designed to be attractive. They are Planning and Zoning Commission request a change of zoning. No doubt designed to be cheap. This one would and City Council will do the right this is a good investment for Wein- go at the entrance to our city. This thing, I am just as confident that we , but what does it do for Col- . new traffic-producing big-box devel- will soon be faced with another sea lege Station?Station? opment would be yet another impedi- of concrete, another big-box develop- There are those who would like us ment to creating the attractive pedes- ment to oppose. to believe that this is smart economic trian-and child-friendly community If we truly want to protect our development that would swell our that best serves the residents of Col- neighborhoods and our quality of life tax base. Certainly this large retail lege Station. in College Station, we must be proac- center would ring up significant Around the country, university tive and restrict the size of retail out- sales tax revenue. But let's look at communities are known for their let that we are willing to allow in our the net result, which is likely to be a city. Many communities have done loss. pedestrian-friendly charm and com- munity feel with small, locally this to very positive effect,-maintain- A 2004 study commissioned by the owned independent businesses that ing a diverse economy, manageable Mid Ohio Regional Planning Com provide local character and leader- infrastructure costs, reduced traffic mission found that retail space on and increased tourism. Caps also can average costs communities 44 cents ship mindful of the community and per square foot, based on the added its quality of life. This type of devel- apply to specific zones or, for exam- cost of services to the city over the opment facilitates tourism. ple, to developments within a certain . tax revenue generated by those busi- But uncontrolled and undesirable distance of residential areas. development has rapidly eroded our Since we already have so much nesses. One way that this sort of develop- landscape, our quality of life and our big-box and formula store develop- ment ends up costing a community is ability to control the future of our ment, what good does it do to stop it in increased police services. This beloved community. now?It does plenty of good. It mat- happens primarily for two reasons. One of the reasons that this is hap- ters to our traffic patterns, it matters One is because big-box outlets pening is because we have allowed to the neighborhoods that would be involve the police in all criminal development decisions to be made adversely affected by future develop- matters, no matter how small.This is largely from outside our community ments and it matters to the integrity done as a matter of procedure by those with financial, rather than of our city as we strive to define our because companies don't trust deci- community, interests. character and the quality of life that sions made by overworked and I am very confident in the leader- we want for ourselves. underpaid local managers. Large, ship of our Planning and Zoning As we look to the upcoming anonymous businesses also tend to Commission and our City Council. rewrite of our comprehensive plan, it attract a criminal element. But they need to hear from the resi- is important that we define clearly The type of development proposed dents. This issue, along with several our values and goals for the growth by Weingarten also greatly increases other similar development proposals, and development of our community traffic, thus accident coverage, road will be brought before the commis- so that we, and not outside investors, maintenance and a degradation of sion at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Room make these decisions. air quality and quality of life. Have 127 of the College Station Conference ■ Hugh Stearns of College Station is you seen the Rock Prairie traffic at Center. chairman of the GrassRoots Education rush hour? Can you imagine what a Who gets to decide what our town and Action Team. You may e-mail him at huge influx of traffic to the area will look like or what its retail make- hugh@stearnsconstruction.biz . . _ — c,„.-,-A io gi h.,— ., ,.;..lc.,. In hnnv PS A p n N N A W O A C NC 0' It 1. 3 � �• W k 3 r Jm f N ,) , ..„.1 ..1-. A A W 3 n o • - `" n 941 c i 0 1 o - o P `Li_ f C tl X * "' + I A p 7 ), . , 4 „J ,Z0 vt - 7, l r i)ei f jr ); June 30, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO: COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Glenn and Wanda Pittsford 9327 Whitney College Station, TX 77845 RE: Rock Prairie Road and Hwy. 6 Development As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Hwy. 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other large retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space" or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. ()Ai— C))1\i`k-- Glenn Pittsford Wanda Pittsford • (-) •,,,,_ 0 C...) cr, i • ' .—. 0 n ac .e0 a n M X fz. -.a co 4— LA C, 0 1) 0 T iu • = al M 0 0 5 0 x a co r-...° CO CD— 0' CZ to a = ° w N (J) o 4*4 ,s,'". Z ,s4 X 3- .,, -4 5C0 •,,,J <-, 03 41• 0 r" 0-1 3 , m 3 . 5' z m 1 -4 T. X ik ‘1) ) ll/ i ( f ' k k v II l• t • Alt.•• ,f. 06129/2006 23:37 9796959796 LEGALEAGLERNK PAGE 01 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Stefanie Bailey 9301 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77841 SUBJ:Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. When I came up Rock Prairie on Monday and the corner of Rock Prairie and the feeder road was being cleared and all the trees knocked down, I truly got sick to my stomach. As I drove by later with my kids, they both got upset and began to cry because they were so upset. Traffic in and around Rock Prairie is already becoming a nightmare. Try to get off at the exit around 5 pm or so and you can't help but get caught in it. It will not be long before someone is killed on the bypass at the exit due to the amount of backed up congestion trying to exit RP. If we continue to develop this area especially with large high volume stores, this is only going to add to this problem. 4. I hope and pray that a lot of thought and planning will go into the decision and that traffic problems can be adequately addressed prior to moving forward with the development in this area. Thank you for your time and considerationl!!41- ani: ailey Lisa Lindgren - letter for the P and Z. 1 From: "EDW E HAZEN JR" <ahazen-9@msn.com> .34 To: <LSimms@cstx.gov>, <LLindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 6/30/2006 10:10:48 am O r ^.fir Subject: letter for the P and Z. Please forward the following to the members of the P and Z. To: Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission From: Anne and Ted Hazen 1309 Wilshire Court We ask you vote to recommend DENIAL of the proposed rezoning of the property on the southeast corner of Rock Prairie and the East by-pass (Weingarten) until the following have been addressed to the satisfaction of the already developed neighborhoods and businesses which will be severely impacted by such a huge development 1. Major traffic overload at Rock Prairie and the East-by pass, which will not be alleviated until the Barron Road overpass and reworking of the Rock Prairie Exits and bridge widening occurs, a TXDOT project awaiting funding. 2. The transportation plan for the city is updated to include a North South Arterial on the East side of the city. 3. Already in process Commercial developments at Greens Prairie and Rock Prairie(in front of the Marriott Hotel) have had a chance to impact the current transportation system 4. The proposed update of the transportation plan and comprehensive plan have been addressed. 5. The need for more large commercial developments has been identified. Thank you for your efforts on our behalf. Reem q2 To: Members of the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission: w JD We would like to bring to your attention several reasons why Weingarten Realty's request for a Commercial C-1 zone classification of property at the southeast corner of the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 intersection should be denied. We emphasize these because they address economic, security and safety issues that concern a larger College Station community voting constituency than just those residences within 1000 feet of the proposed commercial zone. Desi•natin• the •ro• - as - • un - •i-� r- • - "II • - several of College Station's most established subdivisions_and result in the loss of city tax revenues Because the proposed big box retailers (Walmart and Lowe's) will increase traffic at the already congested Rock Prairie Rd and Highway 6 intersection, motorists will use the local residential streets as throughways. Nearby commercial property presently under development (which is not a C-1 commercial zone) is expected to at least double the number of cars using these residential streets. The increase in residential traffic created by the big box retail outlets proposed for the Rock Prairie Intersection will be even greater. The increased traffic in turn will increase the noise level in the residential areas as well as significantly increasing the danger to pedestrians and cyclists. Children walking and playing in the neighborhood will be particularly at risk. School buses stopping to pick up and deliver school children will be subject to the increased hazards as well. This loss of the residential tranquility, safety and security will devalue the homes in the area which in turn will decrease the tax revenue to the city. The loss in the quality of life will undoubtedly depress future residential development in the area, further eroding the potential tax revenue. It is doubtful if the tax revenues realized from the two big box stores proposed for the commercial site will offset the loss in residential tax revenues plus those that could be generated by commercial businesses more compatable with a residential area. The potential economic loss for College Station is even more apparent if the loss of taxes which will occur when the existing Waimart, which is within two miles of the proposed site, is abandoned. The cost of maintaining or improving the residential streets which were not designed to withstand the heavy flow of commercial traffic needs to be considered as well when evaluating the economic impact of the proposed rezoning. • i`i• 1 - • • • - 9 a C-1 Comm- -1 •ru - • •'• • • . • ii - , 'llfu er - s n• -r the safe secu ' and health of all r- -• -n ial .n• a• -rcia >_ properties of the prroundingarea. The Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 intersection is already heavily congested, and designating the southeast corner of the intersection as a C-1 commercial zone will add significantly to the problem. While road improvements are currently in progress at the intersection, the impact on the flow of traffic at the intersection and along the eastern side of Highway 6 that will occur if the area is zoned for Commercial C-1 use will not be alleviated. Near the intersection is a major hospital and medical center. The Rock Prairie intersection is a crucial access and egress point for the centers emergency medical vehicles serving the local community, College Station and the surrounding rural region. Safe and rapid deployment of firefighters is also dependent upon congestion free access at this intersection. Until a comprehensive study examining the flow of traffic that will be caused by the proposed commercial properties is undertaken, it would be premature and potentially hazardous to consider zoning the property in question for C-I commercial uses. Thank you for your attention. tt „..._ 4,40...----„, , O - / // ' ° `1 I� , Gentry and Patty Steele Doug and Susan Phillips 9008 Timber Knoll Dr. 1306 Sussex Dr. College Station, TX 77845 College Station, TX 77845 Constance E. Smith 1402 Stonebridge Court ; 413010-e College Station TX 77845 June 27, 2006 Planning&Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station TX 77842 Dear P & Z Commissioners: Under the Local Government Code, General Zoning Regulations, S 211.001, it states "the powers granted... for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety,morals, or general welfare and protecting and preserving places and areas of historical, cultural, or architectural importance and significance". With this in mind,therefore, I am strongly opposed to the re-zoning application to C-1 submitted by Weingarten Realty outlining a "monster" big box retail store right on Rock Prairie with multiple restaurants and a second big box store within this complex. This would greatly impact us visually,with bright lights on all night and no green belt to soften the ugliness of a big box and their trash piles. The noise impact of trucks delivering at all hours of the night will be cause for one sleepless night after another. Aesthetics aside,the traffic generated by this behemoth will be overwhelming when shoppers try to find another way to avoid the congested Rock Prairie/Texas 6 interchange by cutting through on Stonebrook. Look around half empty strip malls in College Station. Look at how many restaurants are closed. Look at big boxes standing empty. Look at one fast food restaurant after another. Aren't there enough areas zoned commercial to accommodate these retails spaces without disrupting beautiful neighborhoods? We have multiple places to shop and eat within easy driving and certainly don't need more. Other cities in the country are beautifying their areas with walking paths and smaller,people friendly areas. Is College Station out to create an"asphalt jungle" of parking lots? It is also of great interest to the neighborhood that though Weingarten Realty held a meeting to inform only close neighbors on June 19,the larger Woodcreek, Firestone, Sandstone neighborhoods were not fully notified. Also, merely two weeks later,their application appears on the Planning and Zoning commission agenda for July 6, when most people are on vacation. Do the right thing. Reject this monster plan for C-1 zoning. Sinperely, - Constance E. Smith 1307 Essex c .,en Drive College Station,TX 77845 June 29, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. O. Box 9960 College Station,TX 77845 Dear Commissioners: Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the citizens of College Station, a great place to live. My wife, Barbara, and I have been citizens since 1972 and have raised our family in this community. We appreciate the small, college town atmosphere and integrity of our City, and those are reasons we are writing. We are concerned that the big box mega-stores planned for Rock Prairie Road at the East Highway 6 by-pass will negatively affect the atmosphere and integrity of both our City and the surrounding neighborhoods. A copy of the plan is attached. The planned development looks to be a huge concrete and asphalt eyesore for the new population center of, and south entrance to,our fair City. Surely the City government and citizens of College Station have some say as to how our City should grow and the attached plan is NOT the growth we want. A college community should be innovative and not reactionary to big box and big bucks. Alternatives might be: 1. Ask Weingarten to reconsider and put in some creative thinking, perhaps a"Research Valley", office,retail and restaurant complex, similar to The Woodlands, something of which they and the City could be proud. 2. Purchase the property from Weingarten for the Parks and Recreation Department to develop a"city square"office and retail lease space with a park and recreation setting. 3. Purchase the property and create a"visitor center" for rest,relaxation and shopping for the citizens and friends from out-of-town,visiting the University,the Library and other attractions. 4. Purchase the property and give it to the A&M System. A person walking in a Wal-Mart parking lot cannot avoid stepping on chewed gum, spilled drinks and foods. The stores and restrooms are trashed out most of the time. This plan would evolve into a grackle and rat haunt, an attraction of all manner of undesirables, nothing desirable. This would go on twenty- four hours a day in our back yard. We are certain that none of you sitting on the Commission or any stockholder of Weingarten would want this monstrosity in your or their neighborhoods. Wal-Marts and Lowes and other huge boxes have their place, but their place is not in what has now become a major new center of College Station. Please do not let this plan become the legacy of this Commission. Respectfully requested,1/ Lai j/, Terry and Barbara Raines Lisa Lindgren - REZONING REQUEST FOR ROCK PRAIRIE AND SH6 Page 1 From: "Deborah Voorhees" <voorhees.richardson@verizon.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 10:47 am Subject: REZONING REQUEST FOR ROCK PRAIRIE AND SH6 July 3, 2006 i.-1-?[:',,,, ,,, Dear Planning and Zoning Committee Members, ,, I strongly encourage you and the city council to VOTE AGAINST the proposed development rezoning at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and SH6. As a resident who drives through that intersection at least two times a day, I feel adding more traffic to that area would create a serious traffic problem. I have witnessed several "near misses" in that area of Bypass 6 as I travel to and from work. Additionally, I strongly oppose the addition of a Super Wal-Mart to our community, particularly right next to a residential area. I want our community to have character, natural beauty, and a unique identity. We are loosing so many of the green areas in our town. This Big Box development likely will destroy all the trees in sight, create tremendous water run off, and have no mass transit to it. All of these effects will contribute to increased water and air pollution in our community. Our community will look like all the other"Franchise-towns"across the country that have bought the idea that a promised increased tax base at any esthetic or environmental cost is worth it. I would like our community to develope with environmental and esthetic values at the fore front of zoning and development decision making. Although I do not own a home in the area of the proposed development, I support the citizens who do and are concerned about the decline in their property values. I certainly would not want to buy a house behind Wal-Mart or a large commercial development. The likely drop in their property values will also result in a drop in the property taxes for those homes, which will be an economic loss to the city. Please take a firm and strong stand against this proposed rezoning request. I would like to see our community develop more like other university communities which have controlled big box developments and encouraged independent, unique and environmentally sensitive growth. Communities like Davis, California or Ithaca, NY come to mind as examples. Please vote no on the rezoning proposal. Lisa Lindgren - REZONING REQUEST FOR ROCK PRAIRIE AND SH6 Page 2 Sincerely, Deborah Voorhees Deborah Voorhees 4070 Sweetwater Dr. College Station, TX 77845 979-690-8630 Lisa Lindgren -development 1 From: <AaronC3921@aol.com> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 11:26 am Subject: development Please be advised that we are very much opposed to a large Wal-Mart being opened on property at Rock Prairie Drive. Other communities and citizens in other areas have stood up to Wal Mart and we can do the same. Enough is r� enough!!! Aaron and Ruth Cohen F 1310 Essex Green, Cs 77845 �'� ~ Lisa Lindgren - Rezoning of the SE corner of Rock Praire and Hwy 6 1 From: "Johnson, Kenneth M" <KJohnson2@dsmail.tamu.edu> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 11:41 am Subject: Rezoning of the SE corner of Rock Praire and Hwy 6 My name is Kenny Johnson and I am a resident of Stonebridge in the WoodCreek subdivision. My home, 1311 Sussex Drive, sides on Stonebrook C) Drive, which is already quite a busy thoroughfare. The placement of a 7L /t nr'0 development the size of a Super WalMart directly across Rock Prairie_ would only increase the volume of traffic there. Absent a satisfactory traffic mitigation plan, I shudder when I consider all the attendant possibilities such a traffic volume increase would bring. I accept that College Station is a vibrant, growing community and that it is, apparently, growing south. Given that, it is inevitable that some commercial development must take place along the bypass. My personal preference (as well as the majority of the homeowners in my area)would be to NOT have a big-box development just off Rock Prairie without some very careful planning in the area of traffic mitigation for our subdivision. I ask that you carefully consider our position in your deliberations, as it should be the residents who decide what shape and size the community will take. Jun 30 08 05: 23p Ami Tennison 979-845-4133 p. 2 C-1 Commerical Property Development at Rock Prairie Road Date: 06/30/2006 To: Planning and Zoning Commision From Glen&Amy Tennison(Homeowners at 9200 Waterford Dr.) It is our understanding that you are considering allowing the property at the corner of Rock Prairie and Highway 6 to be used for commercial development We are against this change for several reasons. They are: • We do not want our property value to drop! We are a young family and do not want the property value on our dream home to drop whatsoever. We have invested a lot of money to live in this beautiful and quiet neighborhood and by allowing the commercial property in at that location,you are taking that away from us. • Second, we have an infant son who in a few years will want to use the neighborhood pool in Woodcreek. If you allow this development to happen, he will then have to cross a major street to get to the pool. Our house backs up to Stonebrook (or according to your maps Lakeway Dr.) in which they are projecting 500+ cars to travel on a day with the development in place. Safety becomes an issue for my family and 1 disagree with the committee for this to be considered a"buffer'from the commercial development area. • Every reason why we chose to live in the Woodcreek neighborhood will become pointless. It is very disturbing to know that you would consider this without allowing a better"buffer'to protect our neighborhood from the impact of putting a major commercial development in at that designated area. I understand the goals for College Stations growth plan, but as proud property owners in our dream home we are against putting a commercial development in at that particular location because of increased traffic flow/noise, increased pollution, and an increased crime rate affecting our neighborhood. It's a GREAT neighborhood to live in as it is now and we do not want that to change! Thanks for your time and consideration. Sincerely, A r -G-,wc�.o Glen&Amy Tennison 06/302006 Jun 30 06 05: 23p Amy Tennison 979-845-4133 p. 1 TO: Planning&Zoning Cornmision FAX#: 979-764-3496 DATE: 6/30/06 FROM: GLEN&AMY TENNISON PHONE#: 979-696-5672 NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER SHEET: 2 COMMENTS: Regarding the commercial development at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. JUL-03-2806 08:22 From:ST JOSEPH ACCT 9798217601 To:97643496 P.1/1 --- 9303 Bloomfield Lane College Stotlon,TX 77845 979-696-8979 Fax. July 2, 2006 City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission Subject: Development at Rock Prairie Road and SH6 Dear Commission Members: As concerned homeowners in the Woodcreek subdivision, we are writing to strongly urge you to deny the request that Weingarten Realty has made to rezone the parcel of land at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and SH6 as C-1 commercial. The traffic situation at the southbound exit to Rock Prairie Road from SH6 is already dangerous enough without the additional traffic the proposed development is sure to bring. Around the 5 p.m. hour, the traffic around Rock Prairie Road and Longmire Drive already approaches a gridlock situation, Furthermore, we are greatly concerned about the effect a "big box" retailer, especially a Wal-Mart Super Center, would have on our property values. Personally, about the only thing we can think of worse than living near a Wal-Mart would be a strip club or adult video store. Wal-Mart has a pattern of closing facilities after they have aged, and leaving them abandoned for many years. How long was the Wal-Mart store on Texas Ave. at Villa Maria vacant? Furthermore, Wal-Mart does not bring any decent paying jobs. There value to our community as an employer is non-existent. Please protect the interests of the many citizens and homeowners in this area. Thank you for your consideration. incerely, klahlrN erald & Pam Braun Mon Jul 3 08:29:43 2006 979-693-9301 P. 1 :r$ 1601 .l;ontame Stott(77$4S5612) P.0.Box:.10 15(77842-031.5'1 college ,1 t.xas 979 693 1620 ENstail deter l cx,,i eom Fax 979-693-9301 Jtily 3,;2006 Pltirinirig and Z.,oriing Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 (.-c►liege Station,Texas 77842 Re Rezoningirc poral by Ihieingarten Realty as Rock Prairie Dear Pi t>".orntraissio)n: By trying to carcfaaliv(,,oiatrol development,College'Station has reta-itaed .tt;attrac;tirira to people who will{positively+ ntt-ibute to our economy by new salaries or wealth;btoug t at by retirees.There ait.many extaniples over town where use of green areas along with practices of fiieking up trach and controlling lighting awl noise has maamatained our quality of life.. Traffic control eras not met with the same success,unfortunately as witnessed d by the fxe cent very heavy congestion at Hwy 6 and Rock.Prairie. in the imposed developrnerit at Kock.Prairie and Highway 6 we see a potentialmerging ofthe worst-case s,enario of high density and i.hokinal,traffic congestion.Furter, we have aaa example ple in College Station where the presen ee of the"lh'allkAtirt big box has stot:iTied development and contributed to the decline of home values as well as the associated tax base. The owners of the property do have rights in developing their property.However,those rights do not extend to dumping their extraordinaiy traffic flow onto our neighhcorlsood streets,' and saturating the neighborhood envirorainent with unfriendly lights,noise and trash. Approval of the development nt plan should be withheld=id an adequate plan is presented that will first stop the high traffic flow from coining through l',oxfre and' oexicreek.and secondly assure that the develoriment does riot contribute negatively to both the neighborhood and the city. r ; i tcerei yours., 1 {/' f' Don arid Elie, th 13i'iiy 1.;, b :i ,;20k-i,v,. -, Ft '*-/ v lfeav ,F4- . i ,gi 2) 141 ai '..10,4'9 , Ct . .0. i„,- -)/2) ) kottf' ' (et' - /3aro-ei. eiii& j2/Lioe 4 ortiu2,a) 4/ ,'0 eza-a,,,,t.- ' , 4 .0., 7 n c 1 • A -Zili-•40(a „eta c h 1 letza p/Lam)tk (124 (ieletz726,, a2& ' alp' 1' 1 i&-` da , ti' c'L (.au 'a 62iv -610,,,,,,,,,e,„ ' 'et t- , (...:-/-/J. - l i c� a'r2. '" €'r '4'' _0- nett', J'-cam' ti /2 ri '.� d cd .�to ct►- C . ,6-etc., i i9',0(2," will, /ming, AvA/nze,e4,43, oi, ck,42-ex# cevoit' 64- Ptfirci" ✓Aai-4,,,,,,,, t t oma. _#2,1:12244 >''?Le .... ;' 'LL�/?'t✓ i,e6c4;:za 642-1; 1Z .31,2ths pur,crawi, A. C' 3 CF o yal, A!J/kjei 4-7424, .ge,a / 'LT , - l ain a' ..� Myj L` s 1)02, . .YO[ . t. a/2?..� atia iierzi ..i 'e)'L- ;9 rietet, >i.'C% % Ce' 'J-' c , -. . _ 6122 / (10-0146G/ / . f(z t ci47/196, Df • < pi) te-,r- ,,.. ,..,K., ZA-"aq 41.0a) 00:6/ Ot,gpWe C , -p.,t(e ., a / . �� 6-i zigimela cid, It� �- lin-. ),9 ter, C -W' i - -; yR 7 r. �, `f'/��.�' �" 4.: -� �y�.t�wt,/��►'' C'��; '4-r -'�'Y�.(�✓ C�,r'1,'c�21 ,p),,,p,ty ds.,,,,,„,, 4,,,k2,,,,,, 916:t. ./2e'ykuivniteti * a„Ink-rytz.44-it 01_1) certoetuvitc' ..e. iri,. .:. ,,,'WM14) c:11_."littly' atlet(01 MO) (1,2-ett 0//1/324/7 ‘4' Wiale(244k) '-erax ('' Cr2e(tte ct-:itia iii'lle,( ,%tiArz.:,'-o-n,1),e4uili.ce,liel)-41-0, 7/e) tem-6i- ,e.. ",,P....., e&cdt-ilf attkif4, 1- 02 jo,o, ct c 4 7 ciari ck, Loeb.. ,P,6„.„ 44 tc tt2- / ciz J 6 i:1 , ' t09- 67' Michael E. Caudle LTC,US Army(Ret) 1321 Wilshire Court Station,Texas 77845 College7(L 31a�_ June 30,2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 To the Commission Membership: Theis of this letter is to voice our displeasure at the possible rezoning of the property p located at the corner of Rock Prairie and Highway 6 to C-1 commercial designation. Weingarten Realty recently proposed their plan to some of the"neighbors"in our area,much to the chagrin of the entire population in attendance. I do not recall even one person in attendance who had anything favorable to say about their plan. We chose to buy our property due to the pleasant,quiet,and peaceful location we currently reside in. We were attracted to in Wood Creek the Wilshire Court neighborhooddue to its proximity to Highway 6 and the conveniences located on the West side of the highway. I can assure you that we would NEVER have purchased our home here had we dreamedm of such our home site.invasion of the beauty of the neighborhood immediately across Rock Prairie In ease you have any doubts about the effect this proposal will have on our neighborhood,itmWeingarten,the For Sale hats almost as quickly as they this was a choice location to ALREADY HAS!! Until this recent revelation� buy;properties on our street disappearedfrom to a need for more were listed. Our home went on the market about one month ago square footage for my wife's newly created home business. On the second day it was on the market,a Houston couple made a formal offer to us through their realtor. We replied the next day with a formal counter-offer through our own realtor,expecting either acceptance or another counter-offer. The next thing we heard from our realtor,however,was neither. All we were told was that they had unexpectedly withdrawn their offer to the shock and surprise of both realtors. Thinking that maybe their daughter from Iola,who had encouraged them to relocate to here,had caused the couple to feel pressured and that they had decided not to complete the deal,I asked the realtors to follow-up withen to the determine was not what w,if they could,ehy the sudden change in their decision. The answer they got froexpected. They informed their realtor that they know three different residents on our street and that one of them had informed them that a Super Wal-Mart and a Lowes was going to be built right across Rock Prairie from our edition. That,commissioners, deal, plain and simple. They were no longer interested,even though only two days before,they wetotally in love with our property. We have not had an offer since. We now sit here,victims of the speculation that Weingarten MAY develop their property in such manner. The decision hasn't even been approved and the impact on realty in the immediate area is already suffering. I honestly do not know how any responsible developer or any concerned planning and zoning commission could approve such a development next door to a respectable housing edition. There is NO green space or buffer planned for the Super Wal-Mart building. On a good day, I can almost throw a rock from my driveway and hit that building when it is completed,and I have arthritis in my arm. Stonebrook is scheduled to be opened all the way from Wood Creek to Greens Prairie Road,and directly behind the proposed site for Super Wal-Mart and Lowes. That,folks,is going to forever change the quiet neighborhood we now enjoy. I do not believe for a minute that a comprehensive traffic study has been done that will accurately compensate for the amount of traffic that will be generated by this proposal. Rock Prairie and Highway 6 intersection is already one of the most congested and dangerous traffic areas in the greater B-CS area. Pat and I are not opposed to development in our city. In fact,we welcome it. We do,however oppose any development that results in the degradation of any preferable housing edition,and Wood Creek is one of those editions. Most likely,if this proposal is approved by your commission,we will have another traditional vacant Wal-Mart store for years when they leave their current location. My recommendation is that they remain where they are and rebuild or remodel right there. It is our fervent hope that you will not treat this matter with ambivalence. You have a very large population of citizens here who feel that their investments are about to crater to the whims of wealthy investors who aren't even members of our community. We implore you not to let this happen. It is not proper,it is not welcome in our area,and it will not be repairable once it has been developed. Thank-you for your time and understanding(hopefully). Sincerely, Michael E. (and Patricia C.) Caudle 1321 Wilshire Court College Station,TX 77845 Cynthia Nevels 1402 Sussex Dr. College Station, TX 77845 Zoning and Planning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 June 30,2006 Dear members of the Zoning and Planning Commission: I am writing to protest the proposed retail development at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. I live in the Woodcreek subdivision and I am already fed up with the existing traffic congestion at the intersection of Rock Prairie and Highway 6. It is outrageous that a plan to increase the traffic and lower the quality of life in this part of College Station would even be on the table. We do NOT need a SuperWalmart, or Super anything, and we especially do not need such monstrosities in this part of town. We do not need more retail stores in this area. We do not need the additional traffic, unsightly development, and pollution run off. I can't get in or out of the Kroger shopping center or adjacent retail areas without major difficulty. Trying to exit Highway 6 at the Rock Prairie intersection has become an increasingly terrifying experience. Often I try to avoid the whole mess by shopping elsewhere and coming home using a circuitous and time-consuming route through Emerald Forest. Please do not approve this rezoning proposal. I can't imagine a worse plan for this area. It will turn what is now already a planning debacle into a disaster of nightmare proportions. Sincerely, C'j ytG l' ,C, � Cynthia Nevels June 30, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station Texas Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77845 Gentlemen; Regarding your consideration of the proposed rezoning of the property near Rock Prarie and Highway 6 South, as a long time resident of Woodcreek Subdivision since 1986, I am firmly against any rezoning and I expect you to be also until and unless Traffic Mitigation Measures for the proposal are effective, approved and implemented. Very truly yours, via,/ tie/2/ 0 L' Gene W. Clark 1302 Sussex Drive College Station Texas, 77845 June 29, 2006 - �= l_ _ Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 Re: Weingarten Realty College Station, TX 77842 rezoning request Dear Commission Members: We wish to add our names to the list of citizens who oppose changing the current zoning designation of the land on the corner of Rock Prairie Rd. and Highway 6. Just the request to change to C-1 has already caused a reduction of property values in Woodcreek and Foxfire and made the sale of homes in the surrounding area very difficult. We don't particularly like the current designation, but C-1 would be very detrimental to people in these neighborhoods— and other neighborhoods in the vicinity as well. The developers knew of the zoning designations when the plan was initiated. Surely, they can come up with something that meets the current zoning code under the city's land use plan. The property value situation would be only one of the many problems caused by the proposed change. Traffic would be horrendous on streets that were not designed or built to handle such a high vehicle volume. The main criteria for any zoning request should be that the citizens of the affected area benefit from the change —not that the requesting party will lose money or make more money with the change. One of the risks of any business venture is the possibility that an investment will not pan out, or will not be as successful as anticipated. It is not the city's responsibility to promote a business to the detriment of the residents of the neighborhood. Sincerely, _ . Q i.,, ,-(767-uf A-e--- Myron and Sue'Gantt 1318 Wilshire Ct. College Station, TX 77845 tp June 29, 2006 `Il 310 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station, TX77845 Dear Members: My husband and I built our lovely patio home in Woodwork in 1987. Woodcreek has always been a quiet, friendly, safe, and wonderful place in which to live. Our Stonebridge Homeowners Association has been most diligent in making sure our area continues to be a well-kept and "choice" area in College Station. As I am now a widow, it is important to me that our total safe, neighborhood community environment not be disrupted. Therefore, I am most concerned that Weingarten Realty is seeking to have the land parcel between Rock Prairie and Highway 6 to the Silk Stocking Nightclub be rezoned to C-1 commercial, making it possible for a Walmart Supercenter to be located directly on Rock Prairie Road. The ensuing traffic problem on Stonebrook which is a two-lane street that runs through the residential neighborhood of Woodcreek to the Foxfire subdivision, will be horrendous, and the traffic flowing from Rock Prairie will be a nightmare! I am suggesting that no rezoning be approved until an effective traffic mitigation plan is complete, approved and implemented. Sincerely, Alice E. Beals 9409 Stonebridge Drive College Station, TX 77845 6316), J ;ta3QOAOCia2Q4i., Thomas M. Weber, M.D., F.C.C.P., P.A. Anup G. Amin, M.D., F.C.C.P., P.A. Scott c t t E. Spencer, MBo.D. of Diplomate, American Board of Diplomate, American Board of Dip pmonary American Care Medicine Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine June 27, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Dear Sir or Madam: This letter is in response regarding the new Weingarten Realty seeking to develop retail property near Rock Prairie Road and Hwy 6. I am living in the Wood Creek Subdivision and have already seen increased traffic due to the recent Marriot development project as well as the Lutheran Church. Clearly any addition of a large retail space business like Super Wal-Mart will be extremely dangerous of traffic in our area. What concerns me is that the Planning Commission keeps re-zoning property areas from time to time because of requests from prospective developers. I think this should not happen. Elected officers in the Cities of Bryan/College Station should firstly respect individual family homeowners. You should be listening to a unified voice in this project. I will try to make it to the meeting that is going to be held on July 6, 2006. Sincerely, Anup Amin, M. D. AA/ka 02:58 2700 E. 29th St., Suite 260 • Bryan, TX 77802 • (979) 774-0012 • FAX(979) 774-4636 June 29,2006 - - INCv Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 Re: Rock Prairie Road/Highway 6 Land Parcel Gentleman: It is our understanding that Weingarten Realty wants to develop the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 into a large retail center. It is also our understanding that this land is designated for commercial use. However, it is not at this time designated as C-1 commercial use. Since this designation allows for"big box"retail establishments, such as a Super Walmart Store or something similar, we ask that the Commission recommend a rejection for Weingarten's request for a C-1 zoning under their current plan. We live in the Woodcreek Sub-Division and have a sizeable investment in our property. This type of development is a real threat to our property values and would add tremendous traffic problems in the neighborhood. Rock Prairie Road would have to be doubled in size just to carry the traffic. It is already heavily used daily by dump trucks, contractors and chemical trucks, not counting the personal traffic. There is a large amount of open land between Rock Prairie Road and Greens Prairie Road. This would certainly offer a much better access than being right next to sub-divisions, which there are several. Additionally, there would be "no green space or buffer areas of consequence" in this setup. Please take the citizens and taxpayers thoughts and concerns into the deliberations on this property. Sincerely, Ben and Pat Price 9411 Whitney Ln. Woodcreek June 30, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 . College Station, TX 77842 ,_74ziczp Dear Commission: I am one of the many residents concerned with and against the proposal of Weingarten Realty to develop the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 into a large retail center including a Super WalMart and one or more other"big boxes." It is ironic that today's Eagle carried a feature story on the City Council's retreat and included the city's mission statement"On behalf of the citizens of College Station, Home of Texas A&M University, we will continue to promote and advance the community's quality of life." Mayor Silvia is referenced as acknowledging that"quality of life" covers the key philosophy that the council wants to stress through its values and vision. I am absolutely certain that the planed development by Weingarten Realty of including a Super WalMart on Rock Prairie road would very significantly decrease the quality of life for several hundred residents in the wonderful subdivisions north of Rock Prairie Road. Although there is discussion of changing roads at some time in the future,this proposed development would make the current terrible traffic problems even worse and would have a major negative impact on these residents as a Mr. Gibson pointed this out in a letter to the editor in today's Eagle. For example, at certain times of day right now it would be difficult or impossible for emergency vehicles to get to Woodcreek with the gridlock at the corner of Rock Prairie and Longmire. This proposed development would make the situation even worse. This is also not good for merchants-I have quit shopping at the Kroger store at that location on week day afternoons because of the traffic. I understand that commercial development must occur and support properly planned development. I have lived in College Station for over 30 years and have seen very significant changes, most of them positive. One of the reasons I have remained here and plan to remain is the community and its great neighbors and neighborhoods. Approval of this zoning change would have a very negative effect and would definitely harm hundreds of families in the immediate area. I believe working on and improving the development plan for this area that has been on your website for some time could be a positive event rather than the damaging event Weingarten Realty is proposing. I feel certain there are better sites for another(unnecessary) Super WalMart. I implore you to protect our community and deny the zoning change that Weingarten is requesting. Sincerely ours, d' I M. Quarles '253 Brookwater Circle College Station, TX 77854 (Woodcreek) June 29, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77842 RE: Proposed Re-Zoning Request at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Dear Commission Members: We strongly oppose Weingarten's request to change the commercial zoning at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 to a C-i commercial use for the entire land parcel. Opening this area to a high traffic, big box retail establishment would be extremely detrimental to all the area neighborhoods. As you know, this is currently one of the most highly congested traffic areas in College Station. Something must be done now to help alleviate traffic problems in this area. Changing the zoning of the entire tract of land proposed would create additional chaos to the already congested traffic problems. While we do not oppose retail centers being built in this area, we do feel traffic issues should be fully reviewed and improved prior to retail space being built. In addition, we urge you to make sure the land use plan has a designated "green space" buffer due to the residential homes already established in the subdivisions near this location. Please recommend a rejection for Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning under their current plan. Sincerely, .*07././ hOrti2..-- J 'Jun andNancy Moore 1003 Flint College Station, Texas 77845 June 30, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 To Whom It May Concern: We are against the current proposal of Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning for the land surrounding Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. Further, we are against building"big box"retail spaces, i.e., a Wal-Mart store. It will not only increase the traffic to this area but will decrease the value of homes in Wood Creek and Fox Fire developments. We encourage the Planning and Zoning Commission to reject the plan for Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning under their current plan. Sincerely, L. & Eileen Gamm 9308 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77845 ( 2c 6 7 ,, . 12 L' lJO. .-y.__, gz-A eg-t-xe :L • ,i....,,,/, f,, __ ,_,, ,,,,,, ,, , yzld2 0?d,z>-1 el--c-i A , „,L, ..i__,e *74,77-6 4/2/4„,„z__ *,- , iiitti,c- d-6--P----d- z-z-4,11'- ...---4-,44 - ,/fe-eze-,z-• 4-Li 4( 0 0 67 ,0 72e,-- 72.0A)r-z - ) 7?-6 -/ -1....,:i.,t,--e- ei,,,t) c•-6t4c._, .7)7L-4,-- Le, ) 0 /(71 C - 714--c- (---11, 2--• 110---d- 4,Z,e-e-41e_. ,,4 _,Cr - rii-%, ) /72 _-(--- - li'J/I-g-z-ti- ze----z--- .A4- - u ) 22y7 c-ct--(1,- 7) la; a,,,,_ L ---z-A__EA.,. ,i4;./z,it., .,d,Z71-1.6,,, , , w- a Irl.,- /:-?)Az-e---t-P,.41,'-al,Li- c•LAJ.,_ , e s t• • -o 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Marion S. and Carol L. Scamardo 9405 Whitney Lane College Station, TX 77845 113L , SUBJ: Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. • r y /_‘4_,---,9-7A,/r-/c) Mar----4oS. Scamado Carol L. Scamardo 3 July 2006 ,41 L =w Planning and Zoning Commission 1101 Texas Avenue College Station TX 77845 Dear Sirs: As a resident affected by the proposed zoning change at Rock Prairie and SH6, I understand the objections of my neighbors to the proposed Weingarten development, but I also believe there is a need for retail space in this area. Rather than a"No way!" approach, might I encourage the Commission to consider setting higher standards for development which would actually increase property values and tax revenues? Hugh Stearns' excellent article in today's Eagle addresses the central concern about such developments: "They are designed to be cheap." Let's fix that. Let us welcome the o of the environmentalnot social) factors that have beener, but set the bar high. Below are some mentioned,with a possible approach to their solution. PROBLEM COMMENT 1. Traffic on Stonebrook Change covenants to allow homeowners on busy thoroughfares to wall Drive. off their front yards with architectural brick and ironwork. Establish barrier-protected on-street parking and slower speed limits. 2. Traffic on Rock Prairie The whole interchange and commercial area needs rethinking. It cannot at Longmire. get much worse than it already is. This is for the Highway Department. Any new development ought to be easily bicycle-accessible. 3. Light pollution. Restrict the height,and increase the number, of downward-directed light poles at the new development. Ensure that signage does not shine toward residences,perhaps even designing the buildings to have their backs to SH6,with a"new urban"design for the development itself. [The Commission is no doubt familiar with such projects as Crosland's Birkdale Village center in suburban Charlotte,NC.] 4. Noise pollution. Highway 6 is noisy already. It seems moot to project any increase in noise that might be heard above Highway 6. 5. Water pollution. Don't all developments now require catch basins? Existing regulations seem sufficient to me with the exception that they allow too much contiguous blacktop area. 6. Heat pollution. Major blacktop areas need to be broken up by rows of trees to maximize the amount of shade over the blacktop. Existing regulations seem insufficient. Mandate lots of trees. 7. Security concerns. Wal-Mart mounts cameras on the roof. Mandate a police substation in the complex and blanket the area with cameras. Many cities rely heavily on cameras to deter crime;this development could set a new standard. I see no insurmountable problems with this development, but I would encourage the Commission to be willing to face down the developer and, if necessary, allow them to walk away from this project. It does not have to be a Super Wal-Mart; Super Target stores are also big-box retailers. To quote the homeowner association committee, we can"reflect the pride of our city" by setting a higher standard for this development and welcoming it into the community. Sincerely, Cornelius Ferguson 9004 Timber Knoll Drive College Station,TX 77845 Jul 04 06 08:29p p.1 July 4,2006 • Pagguly 3.2006 : ,r` nr7 SENT VIA FA? TO: Dear College Station Planning and Zoning Board, We will be unable to attend your meeting scheduled for July 6'to discuss the zoning change to property on the east side of the Earl Rudder Freeway near Rock Prairie Road. However,we want our opinion voiced on this matter, We nave owned our norne m the roxtire bubdlvision since l 192 and in 20U I made about over.I UU,000 worm of improvements and upgrades because we wanted to stay in our present home which gives us a country feeling inside the College Station city limits. That will be jeopardized if the property in question is rezoned AGAIN! When we purchased our house I believe the land in question was zoned AO.That was changed within the last 10 years to allow for some low traffic commercial development of which I did not approve of,but have tolerated. Now we are changing the rules of the game again,which in my opinion,should not be done unless 100 percent of the land owners affected AGREE! I understand that the owner of the property has a chance to make a killing off his investment,and the City will see the property taxes on this piece of property rise as well. The losers in all of this will be the residents of Foxfire,Emerald Forest and Wood Creek. You can bet that if this goes through and our property values decrease you won't see our property taxes go down any. They'll go up like they've done every year.And we won't be able to get the fair market value out of our homes because few people will want to put up with the traffic to get to their homes. Another point of consideration is the current traffic congestion that occurs everyday along Rock Prairie and Longmire. Anyone who has ever tried to exit Rock Prairie coming off of Highway 6 would know that to add a retail zone that would require this same exit is not the best planning. This is already an extremely dangerous exit and to add more traffic without immediate road improvement(not 2 to 5 years down the road)would be as if the Planning&Zoning Commission doesn't care about the safety of its city's citizens. we would invite every member or me rlammig&Lomng commission to make this drive clown Highway 0 lc attempt this exit at Rock Prairie around rush hour and imagine doing this with your precious 3 children(or the people most precious to you)in the car. Then imagine adding a major retail zone at the same exit and the traffic you'd be dealing with then. I'm sure that you can then imagine our frustration that this idea of rezoning is even being entertained! When you vote on whether or not to rezone this property,please=nit about our sons Kyan& lyier and daughter Shelby who have called this home for over a dozen years and not some developer who is just looking to line his pockets and then move on! Sincerely, ;y Darryl. B 1518 Fontaine Drive College Station, Tx 77845 Lisa Lindgren - Please forward to members.of the Zoning and Planning Board Page 1 From: "Jack &Virginia Shell" <jvshell@cox.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 1:47 pm Subject: Please forward to members of the Zoning and Planning Board To members of the Zoning and Planning Board: Re: Weingarten Realty Zoning Request First, let me thank each and every one of you for volunteering your time and efforts to serve on the Zoning and Planning Board. I have attended one of your meetings and left greatly impressed by the business like way the meeting was conducted and fairness you have shown to both sides. There is no substitute for people like you and every citizen of College Station should shake your hands in gratitude. My name is Jack Shell and I live at 9401 Scarborough Drive with my wife, Virginia. We are 75 and 72 years of age, retired and moved to College Station in hopes it would be the last move of our lives. We have enjoyed living in College Station and have fallen in love with our neighborhood and neighbors, who are some of the finest people we have ever met. Our street is quiet and our subdivision (Woodcreek II patio homes) is mostly occupied by retired people like us. But now we are have a looming problem: our house backs up to Stonebrook Drive and is two blocks north of Rock Prairie Road. When the request was made to change the land use plan for the land north of us along Highway 6 from Woodcreek Drive to Sebesta, we did not oppose development of the land, but wanted the increased traffic load through our neighborhood addressed BEFORE the changes in zoning were approved. If I heard correctly(I am hard of hearing so may not have this right), I understood the city traffic planners said the traffic load on Stonebrook Drive would increase threefold once the new businesses were established. This is unacceptable to us. Would you want that much traffic running right by your back door? Thank you for your actions to require traffic mitigation before acting on the request of the property owner. Now we face an even greater threat of increased traffic plus the undesirability of a"big box" shopping center to the south of us, as presented by Weingarten Realty, Inc. If the changes requested for the property to the north of us were going to increase traffic on the street behind us, we can't begin to imagine what the traffic would be once the shopping center was completed to the south. I ask again, would you want all that traffic running behind your home? Some would say if we don't like it, we could sell out and move, but who would want to buy our house once they saw and heard the traffic going by? And why should we and others in our neighborhood suffer so much for the sake of out of town investors? Perhaps a part of an overall solution would be to prohibit any interconnecting traffic between Foxfire and Woodcreek (i.e. close Stonebrook Drive where it becomes Foxfire Drive and not permit any other thru streets). Even better, if you have not read an article by Hugh Stearns on the editorial page of today's Eagle, I recommend you do. I don't know him, but agree with everything he said. We are not against development along Highway 6, but we do think it should be controlled so that it does not destroy the adjacent neighborhoods. Surely with all the talented people employed by the city they can come up with a compromise that would be acceptable to all sides. Until then, we ask you to either deny or postpone rezoning until our request is taken into consideration. Again, thank you for all you do and for reading our request. Jack&Virginia Shell Lisa Lindgren - rezoning on Rock Prairie and freeway 1 From: "MARJORIE BRADLEY" <twbmb@verizon.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 2:25 pm Subject: rezoning on Rock Prairie and freeway I bought a patio home in Woodcreek last August and believe that this is certainly one of the very best neighborhoods in Bryan/College Station. It is always beautifully maintained and traffic is not a problem. Please, please do not allow this neighborhood to be destroyed by unrestricted traffic and the activiity of a large shopping center. At the very least this building should not be allowed to take place until traffic routes have been established to avoid residential streets.ln addition, a green zone (buffer) should be left along Rock Prairie. There is already another shopping center being built on the North side of Rock Prairie. Surely, it isn't necessary to have Rock Prairie at the freeway to be completely surrounded by shopping centers. Thank you for reading this. I sinderely hope I will not regret moving to College Station. Marjorie Bradley Lisa Lindgren - Re: WRI Re-Zoning Request for S/E Corner of Highway 6 & Rock Prairie Road 1 From: "Ray N. Finch" <raynancyfinch@verizon.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 2:39 pm Subject: Re: WRI Re-Zoning Request for S/E Corner of Highway 6 & Rock Prairie Road Dear Planning &Zoning Commission Members: Please let me introduce myself. My name is Ray N. Finch. I am a retired Chemical Engineer and have resided at 9401 Stonebridge Drive in College Station, Texas for the last four(4) years. My home is located in the Wood Creek subdivision located on the east side of Highway 6 near Rock Prairie Road. We have been very happy with our retirement move to College Station until a few months ago. Although I had heard rumors of a large"Big Box" shopping center at the southeast Corner of Highway 6 and Rock Prairie Road since I moved here, I had sincerely hoped that it would not materialize. We had all hoped that the historical church on this site would prohibit its development. The City seemed to deny any knowledge of this project until the last two months when Weingarten Realty Investors [WRI] announced a public hearing about a request for a zoning change on the subject property. I officially learned that the project was very real through some information from WRI about four months ago. Please do not approve this project for this location! My reasons for making this request are as follows: 1. The quality of life for my wife and me will immediately be severely degraded upon the completion of this project. The Wood Creek subdivision is located on the Northeast corner of Highway 6 and Rock Prairie Road intersection. This is a large up-scale residential area which has been a dream come true in our retirement. It is a quiet, well landscaped, low traffic area with a good population, i.e. a mix of mostly professional people, some of whom are retired and others who are still quite active in the College Station community. The completion of this project would bring excessive traffic, glaring lights at night, noise, and possibly undesirable individuals who seem to frequent large shopping malls at times [news]. 2. The value of my home will almost immediately decrease in value somewhere between 20 -40%. W are living comfortably in this area, are members of Pebble Creek Country Club and enjoying life with friends, neighbors, family and church activities. This project would greatly decrease all of that. We studied this area quite well before we bought our home which we planned to be our last. But, we did not have an inkling of this project coming to pass. We have a rather pastoral setting with many trees and even a pasture of exotic deer nearby. 3. After coming to College Station and getting involved in our home owners association, I learned that the residents on the east side of Highway 6 have been battling commercial encroachment for more than ten (10) years. I have been involved with the home owners of this area who are trying to protect our quality of life. I do not believe that the residents of the Wood Creek area would be opposed to smaller and less invasive commercialization along Highway 6. But, I am fairly certain that they are almost unanimously opposed to any"Big Box" and/or high traffic commercial projects on the East side of Highway 6. I believe that the City Ordinances state that City Council and P&Z are to"protect Lisa Lindgren - Re: WRI Re-Zoning Request for S/E Corner of Highway 6 & Rock Prairie Road 2 the quality of life of existing residents". 4. The major concern is traffic impact on our quality of life. Even though some limited traffic surveys have been done. They have not reflected the desires of the residents or the realities of proposed projects. The first survey was done in order to compare the impacts on traffic of two different ways of complete development of the land between Wood Creek Drive and Sebesta Road. The City traffic staff did not seem to understand that the residents feel that there is too much traffic already and do not want a 500% increase to that traffic. Also, the traffic planners were requested to put the impact of the WRI project into that traffic study, but they did not. Competent traffic engineers from TTI stated that a major north-south corridor should be considered much further east than Stonebridge Foxfire, but no one listened. It should be obvious from driving through the current Stonebridge Foxfire road that it was never meant to be anything but a residential road. It is no longer satisfactory for the City to say we have a"process", and/or"trust us and we will fix it". The City track record on this point has only promoted distrust. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the people of College Station. I hope that you do not approve this project. Sincerely, Ray N. Finch Lisa Lindgren -Weingarten Realty zoning request 1 From: "Johnson, Kenneth M" <KJohnson2@dsmail.tamu.edu> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 3:00 pm Subject: Weingarten Realty zoning request To members of the Zoning and Planning Board: Re: Weingarten Realty Zoning Request My name is Kenny Johnson and I live in Woodcreek II patio homes area. My property abuts Stonebrook Drive. I'm taking this opportunity to echo the sentiments of a neighbor, Jack Shell, who shared with me of a recent email he sent to all of you. Although new to the area and the state, I am proud and very happy to call College Station home and look forward to being here a long time. I bought my property because I was fairly certain it would hold its value as time passed. Now, that may be in question if Weingarten Realty succeeds in their rezoning request and subsequent development of a 'big box' retailer in the immediate area. Along with Jack and Virginia, I thank you for your service and ask you to consider this request as if you lived next door to me and were faced with the same influx of traffic and attendant problems that we all will surely be if this rezoning request is approved. Respectfully, Kenny Johnson Lisa Lindgren - Rezoning Request 1 From: <HarJrAg52@aol.com> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/3/2006 3:31 pm Subject: Rezoning Request CC: <wmason@cstx.gov> Members, Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station Please deny the request of Weingarten Realty to rezone to C-1 Commercial the property south of Rock Prairie Road along the east side of Highway 6. Even if we didn't live in a nearby neighborhood (Woodcreek), we would be vehemently opposed to the development outlined to include big box retailers such as Wal-Mart and Lowe's. Please do not allow outside interests to disturb our quality of life by creating unmanageable traffic (and trash) and acres of concrete. We appreciate very much your service to the community. Please use the power that you possess to see that this area and other areas of the city are developed in a way that we can always be proud. Businesses can be added in an attractive way and still protect our beautiful neighborhoods and green spaces. We only have one chance to do this right. Thank you. Nelda & Harry J. Green, Jr. 1304 Scarborough 696-4499 copy to Members, College Station City Council Lisa Lindgren - ROCK PRAIRIE 1 From: robert anderson <rja31@juno.com> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/4/2006 8:23 am Subject: ROCK PRAIRIE Lisa, please forward this to the members of the P&Z commission: We think that approval of the Weingarten Realty rezoning request for the area near the Rock Prairie intersection would lead to a traffic and residential disaster. We urge you to deny this request. Thank you. Bob & Dorothy Anderson June 26, 2006 Planning & Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Dear P & Z Commissioners: I live in the Wood Creek Subdivision in College Station and wanted to voice my deepest concerns with the proposed business developments located both north and now south of my neighborhood. My neighbors and I are concerned with Weingarten Realty's current request to change the zoning at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 for commercial use. If this request is eventually approved by the City Council, our home and property values will surely go down and our ability to sell our homes will be threatened for the future. I would strongly request that your commission membership recommend the rejection of the C-1 re-zoning request by Weingarten Realty and that every effort be made by the P & Z Commission and the City Council to maintain the integrity and character of our neighborhood by keeping the currently approved zoning for this area. In addition, there is no desire on the part of any of the Homeowners Associations to have any "Big Box" tenant like a WalMart Super Store located directly off of Rock Prairie Road. The Weingarten Realty plans we reviewed at their meeting on June 19 did not include any green space or buffer between our subdivision and the proposed business development, nor did it take into consideration the traffic congestion already occurring at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 and the additional grid-lock that would be caused by their development and the other development proposed north of our neighborhood. In other words, they didn't do all of their homework! Once again, please recommend to the City Council the rejection of the C-1 re-zoning request by Weingarten Realty and restore our confidence in the democratic process. Thank you for your serious consideration. Sincerel uadalupe Reyes, Jr. e Home Address: 1402 Stonebridge Ct., College Station, Texas 77845 Home Phone: (979) 694-1312, Work Phone: (979) 209-7202 r et — . ,-m SNC i., . ,,,,,,,4.,,F,,z,Lig 4 g ,z m 45y M _'' L a ^ , 1 -J g- Z i'''' Cx; 44 r o - s ) ) i 1(i ( \.1 A•0444,404 444 M44, l C. N 9201 a. "^1 U4�, Tv 7194S June 26, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, Tx 77842 Dear Sirs, The purpose of this letter is to express objection in the strongest terms to Weingarten Realty's proposal for the designation of the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 as land for C-1 commercial use. This area is already heavily traveled. It will become impossible during the construction phase, and once finished,the traffic and congestion will dramatically increase in this area which will become a threat to the health and safety of the community. Property values and resale of homes will plummet. Unfortunately my wife and I will be out of town for the next zoning and planning commission meeting on July 6, 2006. Please accept this letter as a record of our plea to the zoning commission to place the interests and well being of the community above commercial interests. Sincere , 7r/,f`JC Larry C. apper Mary B. Napper n , t§: y~ pa „ii. pOn P Ned k ''' 4. k's Li -.,t z m oC ra 73, 0 Ti 71 i 4 i1 3 k r,LSS J /r. / i // 9100 Timber Knoll Dr. College Station, TX 77845 (979)696-8222 26 June 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station F N 9 D P 0 Box 9960 U \\ill b-offreFtil College Station, TX 77842 Sir/Madam: I am writing this to you to express my negative views on putting up a"BIG BOX"store on Rock Prairie and TX 6 by-pass. People are moving out of town to get away from all this sprawl and here you are adding to it Don't you think there are enough strip malls going up along that corridor? It is making Hgwy 6 look like 1-45 in Houston! The area that has been denuded on Hgwy 6 by-pass and Sebesta is sitting there empty just waiting for someone to come along and rent one of the available stores. So, how long is it going to take to put something there? Also, there has been another disagreement over the land south of Sebesta. Even more strip malls! How many is enough? There are so many in the city that are sitting vacant, looking run- down because there is no ordinance to keep up those concrete boxes after they are built There is a much better use for that land, as it is much needed here in CS. Why not put in an over 55 community like the ones they have in Florida. I sure would love to have a community like that to move into. I'm getting too old and tired to take care of a big yard. I would still like a 2000 square foot house with 4 bedrooms, but without all that yard work! Can't you try and get a developer interested in doing that instead? Also, the perfect spot for a"BIG BOX"store would be on the corner of Wellbom and How 2818. With all the student apartments along Wellborn and that vicinity, it would make a perfect spot! That way, they don't have to come to Rock Prairie or Greens Prairie and cross Hgwy 6 to go shopping. Putting it on Rock Prairie would be out of the way of all the students living in College Station! Another suggestion is to leave the"BIG BOX"where it is and fix it up. They could buy Appletree and incorporate it into the existing store. That location is convenient for everyone. As long as I'm writing this letter, isn't there some way an ordinance couldn't be passed to have the strip malls look better? Couldn't they have to put up a facade that would add interest and go with a western town theme? I'm getting tired of looking at gray concrete with a sign over the door. Also, how many nail salons, beauty parlors and cleaners do we need here? They seem to come and go and leave empty spaces in the already existing strip malls when they go out of business. As an example of an ugly strip mall,just look at the one on Harvey Rd. past the mall or the ones on Texas Ave and Holleman Dr. The old one sure needs fixing up and the new one just built is sure ugly! and hard to get into and out of, with all that traffic on Holleman Dr. Guess that's all I have to say, for now: Kathleen Ireland 06/30/2006 FRI 9: 04 FAX 979 774 4636 BRAZOS LUNG ASSOC LLP lit001/001 cit! a 63344:4,3(:z £1ns, datAaoiatiandfr £ 1 E Thames M.Weber,M.D., F.C.C.P.,P.A. Anup G.Amin,M.D., F.C.C.P., P.A. Scott E.Spencer, M.D. . Diplomate,American Board of Diplomate,American Board of Diplomats,American Beard Of Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Pulmonary end Critical Care Medicine Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine June 27, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. 0. Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 Dear Sir or Madam: This letter is in response regarding the new Weingarten Realty seeking to develop retail property near Rock Prairie Road and Hwy 6. I am living in the Wood Creek Subdivision and have already seen increased traffic due to the recent Marriot development project as well as the Lutheran Church. Clearly any addition of a large retail space business like Super Wal-Mart will be extremely dangerous of traffic in our area. What concerns me is that the Planning Commission keeps re-zoning property areas from time to time because of requests from prospective developers. I think this should not happen. Elected officers in the Cities of Bryan/College Station should firstly respect individual family homeowners. You should be listening to a unified voice in this project. I will try to make it to the meeting that is going to be held on July 6, 2006. Sincerely, Anup Amin, M. D. Wka 02:58 2700 E.29th St.,Suite 260 • Bryan, TX 77802 • (979)774-0012 • FAX(979) 774-4636 0 i 1 06/29' ,c, 29' .���, eft Q $�3'24 15 101.03 0 0,011* ' uze -N /PP' 9191%fib 6 q5 `1• ppb CO'. 01 .Cg.Q► CC,C 55 *0. \cggC O esw 0.0 cAes‘lto\\eqe Or 0acC Fta'6' tr$4:* at Falb• req with impar 2 Secont C O F�g �l ���`���� bseen `N� b le sh2 ��0 been devt 1 Ota' (501 G cotN believe th; 91 �f throughout Q \G`v �A5^2',6 at this timet pose 001914 ���`�� Page 1 of 1 >>> Molly Hitchcock 06/20/06 5:09 PM >>> Good Afternoon Mr. Pate! Thank you for your e-mail regarding the proposed rezoning near the intersection of HWY 6 and Rock Prairie Road East. The meeting last night was initiated by the applicant and was not a requirement to request a rezoning. Please know that the City is very interested in public input on all planning projects. We will be forwarding your comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission when they consider the rezoning request. Molly Hitchcock, AICP Planning Administrator, Planning &Development Services City of College Station 979.764.3570 979.764.3496 (f) mhitchcock@cstx.gov >>> "Andy Pate" <andypate@verizon.net> 06/20/06 4:38 AM >>> Dear Beverly(Development Coordinator), Molly(Planning Coordinator), and Katie(Neighborhoods Coordinator). I regret that I am compelled to write to accentuate the negative outcomes of last night's (June 20th's)meeting with the representatives of Weingarten (WRI). If, by now, you have not heard the message from the residents of our area (Woodcreek and environs), I urge you to hear it, and hear it well. Further, we residents feel strongly that our opinions are representative of a clear majority of the good tax-paying citizens of College Station. It appears to us, quite clearly now, that WRI and, quite likely, members of the Planning and Development Commission and City Council are attempting to railroad through, as quickly as possible, the necessary zoning change that would bring a Wal Mart Super Store into our immediate area. In other words, a deal has already been made; otherwise WRI would not be pressing so quickly to get the change passed. Be assured, this matter will not go unnoticed or left to idle. If you and other staff and persons involved fail to act judiciously and wisely, taking into full account the implications--traffic, ecological damage and a gravely serious devaluing of property values, etc---of the zoning change and the building of yet another Wal Mart in Brazos County, we will be deeply, profoundly disappointed in you and our elected officials. I trust that you will try to avoid any appearance of failure to take into account the wisdom of College Station residents, or the slightest semblance of a back-room deal with companies that have no genuine interest in what happens to our community from what their really brutal attempts to expand their commercial profits and earnings. Andrew L "Andy" Pate, 1312 Essex Green (Woodcreek) file://C:\Documents and Settings\chartl.CSTX\Local Settings\Temp\XPGrpWise\44A3BB... 6/29/2006 06-29-2006 Don&Cindy Hamblin 9106 Timber Knoll College Station,Tx. 77845 Re;re-zoning of rock prairie corner to C-1 P&Z commission of C S I would like to comment on the proposed zoning change of the above property. My wife and I do like our quality of life here in Woodcreek. The proposed changes would have a negative impact on us personally,and many other residents in this area. Let's look at the real underlying motive here and that is MONEY. The question we must all answer is, if the city has the final word are they going to pass up a wonderful opportunity to bring all of this property and sales tax revenue into there general revenue fund?The answer is most certainly no,so if we know the answer to that let's take a different approach. What properties are currently zoned C-1? We all want growth and a wonderful city we can all be proud of. So it seems to me that P&Z and the city need to really be honest and talk openly about the motivation they have in this matter. My wife and I have a personal loss that will occur if what is proposed by Weingarten realty does happen. I personally do not want that to happen, but I also see the bigger picture which as 1 said earlier and we all know is MONEY. So in closing I would like to offer this solution, Do not change the zoning on the above property. Let us all go forward and find a suitable C-1 zoned piece of property in the city of college station and maybe the landowner will be open to a development of this size. We all know if the property in question was zoned C-1 we would not be having this discussion. It is not, and there is a reason it is not! My wife and I want to continue living in this wonderful neighborhood, but we are not against growth,this like anything else can be handled in a proper way and we ask you the P&Z commission and the City of C S lets have growth and prosperity in a proper way. Last but not least, I have lived and raised my children in this community for the past 28 years,I have seen a lot of growth some good and some not so good. There is a way to get the revenue for the city that they want while preserving the quality of life we all have,I look forward to the commission and the city making the right decision. Thank you for your time. Sincerely., Don Hamblin Cindy Hamblin 06/29/2006 10:31 FAX 9798457029 ENTOMOLOGY Z001 y►urn vit., 9",maNr�r . Texas A&M University .': 1' jam c . Department of Entomology !,,,'� � ;,;1 2475 TAMU . 'e ter- : - College Station, TX 77843-2475 Phone: 979/845-2516 Fax: 979/845-6305 Internet:http://entowww.tamu.edu E-mail: entomain@tamu.edu Allllml�\OG�Y�WN:VTiLLMIW4WtlW110lfb1N'RR1S®I�Q.�[1'AOP.iIP:VNYMGMCIiYI�FIy ,... ... . .........., ... , '��N Date: June 29, 2006 FAX TRANSMITTAL To: Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station From: Dr. Darrell Bay Fax #: 764-3496 Total Number of Pages: 2 (Including cover sheet) Please call(979)845-2516 if problems occur with this transmission. 06/29/2006 10:31 FAX 9798457029 ENTOMOLOGY a002 1 i Chadwick Homeowners' Association c/a Darrell Bay 9310 Bloomfield Drive College Station,Texas 77845 June 29, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station,Texas 77842 Dear Commission: As President of the Chadwick Homeowners' Association in the Woodcreek Subdivision of College Station, I am writing on behalf of 76 homeowners to encourage your rejection of Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning, under their present plan, at the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. The concern of our association is two-fold. First, we have always realized that this area is designated for commercial use;however, the proposed C-1 zoning requested by Weingarten's provides for numerous"big box"retail establishments with the creation of little, if any,buffer zone or"green space"to minimize the impact of this commercialization on nearby homes in the Woodcreek Subdivision. Secondly,this proposed commercial development has great potential to significantly increase traffic flow throughout this residential area, and no plan has been developed by the city at this time to mitigate this problem. As a result,we believe that the development,as proposed,poses a major threat to property values throughout our area. We therefore respectfully request that you reject this request at this time until the aforementioned concerns are more fully addressed. Respecffully, arrell Bay 1f'resident, Chadwick 1--1—O-)A7 06/29/2006 12:49 FAX 979 845 3322 SRPH STUD. AFFAIRS j 001 June 2' 2006 Plannir g&Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. B(ix 9960 Colleg( Station, TX 77842 Subjecl: Rezoning of corner of Rock Prairie Road&Highway 6 Please_ EJECT Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning under your current plan for the cor Ser of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. This type of zoning which would allow It rge corporation and retail spaces with little or no buffer area for surrounding propert 'is not a favorable move by the City of College Station administration's part. If you r lust use rezoning as a means to generate more tax revenues from such enterprises, please<esignate the site under zoning that allows for"green belts"or buffer zones between.these commercial sites and neighborhood home sites. The inc eased traffic of such rezoning is a threat to citizens in many ways: increased traffic i always an added personal safety issue; increased traffic poses a major threat to propert, values for homeowners in the adjacent areas; increased traffic lessens the desirabi[ity of honie buying in the area. Althouf h the city would profit monetarily by this current plan, individual citizens would suffer. ince individual citizens collectively suffer financially,it is usually inevitable that local ec )nomies suffer and then the dwindling of city revenues follows. I implore city govemr lent to think long term with this issue and REJECT this proposed rezoning. Thank 3 cm. Sincere]y, Devy A rdeman 1526 Cc ncord Circle College Station,Ti(77845 06/29/2006 12:24 FAX 979 847 8863 TAMU LG AN MED & SURG Z001 June 29th, 2006 Planning &Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77842 Dear Commission Members: The purpose of this letter is that of a basic appeal to very carefully and accurately consider the most recent potential addition to the College Station community. The Weingarten Reality Corporation will be seeking a permission to change the present zoning for the parcel of land immediately on the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and adjoining the Route 6 service road. It is their intent to create a reasonably large retail center that would adjoin a residential community. I was able, I must admit without much advance notice, to attend their presentation two weeks ago. It is very evident that their collective plans call for the creation of a reasonably large retail sales area in a twin-city that already features several of the proposed businesses. As a resident of the Woodcreek Community I can easily attest to the present traffic problems that currently exist at the entrance and exit to Route 6. It is already a dangerous area. The addition of such a retail area will enormously and negatively affect the traffic. In addition it is obvious and apparent that individuals either living in the area or those attempting to get to such a facility will very quickly adopt alternate routes. Basically this means turning residential streets into thoroughfares. Presently those roads are frequented with children, walkers, and folks enjoying the community. That picture and privilege will end the minute this huge operation opens its doors. The corporation representing this venture has clearly articulated that the intent is one or more very large retail stores within this complex (Super Walmart and possible Loew's) which, as you know, operate 24 hours per day. The effect on those living in the community will be a 180 degree departure from the life style that the area was built upon and a major reason for people to buy or build. Property values will drop overnight and for all the 'right' reasons. "People problems"will escalate as the simple direct result of a concentrated human population with access to a 24hr/day public operation. The Bryan/College Station area has been a highly regarded 'university town.' If this venture is approved, especially in view of the fact that such retail stores already exist, our entire community will only decrease the perceived and real value of that reputation. 06/29/2006 12:24 FAX 979 847 8863 TART LG AN MED & SURG 002 t I attended the presentation two weeks ago. Obviously my wife and I have a significant interest(financial and emotional) in the outcome. I can accurately state that the presentation was very poorly done and the plans poorly conceived_ It was important to note that very few questions were answered with regard to questions concerning the ultimate effect on the community. They had not performed a traffic study, placed the Super Walmart as close to the residential area as the property would allow, and showed no evidence/studies of how such an entity affects a community_ Obviously it may be unfair to `grade' the quality of a given corporation by a single presentation, but it was at best poorly done and presented and that may well be an accurate reflection of the bigger picture. There is absolutely no good reason whatever to allow this to happen. This is simply a `miniversion" of the many and varied examples in our country of how a community self-destructs. In addition, recall and understand that if this venture fails, which it may well, the community is then faced with having to figure out how to use permanently damaged land. Yours very sincerely, William Moyer, DVM 1411 Stonebridge Court College Station, Texas 77845 Jun 30 06 09:42a Norris 97P-764-1419 p.1 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Dale W. &Ana Maria Norris 9307 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77841 SUBJ:Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. JPAAA,0)1 DALE W. NORRIS ANA MARIA NORRIS 1307 Essex Green Drive College Station, TX 77845 June 29, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77845r,!►E Dear Commissioners: Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the citizens of College Station, a great place to live. My wife, Barbara, and I have been citizens since 1972 and have raised our family in this community. We appreciate the small, college town atmosphere and integrity of our City, and those are reasons we are writing. We are concerned that the big box mega-stores planned for Rock Prairie Road at the East Highway 6 by-pass will negatively affect the atmosphere and integrity of both our City and the surrounding neighborhoods. A copy of the plan is attached. The planned development looks to be a huge concrete and asphalt eyesore for the new population center of, and south entrance to, our fair City. Surely the City government and citizens of College Station have some say as to how our City should grow and the attached plan is NOT the growth we want. A college community should be innovative and not reactionary to big box and big bucks. Alternatives might be: 1. Ask Weingarten to reconsider and put in some creative thinking, perhaps a"Research Valley", office,retail and restaurant complex, similar to The Woodlands, something of which they and the City could be proud. 2. Purchase the property from Weingarten for the Parks and Recreation Department to develop a"city square"office and retail lease space with a park and recreation setting. 3. Purchase the property and create a"visitor center" for rest, relaxation and shopping for the citizens and friends from out-of-town, visiting the University, the Library and other attractions. 4. Purchase the property and give it to the A&M System. A person walking in a Wal-Mart parking lot cannot avoid stepping on chewed gum, spilled drinks and foods. The stores and restrooms are trashed out most of the time. This plan would evolve into a grackle and rat haunt, an attraction of all manner of undesirables, nothing desirable. This would go on twenty- four hours a day in our back yard. We are certain that none of you sitting on the Commission or any stockholder of Weingarten would want this monstrosity in your or their neighborhoods. Wal-Marts and Lowes and other huge boxes have their place, but their place is not in what has now become a major new center of College Station. Please do not let this plan become the legacy of this Commission. Respectfully requested, a-2-1...cf (4a,v-ized, Terry and Barbara Raines O w (p CD N4) ` N X O 0 -I CD X � � n,' CO CD U) 0 '� n � ( Co to -• fn 00 of cc. + (Ocy. oQ (I) 0 a 0 X � 0 0 00 0 cn X r sat_ bid 1 Constance E. Smith D •-r��^ 1402 Stonebridge Court C -J College Station TX 77845 June 27, 2006 Planning& Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station TX 77842 Dear P &Z Commissioners: Under the Local Government Code, General Zoning Regulations, S 211.001, it states "the powers granted... for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare and protecting and preserving places and areas of historical,cultural,or architectural importance and significance". With this in mind, therefore, I am strongly opposed to the re-zoning application to C-1 submitted by Weingarten Realty outlining a "monster"big box retail store right on Rock Prairie with multiple restaurants and a second big box store within this complex. This would greatly impact us visually,with bright lights on all night and no green belt to soften the ugliness of a big box and their trash piles. The noise impact of trucks delivering at all hours of the night will be cause for one sleepless night after another. Aesthetics aside,the traffic generated by this behemoth will be overwhelming when shoppers try to find another way to avoid the congested Rock Prairie/Texas 6 interchange by cutting through on Stonebrook. Look around half empty strip malls in College Station. Look at how many restaurants are closed. Look at big boxes standing empty. Look at one fast food restaurant after another. Aren't there enough areas zoned commercial to accommodate these retails spaces without disrupting beautiful neighborhoods? We have multiple places to shop and eat within easy driving and certainly don't need more. Other cities in the country are beautifying their areas with walking paths and smaller,people friendly areas. Is College Station out to create an"asphalt jungle" of parking lots? It is also of great interest to the neighborhood that though Weingarten Realty held a meeting to inform only close neighbors on June 19,the larger Woodcreek, Firestone, Sandstone neighborhoods were not fully notified. Also, merely two weeks later, their application appears on the Planning and Zoning commission agenda for July 6,when most people are on vacation. Do the right thing. Reject this monster plan for C-1 zoning. S' erely, `'� i Constance E. Smith ! a , I , • - .\' s1 : ( n-n \§o $7a \\\ wn■ /`i 3\ - 2 ' � \ 0 13 0 op E z a) 2 _� 0 c c8 (IF M m 9 � g ° p 0 CO 41. § 2 $ in- 1 7 c » = ` ± -4 2 k M r 001. \ \ . . \ ` ) .»y . -a (. . Michael E. Candle LTC,US Army(Ret) 1321 Wilshire Court Ur College Station,Texas?7845 ��D June 30,2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 To the Commission Membership: The purpose of this letter is to voice our displeasure at the possible rezoning of the property located at the corner of Rock Prairie and Highway 6 to C-1 commercial designation. Weingarten Realty recently proposed their plan to some of the"neighbors"in our area,much to the chagrin of the entire population in attendance. I do not recall even one person in attendance who had anything favorable to say about their plan. We chose to buy our property due to the pleasant,quiet,and peaceful location we currently reside in. We were attracted to the Wilshire Court neighborhood in Wood Creek due to its proximity to Highway 6 and the conveniences located on the West side of the highway. I can assure you that we would NEVER have purchased our home here had we dreamed of such an invasion of the beauty of the neighborhood immediately across Rock Prairie from our home site. In case you have any doubts about the effect this proposal will have on our neighborhood,it ALREADY HAS!! Until this recent revelation by Weingarten,this was a choice location to buy;properties on our street disappeared from the For Sale lists almost as quickly as they were listed. Our home went on the market about one month ago due to a need for more square footage for my wife's newly created home business. On the second day it was on the market,a Houston couple made a formal offer to us through their realtor. We replied the next day with a formal counter-offer through our own realtor,expecting either acceptance or another counter-offer. The next thing we heard from our realtor,however,was neither. All we were told was that they had unexpectedly withdrawn their offer to the shock and surprise of both realtors. Thinking that maybe their daughter from Iola,who had encouraged them to relocate to here,had caused the couple to feel pressured and that they had decided not to complete the deal,I asked the realtors to follow-up with them to determine,if they could,why the sudden change in their decision. The answer they got from the couple was not what we expected. They informed their realtor that they know three different residents on our street and that one of them had informed them that a Super Wal-Mart and a Lowes was going to be built right across Rock Prairie from our edition. That,commissioners,killed the deal,plain and simple. They were no longer interested,even though only two days before,they were totally in love with our property. We have not had an offer since. We now sit here,victims of the speculation that Weingarten MAY develop their property in such manner. The decision hasn't even been approved and the impact on realty in the immediate area is already suffering. I honestly do not know how any responsible developer or any concerned planning and zoning commission could approve such a development next door to a respectable housing edition. There is NO green space or buffer planned for the Super Wal-Mart building. On a good day, I can almost throw a rock from my driveway and hit that building when it is completed,and I have arthritis in my arm. Stonebrook is scheduled to be opened all the way from Wood Creek to Greens Prairie Road,and directly behind the proposed site for Super Wal-Mart and Lowes. That,folks,is going to forever change the quiet neighborhood we now enjoy. I do not believe for a minute that a comprehensive traffic study has been done that will accurately compensate for the amount of traffic that will be generated by this proposal. Rock Prairie and Highway 6 intersection is already one of the most congested and dangerous traffic areas in the greater B-CS area. Pat and I are not opposed to development in our city. In fact,we welcome it. We do,however oppose any development that results in the degradation of any preferable housing edition,and Wood Creek is one of those editions. Most likely,if this proposal is approved by your commission,we will have another traditional vacant Wal-Mart store for years when they leave their current location. My recommendation is that they remain where they are and rebuild or remodel right there. It is our fervent hope that you will not treat this matter with ambivalence. You have a very large population of citizens here who feel that their investments are about to crater to the whims of wealthy investors who aren't even members of our community. We implore you not to let this happen. It is not proper,it is not welcome in our area,and it will not be repairable once it has been developed. Thank you for your time and understanding(hopefully). Sincerely, Michael E. (and Patricia C.) Caudle 1321 Wilshire Court College Station,TX 77845 ... ‘... ,„. • , • pr,A w....N8 p•2:6 - gv x in. zi tir U, 6 L...) * -,1 at .4. kft Ci ‘...7). c%) , .....\ r.... fN ,' RI 1.1.1 <-- ()) -._,. ( ::— /) .., N N. -• r>., — , t. ... -7 - 1 ) 4. co .7.--. ... \:' ... Zr \ c-,_ 0 -.< — ... () > ... (.) ... ... —... .,...\ . .,\. , I --. --- \) r) •*4 ... .... ‘ -.' ..... --- ,.. ... ... er: -._.A • 5 • (ANA 't It A 14- -pql& Illt-• 4. 4 Cynthia Nevels 1402 Sussex Dr. College Station, TX 77845 Zoning and Planning Commission City of College Station &--s P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 June 30, 2006 Dear members of the Zoning and Planning Commission: I am writing to protest the proposed retail development at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. I live in the Woodcreek subdivision and I am already fed up with the existing traffic congestion at the intersection of Rock Prairie and Highway 6. It is outrageous that a plan to increase the traffic and lower the quality of life in this part of College Station would even be on the table. We do NOT need a SuperWalmart, or Super anything, and we especially do not need such monstrosities in this part of town. We do not need more retail stores in this area. We do not need the additional traffic, unsightly development, and pollution run off. I can't get in or out of the Kroger shopping center or adjacent retail areas without major difficulty. Trying to exit Highway 6 at the Rock Prairie intersection has become an increasingly terrifying experience. Often I try to avoid the whole mess by shopping elsewhere and coming home using a circuitous and time-consuming route through Emerald Forest. Please do not approve this rezoning proposal. I can't imagine a worse plan for this area. It will turn what is now already a planning debacle into a disaster of nightmare proportions. Sincerely, Cynthia Nevels ,..,r. , -t.) i ..1.i{. ••1 {3 (I.l! 1 (14 o o \ �. X " 7: 47. CA 4 ..., i . q **? 'NC1 fv i) , . , ‘ ; . Y 1 fes-M. . 4 1 bialA42_JD June 30, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station Texas Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77845 Gentlemen; Regarding your consideration of the proposed rezoning of the property near Rock Prarie and Highway 6 South, as a long time resident of Woodcreek Subdivision since 1986, I am firmly against any rezoning and I expect you to be also until and unless Traffic Mitigation Measures for the proposal are effective, approved and implemented. Ve truly yours, Gene W. Clark 1302 Sussex Drive College Station Texas, 77845 1r • .4%,,,, Hi IX 0cr. a N G) to N m C 3 y N mC „ x 7 O 0 Ac a V W i fD W A ( !._ ti , ice, w Ifki.\\1 6'" S e , 7 zN... ... .( i \ kN-... ria 1 : „., I. .r 11N........••••.. • \ . ,V. ` ` (r\k. )ilitileik VFr4ilk ' �r n� June 29, 2006 D Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 Re: Weingarten Realty College Station, TX 77842 rezoning request Dear Commission Members: We wish to add our names to the list of citizens who oppose changing the current zoning designation of the land on the corner of Rock Prairie Rd. and Highway 6. Just the request to change to C-1 has already caused a reduction of property values in Woodcreek and Foxfire and made the sale of homes in the surrounding area very difficult. We don't particularly like the current designation, but C-1 would be very detrimental to people in these neighborhoods—and other neighborhoods in the vicinity as well. The developers knew of the zoning designations when the plan was initiated. Surely, they can come up with something that meets the current zoning code under the city's land use plan. The property value situation would be only one of the many problems caused by the proposed change. Traffic would be horrendous on streets that were not designed or built to handle such a high vehicle volume. The main criteria for any zoning request should be that the citizens of the affected area benefit from the change —not that the requesting party will lose money or make more money with the change. One of the risks of any business venture is the possibility that an investment will not pan out, or will not be as successful as anticipated. It is not the city's responsibility to promote a business to the detriment of the residents of the neighborhood. Sincerely,. / -. Myron and Sue'antt 1318 Wilshire Ct. College Station, TX 77845 C oco • D * G) v ? = oCD ? n I rn • = co pp o m. CD 0 0) X p co gt co p (3)(o Q. O (D0 n� X a) nis • v 6( Q 0 to - h' 3 to x1 ccn 1) -4 +tir ' 0 ,, • }uL :A 4 e ‘, \ )) . - ( . June 29, 2006 L Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station, TX77845 Dear Members: My husband and I built our lovely patio home in Woodwork in 1987. Woodcreek has always been a quiet, friendly, safe, and wonderful place in which to live. Our Stonebridge Homeowners Association has been most diligent in making sure our area continues to be a well-kept and "choice" area in College Station. As I am now a widow, it is important to me that our total safe, neighborhood community environment not be disrupted. Therefore, I am most concerned that Weingarten Realty is seeking to have the land parcel between Rock Prairie and Highway 6 to the Silk Stocking Nightclub be rezoned to C-1 commercial, making it possible for a Walmart Supercenter to be located directly on Rock Prairie Road. The ensuing traffic problem on Stonebrook which is a two-lane street that runs through the residential neighborhood of Woodcreek to the Foxfire subdivision, will be horrendous, and the traffic flowing from Rock Prairie will be a nightmare! I am suggesting that no rezoning be approved until an effective traffic mitigation plan is complete, approved and implemented. Sincerely, Alice E. Beals 9409 Stonebridge Drive College Station, TX 77845 10 - . ....:-.: c Cit4 0-. • 0 til r..)* 4) S C 5 "t• 0:1 _.1 0 Tin 00 •-t 4-- tn. J c, . ,.....„..c.L. s...\ . c... . f.A .a*. r R-N ...:. z 0 --z \ -,1 1,4 fd, z .... ) i (( c ..:.,..„. '..,.. (....) i✓ 14_ yo? 1' . c t� Thomas M. Weber, M.D., F.C.C.P., P.A. Anup G. Amin, M.D., F.C.C.P., P.A. Scott mate,E. enc r, M.D. of Diplomate, American Board of Diplomate, American Board of DiploPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine June 27, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Dear Sir or Madam: This letter is in response regarding the new Weingarten Realty seeking to develop retail property near Rock Prairie Road and Hwy 6. I am living in the Wood Creek Subdivision and have already seen increased traffic due to the recent Marriot development project as well as the Lutheran Church. Clearly any addition of a large retail space business like Super Wal-Mart will be extremely dangerous of traffic in our area. What concerns me is that the Planning Commission keeps re-zoning property areas from time to time because of requests from prospective developers. I think this should not happen. Elected officers in the Cities of Bryan/College Station should firstly respect individual family homeowners. You should be listening to a unified voice in this project. I will try to make it to the meeting that is going to be held on July 6, 2006. Sincerely, Anup Amin, M. D. AA/ka 02:58 2700 E. 29th St., Suite 260 • Bryan, TX 77802 • (979) 774-0012 • FAX (979) 774-4636 .-7- • 1\3 ,- „,i 0 -,-. 0 CO M _-. ,-<' • 2) IV r--- D - 5 ' --I a -.4 (0 co c 0 — - N.) :. N, 7 0) 0 t-"--, ,,-."-... —_, 0 3 0 0 0 'cr.< = FIT . 0 =. (0 CD 0 Q C° (j) X w CO = -q ,•-ia D CO CD Q t Cr)(0 La cm cp N e C: 0 n 0 'A: Z. 7 0:1 —I a) 5 .... N .< X 5(0 1..1 -.4 0 co 3 .p 1\) 3. -.,' - (7) ,t ,,,, ..,,,. 4. 0. , 4 ,,, .., 01}, .... , = ,,... = (K (.1, .F ...;', g :,,' ' '•., 51 --' .: 1.. . 4. .`' -3if„„Ni • '1 11 . ' p4 ,_ 1 ' 4 • il;11•.: i rj 1::: • 1 ” • , . 1..? i .. c•.2.' •.. 0 • 1, % June 29,2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P. 0.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 Re: Rock Prairie Road/Highway 6 Land Parcel Gentleman: It is our understanding that Weingarten Realty wants to develop the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 into a large retail center. It is also our understanding that this land is designated for commercial use. However, it is not at this time designated as C-1 commercial use. Since this designation allows for"big box"retail establishments, such as a Super Walmart Store or something similar, we ask that the Commission recommend a rejection for Weingarten's request for a C-1 zoning under their current plan. We live in the Woodcreek Sub-Division and have a sizeable investment in our property. This type of development is a real threat to our property values and would add tremendous traffic problems in the neighborhood. Rock Prairie Road would have to be doubled in size just to carry the traffic. It is already heavily used daily by dump trucks, contractors and chemical trucks, not counting the personal traffic. There is a large amount of open land between Rock Prairie Road and Greens Prairie Road. This would certainly offer a much better access than being right next to sub-divisions, which there are several. Additionally, there would be "no green space or buffer areas of consequence"in this setup. Please take the citizens and taxpayers thoughts and concerns into the deliberations on this property. Sincerely, Ben and Pat Price 9411 Whitney Ln. Woodcreek O NOS (D W (11. � � nioc .. 0 (1) CD m N . -A _3 CO c1 CO w cn -0 n 7 O0CT ((-ca 0 -5 mxnan crt (00 2 0� 0- - O N O 57 a O n N 3 fi Z o' V X r June 29, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77842 RE: Proposed Re-Zoning Request at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Dear Commission Members: We strongly oppose Weingarten's request to change the commercial zoning at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 to a C-1 commercial use for the entire land parcel. Opening this area to a high traffic, big box retail establishment would be extremely detrimental to all the area neighborhoods. As you know, this is currently one of the most highly congested traffic areas in College Station. Something must be done now to help alleviate traffic problems in this area. Changing the zoning of the entire tract of land proposed would create additional chaos to the already congested traffic problems. While we do not oppose retail centers being built in this area, we do feel traffic issues should be fully reviewed and improved prior to retail space being built. In addition, we urge you to make sure the land use plan has a designated "green space" buffer due to the residential homes already established in the subdivisions near this location. Please recommend a rejection for Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning under their current plan. Sincerely, and Nancy y Moore 1003 Flint College Station, Texas 77845 b L n (__ O o 3 (D W 3 co m 'n O 3 O '+ N n O n f• D X cov V (TI O 13 0 13 E co CO• o =. (Dx' C0 Cl) co 0 v . cpN Cr) —I — Q O• n o Z 3 NJ IV cn. Z "'^1 WWW r I > E June 30, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 To Whom It May Concern: We are against the current proposal of Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning for the land surrounding Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. Further, we are against building"big box" retail spaces, i.e., a Wal-Mart store. It will not only increase the traffic to this area but will decrease the value of homes in Wood Creek and Fox Fire developments. We encourage the Planning and Zoning Commission to reject the plan for Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning under their current plan. Sincere, , &zett--- so'r ) V9)-ej .._,.___________ L. & Eileen Gamm 9308 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77845 , cr2 co C.O 0 R° • •.. • --I=''"'" X a) (1 E 0 ....1 I— CO 7 Pg csi a) Co g° Ca a co a -.I tti .pt kli .., r Cf) f 'r1C3t r: i..1% .... i"- ..... t".0 1..„, ..,.. ...- .. ,-.-. - _ ._ .._ - '7 . • ... 0 ..... ... ."..., a' ....... .... ... -..:"...; ... :Z..' -c... ........ ..... •••••1 ,:, = ., - Y.. ... ...... ..... --. cilt ,, _•:...,. . , ....... ....... ... ...... -.I ... ... ... .... - 1 i - -* . , 1 FIK X-2.,kS 0 ,.. x / t 1 260 0-& &-/ al-e9-ect /4/ Z, th �LU�c eJ dz Wt7'4‘7-6- f_eLtj �) 726-- - 2)/4-0; � / Wte.- �Ti�v"Z'�c�C `Z� /JZ�� AA6/ "14-0-g_4-± r- Lt27171)1-4(" 84 /)'Z C - a_,74-e- `i s-z-t-; 4 -c d- 7c �-� /re-r.�� '�C'�'c� ) 7) la- d- �� �� J/e_Az5 � U „rzZ on 0 0 to tp r (s) o . . ... .4 ‘.. -.... .,0\_. cp 37 0- C ..... .....N 1 ...`N (T) i/ .9 ...- ,...) ,,...- ....,N „L, ,,, . ,.., ,:.-, ...., . . , Cm - ..... "......, • c„.... i \ \ ' ! '••.\\ C... ..... ...., - -...,,, 7.-- ,(---i--' .....„.. 41, + V 3 July 2006 1I �. )j gnn(s Planning and Zoning Commission 1101 Texas Avenue College Station TX 77845 Dear Sirs: As a resident affected by the proposed zoning change at Rock Prairie and SH6, I understand the objections of my neighbors to the proposed Weingarten development, but I also believe there is a need for retail space in this area. Rather than a"No way!" approach, might I encourage the Commission to consider setting higher standards for development which would actually increase property values and tax revenues? Hugh Stearns' excellent article in today's Eagle addresses the central concern about such developments: "They are designed to be cheap." Let's fix that. Let us welcome the developer, but set the bar high. Below are some of the environmental (not social) factors that have been mentioned, with a possible approach to their solution. PROBLEM COMMENT 1. Traffic on Stonebrook Change covenants to allow homeowners on busy thoroughfares to wall Drive. off their front yards with architectural brick and ironwork. Establish barrier-protected on-street parking and slower speed limits. 2. Traffic on Rock Prairie The whole interchange and commercial area needs rethinking. It cannot at Longmire. get much worse than it already is. This is for the Highway Department. Any new development ought to be easily bicycle-accessible. 3. Light pollution. Restrict the height, and increase the number, of downward-directed light poles at the new development. Ensure that signage does not shine toward residences,perhaps even designing the buildings to have their backs to SH6,with a"new urban"design for the development itself. [The Commission is no doubt familiar with such projects as Crosland's Birkdale Village center in suburban Charlotte,NC.] 4. Noise pollution. Highway 6 is noisy already. It seems moot to project any increase in noise that might be heard above Highway 6. 5. Water pollution. Don't all developments now require catch basins? Existing regulations seem sufficient to me with the exception that they allow too much contiguous blacktop area. 6. Heat pollution. Major blacktop areas need to be broken up by rows of trees to maximize the amount of shade over the blacktop. Existing regulations seem insufficient. Mandate lots of trees. 7. Security concerns. Wal-Mart mounts cameras on the roof. Mandate a police substation in the complex and blanket the area with cameras. Many cities rely heavily on cameras to deter crime;this development could set a new standard. I see no insurmountable problems with this development, but I would encourage the Commission to be willing to face down the developer and, if necessary, allow them to walk away from this project. It does not have to be a Super Wal-Mart; Super Target stores are also big-box retailers. To quote the homeowner association committee, we can "reflect the pride of our city"by setting a higher standard for this development and welcoming it into the community. Sincerely, Cornelius Ferguson 9004 Timber Knoll Drive College Station, TX 77845 C7 0 0 uo cr T1 6.4 o 0 00 cpO p (D - es Er cn O < O. 7 (p G = �. X CD -4 C') Co 0 to 3 3N N_ O 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Frederick B. & Lisa D. LawrenceIEC EINEIN 9302 Bloomfield Lane IRoagyv College Station, TX 77845 SUBJ: Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. 4pA gp,i7AL , /jj .-derick. ... Lawrence Lis . Lawrence July 2, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station �018V_ P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Re: Weingarten Realty Proposal Dear Sirs: My wife and I are residents of Woodcreek and are completely against the proposal of Weingarten Realty to have the property on the SE corner of Rock Prairie Road rezoned to be C- 1. That proposal and any other like it should be denied. We agree with all of the statements made in the Open Letter to the Citizens of College Station on page A-11 of the Sunday BCS Eagle. Adding big box stores like a Super Walmart to the mix around 6 and Rock Prairie would DREADFULLY increase the already bad traffic congestion that already exists there. We can only imagine what the traffic would be like if, in addition to developments already planned, a Super Walmart or its equivalent(along with other elements in the Weingarten proposal)were approved. Don't be fooled by Weingarten's statements that they have plans that would sufficiently mitigate the traffic problems their proposal would create. Whatever they would do,the traffic volume on both frontage roads, the Rock Prairie bridge, and main neighborhood roads would be significantly increased. With all of this added traffic, and the noise and hassle, our property values would suffer. Weingarten Realty is out to make big bucks at the expense of your constituents and fellow residents. Weingarten Realty doesn't care about the welfare of the residents in this area. As fellow residents you should take into account our best interests, not the interests of big developers and big corporations. Thank you. Dennis R. Lassila, Ph.D., CPA Xa-4-4j-ek. Carol J. Lass' 9239 Brookwater Circle College Station, TX 77845 d-lassila@cox.net nu m y ; x-b ,nr 4 N A N m V W UI 4--,., . ---L .\( " O ? -C.---) eS •• 4- C., Li r. iv po § >-< i ., ,.k 2 z 7 (-----M. ' I-A ,,i'si A r 14,3N Q f . a ) 0 ;, • n ). N. 0 0 tr,O K W W A n r rd Ye' o fi o 00 1, '3 fit, O� cP �• 0 TE-2)Ertqm_TEn L.D.HOBBS 1301 ESSEX GREEN COLLEGE STATION,TEXAS 77845 (979)693-7128 Dukehobbs1@cs.com 29 June 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,TX 77845 Re: Weingarten Request for Rezoning South of Rock Prairie and East of Rudder Freeway Ladies/Gentlemen; One of the beautiful residential neighborhoods of College Station is in danger! Weingarten Reality has requested rezoning to C-1 the area South of Rock Prairie and East of Earl Rudder Freeway. Their plan is to place a Super WalMart and other retail properties in that area with the WalMart immediately adjacent to Rock Prairie near the intersection with Stonebrook. I certainly have no problem with "property rights" and the right to buy,own and sell properties for a profit. That is a basic freedom and a foundation of Capitalism. However,the rights of one should be in balance with others. Placing a Super WalMart at Rock Prairie and Stonebrook greatly impacts the rights of property owners in the beautiful neighborhoods of the Woodcreek Subdivision. It would result in a large number of people converging on that area from all over Brazos and Grimes Counties and would result in trash,crime and heavy traffic in what are now quiet,clean and safe neighborhoods with beautiful homes and well manicured landscapes. Property values would plummet! I know all of us have heard the old saw,"not in my backyard!"However,Briarcrest in Bryan is a prime example of what happens when a Super WalMart is located in the"backyard" of a nice residential neighborhood. Trash is a problem,crime rates are up and property values are down. The problems in Woodcreek would be much worse. Stonebrook,a residential street,would become a major traffic artery with traffic becoming even heavier with the additional impact of commercial developments to the north between Woodcreek Drive and Emerald Forest. With those developments,Foxfire and Stonebrook will become the major southbound thoroughfare(unless an overpass is built at Sebesta to provide southbound movement). The additional congestion at Stonebrook and Rockprairie created by a Super WalMart would be virtual traffic gridlock,making the current problems at Rock Prairie and Longmire insignificant in comparison. There are possible answers to the problem that would be fair to the Woodcreek Homeowners,the owners of the currently undeveloped land south of Rock Prairie, and the Developers. I believe the Master Plan calls for areas of green-space south of Rock Prairie along the projected path of Lakeview Drive,the extension of Stonebrook. The Weingarten project could be flipped with green-space adjacent to Rock Prairie and the major retail tenant(WalMart or whoever) located at the far south end and no access from Rock Prairie. Ideally,the development would be accompanied by a Rudder freeway on-ramp and overpass south of the development for both north and south access on Rudder with no egress into residential areas. However,even before any change in zoning,a truly effective traffic mitigation plan should be implemented. Too often in the past,traffic studies have been conducted AFTER the problem has been created. The area between Woodcreek and Emerald Forest is a case in point. It's a classic example of"Cart-before-the-horse" problem solving. This time,let's follow the law,common sense,and maintain neighborhood integrity by letting the horse pull the cart. Sincere�s s logre L. D. Hobbs Lisa Lindgren -Rezoning Matter Page 1 From: "Annell" <aschoenvogel@verizon.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/5/2006 12:45 pm Subject: Rezoning Matter CC: "Harry Green" <HarJrAg52@aol.com> We are strongly opposed to the rezoning of the property on the south side of Rock Prarie Road along the east side of Highway 6 to C-I. To rezone this area to Commercial is not a good plan. Not only is it unfair to the nearby residential neighborhoods, it will discourage future residents from building and residing in this area. Let's try to keep some part of College Station secure from commercial enterprise and reality profits. Annell &Clarence Schoenvogel 23 Forest Drive, College Station 77840 Lisa Lindgren -What Kind of Community Po We Want? 1 From: <dl.walsh@cox.net> To: <Ilindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 7/5/2006 9:36 am Subject: What Kind of Community Do We Want? Hugh Stearns speaks well for me, and many of us, in expressing his views on the West Side rezoning issues. While growth and retail development is inevitable and, to some extent, desireable, it must be done in a fashion that protects and enhances, not only the neighborhoods in the area, but the quality of life for everyone. Many College Station citizens live here purposefully to avoid the growth and development that has overtaken larger cities such as Houston, detiriorating the quality of life there. Those of us who live here enjoy what we already have. With good planning and vision, we can grow and retain our small, uncongested and pleasant quality--we must not squander this quality of life to become the very community that many of us shun. Research shows that people want quality of community-especially near residential neighborhoods. This can be described as small retail centers with bike paths, outdoor cafes, benches, trees, green space. These amenities give a sense of community to retail centers. No research has shown that people want 24 hour traffic, noise, lights, unsafe and unclean 'big box' parking lots-these are the well documented issues of the large retail complexes. You only have to go as far as Bryan to find an example. This type of retail does not enhance the community. The existing traffic problems at the Rock Prairie overpass are also well documented. To allow development without adequate vehicle access and throughput already in place negatively impacts our quality of life here in College Station. The Rock Prairie intersection with Longmire along with the Rock Prairie overpass are high accident spots. The scheduled improvements to these existing problems must be in place before adding additional vehicles. Similarly, the Barron overpass is planned, but not scheduled for years yet. As a citizen, I ask you to deny the rezoning requests to retain our community. Diane L. Walsh 9411 Stonebridge Drive College Station, TX 77845 (II kyr C y CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MEMORANDUM March 7, 2005 TO: Planning & Zoning Commission FROM: Joey Dunn, Director of Planning & Development Services SUBJECT: Callaway Phase II Rezoning As the Zoning onin Administrator for the City of College Station, I am initiating a rezoning request for a portion of Luther Street Right-of-Way from C-1 General Commercial to R-6 High Density Multi-Family. This request is in conjunction with the rezoning request for the Callaway property located on the east side of Marion Pugh Drive. This area is planned for the development of an apartment project. This portion of the Luther Street Right-of-Way is required to be abandoned prior to moving forward with the platting and site planning of this property. The rezoning of the Luther Street Right-of-Way is not an approval of the Right-of- Way abandonment. Home of Texas A&M University 3)880-6188 WEINGARTEN REALTY (813)880-6888 Direct I (281)413-3796 Mobile yrN 'ESTORS (713)866-6066 Fax 2600 Citadel Plaza Drive Suite 300 Houston,Texas 77008 Eric M.Strauss New Development Manager estrauss@weingarten.com WEINGARTEN REALTY (713)866-6997 Direct INVESTORS (713)866-6950 Fax 2600 Citadel Plaza Drive Suite 300 Houston,Texas 77008 Earl W.Spencer Associate Counsel espencer@weingarten.com WEINGARTEN REALTY (713)866-6995 Direct vfINVESTORS 780103 688-88656049 Fax Ext 6995 2600 Citadel Plaza Drive Suite 300 Houston,Texas 77008 J.Brent Mann Senior Vice President New Business Development bmann@weingarten.com PATE •• ENGINEERS ROBERT L. WRIGHT, P.E., R.P.L.S. Vice President \t/ 8150 Brookriver Drive, Suite S-700 Dallas,Texas 75247 T:214.357.2981 F:214.357.2985 M:972.672.1922 bwright@pateeng.com Trey Fletcher- Neighborhood Meeting N'`:-,e.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING NOTICE The purpose of this letter is to notify you that Weingarten Realty, Inc. recently submitted a rezoning request to the City of College Station in order to establish C-1 General Commercial zoning at the southeast corner of SH 6 and Rock Prairie Road. This rezoning is in compliance with the City's Comprehensive Plan, which is substantiated by the Greens Prairie / Rock Prairie Plan adopted by the City in 2002. As an owner of property in the vicinity, we understand the importance of being a good neighbor and will be conducting an informal meeting with neighbors in the area to answer any questions and address any concerns regarding this request. We have invited the City of College Station staff as well. The meeting will be held on Monday, June 19, 2006 at 6:00 P.M. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The church address is 1200 Foxfire Drive, College Station, TX 77845. For additional information, please contact Eric Strauss at (713) 880- 6188. Trey Fletcher- FW: College Station - NeI-"borhood Meeting Notice 1 J From: "Chuck Ellison" <Chuck@ellisonlaw.com> To: <Tfletcher@cstx.gov> Date: 6/14/2006 2:35 pm Subject: FW: College Station - Neighborhood Meeting Notice CC: "Barbara Giesenschlag" <Barbara@ellisonlaw.com>... Trey As requested, please find the notice to the neighborhoods attached. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Chuck The Ellison Firm 302 Holleman Dr. East, Suite 76 College Station, TX 77840-7000 (979)696-9889 ext. 106 (979) 693-8819(fax) chuck@ellisonlaw.com Original Message From: EStrauss@Weingarten.com [mailto:EStrauss@Weingarten.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 8:49 AM To: Chuck Ellison Subject: College Station - Neighborhood Meeting Notice Attached below is a copy of the noticed that was sent out to the neighbors. (See attached file: Neighborhood Meeting Notice.pdf) Eric Strauss Development Manager Weingarten Realty Investors 2600 Citadel Plaza Drive Houston, TX 77008 (713) 880-6188 (Direct Line) (281) 413-3796 (Cell) (713) 866-6049 (Fax) • Page 1 of 3 Lance Simms - Re: Weingarten From: Lance Simms To: COUNCIL Date: 7/20/2006 3:26:20 PM Subject: Re: Weingarten CC: Celia Hernandez; Mark Smith Mr. Ruesink: I have provided answers to your questions below. Please let me know if you need additional information. See you tonight. 1. If it is approved tonight, when would the applicant be likely to begin and finish any part of the project? A. In this particular case, after the rezoning, the applicant would need to go through the preliminary and final platting process that will need to be approved by the P&Z Commission. Once the plat is approved, we would move into the site planning process that is done at staff level. It is hard to p/ace a firm timeline on a development such as this The applicant may be able to provide additional information tonight. 2. Do we have another time to approve or disapprove the site plan or any other stage of development? A. The site plan will be approved at staff level and will not require further Council approval, 3. What are the safeguards that we have for ecological concerns-especially water run off? A. The developer is required to follow all local, state, and federal requirements This development will be required to provide an erosion control plan to mitigate sediment transport from their property, a storm water pollution prevention plan, and a Notice of Intent All of these requirements are regulated by TCEQ(Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). Any known violations may be reported to the appropriate agencies 4. When do the aesthetics of the structures and buffers come into consideration---now or later? A. All site and building aesthetic requirements will be applied as part of the site plan review process. 5. What is the earliest time that the Barron Road work will completed. We got an e-mail yesterday saying it might be started in 2009. A. Staff received an e-mail yesterday saying it might be started in 2009. 6. What is the earliest date that the Rock Prairie Road work might begin and about how long might it last? A. The widening of Rock Prairie Road is currently in design, but the construction is unfunded. When it is funded, it is likely to be constructed in phases, with the first phase including the section from SH 6 to Bird Pond Road. Overall, it is likely that there will be three phases, with the entire construction lasting three to four years total. 7. When might the Rock Prairie overpass be able to be constructed so that traffic across it will be mitigated--- two more lanes and a U-turn? A. This project is not on TXDOTs radar meaning that it is not being designer/or funded_If the city worked out an agreement with TxDOT on the funding of the project, design of this project could be started, It is anticipated that once this agreement is worked out, the design and construction of this project could be accomplished in 5 years file://C:\Documents and Settings\lsimms.CSTX\Local Settings\Temp\GW}00002.HTM 7/20/2006 Page 2 of 3 i 8.When could a road be started and completed between Greens Prairie and Rock Prairie? A. Lakeway Drive is the roadway planned to connect Greens Prairie Road and Rock Prairie Road. Currently, this project is not included in the capital improvement program, but would be required to be built by private development as this area is developed. For example, a portion of this roadway is planned across the Weingarten tract and that development would be required to build that section of Lakeway Drive. If the city council desired for this roadway to be built ahead of development, it would have to be added into the capital improvement program. 9. What is or could be the role of the city in helping Wal-Mart consider other locations such as rebuild where they are or building on one of the four corners of Greens Prairie and Texas 6. A. Planning&Development Services helps general commercial retailers by identifying locations based on our comprehensive plan and zoning districts. Encouraging a specific retail establishment to locate in a specific location may be a role best played by our Economic Development Department. Lance Simms, CBO Acting Director of Planning &Development Services City of College Station,TX Phone: 979.764.3741 >>> Dave Ruesink 07/20/06 12:09 PM >>> Mark and Lance....I am not sure which of you should be receiving this message. It is a question that I am sure I should know how to answer, but I need a review. I am going to be interested in the timing of everything happening at the Weingarten property. 1. If it is approved tonight, when would the applicant be likely to begin and finish any part of the project? 2. Do we have another time to approve or disapprove the site plan or any other stage of development? 3. What are the safeguards that we have for ecological concerns-especially water run off? 4. When do the aesthetics of the structures and buffers come into consideration---now or later? 5. What is the earliest time that the Barron Road work will completed. We got an e-mail yesterday saying it might be started in 2009. 6. What is the earliest date that the Rock Prairie Road work might begin and about how long might it last? 7. When might the Rock Prairie overpass be able to be constructed so that traffic across it will be mitigated--- two more lanes and a U-turn? 8. When could a road be started and completed between Greens Prairie and Rock Prairie? 9. What is or could be the role of the city in helping Wal-Mart consider other locations such as rebuild where they are or building on one of the four corners of Greens Prairie and Texas 6. As you can see, these questions relate mostly to traffic. I don't want to approve anything at Rock Prairie and Texas that is going to increase traffic at that intersection until we can be sure that the extra traffic generated can be handled properly. It is my opinion that this request might be a year or two premature at this point of time. I-also want to-be-sure that we are protected on the issue of-the environment and aesthetics. I also want to be sure that we don't cause another blight in College Station by approving a Wal-Mart then have them leave the current structure empty like happened with other places file://C:\Documents and Settings\lsimms.CSTX\Local Settings\Temp\GW}00002.HTM 7/20/2006 Page 3 of 3 Thanks for considering the answers to these questions. No doubt you will be addressing most of these concerns in the presentation tonight. If not, please be prepared with answers we have the opportunity to ask staff for more information. Dave file://C:\Documents and Settings\lsimms.CSTX\Local Settings\Temp\GW}00002.HTM 7/20/2006 SMART GROWTH — 2006 AND BEYOND FOR COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS A Position Statement on the Sebesta Road and Rock Prairie Proposals by Andrew Pate, Jr. 1312 Essex Green — July 15, 2006 We believe that the citizens of College Station share a common goal: to plan and develop the city in ways that enhance the quality of life throughout the community. Indeed, that goal is succinctly and definitively stated in the City's Mission Statement: "On behalf of the citizens of College Station, home of Texas A&M University, we will continue to promote and advance the community's quality of life. Therefore, it is reasonable to assert that every community development should be adopted and implemented with full consideration of and dedication to the city's Mission Statement. In recent weeks, however, exceptions to such full consideration have surfaced in the minds of many thoughtful citizens, namely, to what are to them premature efforts by developers and City staff to have approved Rezonings that would significantly affect the Sebesta Road and Rock Prairie residential areas. At the heart of the citizen complaints to these proposed Rezonings is their concern that the rezonings are ill-advised and poorly thought out—not very smart, that is. Moreover, it is not difficult to demonstrate just how lacking in"smarts"the proposals are, which demonstration can be summarized in three basic points. (1) The Rezonings would be unfriendly to sound business development. By their very nature, national retail outlets force local firms out of business. With that regression, the well-being of citizens of long-standing is seriously jeopardized if not completely undermined. When a Big Box, national chain or even a non-local large business enters a community, competing local retail establishments—groceries, service stations, drug stores, hardware stores, whatever—all are often placed in an unequal competitive circumstance; and so, their survival comes immediately into question; and when they close, as they often do,jobs are lost and community leadership weakened. Also, there is evidence that local health care and insurance providers—Scott and White?—are forced into an unequal competitive position with respect to a Big Box, e.g.., Wal- Mart, which usually provides these benefits and services internally. And not insignificantly, Big Box stores often pay low wages to a large number of part-time workers, lowering the average compensation for individuals and families, and fail to attract educated, upwardly mobile individuals to their jobs, which may not be the quantitative goal of a community but which certainly exists as a qualitative goal for those who wish to attract such persons to the community and hold them as residents. As our Mission Statement lifts up, we ARE the home of Texas A&M University. (2) The Rezonings are likely to fail to meet the expectations of their advocates that the new businesses will add significantly to employment in the city and county. Important studies of the impact of Big Boxes upon local economies, especially of Wal-Mart stores, have demonstrated that their effect upon overall employment is slight, really not that significant. Their employment 1 effect upon a city may be slightly positive, but on a county, negligible. Studies have shown too that presumed real sales tax increases are questionable; the added costs of additional public services must be taken into account. And lastly, (3) If the proposed Rezonings are actually brought about without appropriate study and planning, they will also do serious damage to the natural environment and the aesthetic appeal of the areas affected and increase safety concerns for the residents. Two related issues magnify the negative impact of the proposed Rezonings, with Number One being traffic congestion. Already there are major traffic issues in the Sebesta Road and Rock Prairie (east of Hwy 6) environs. A City Staff traffic engineer(Ken Fogle) has said a great deal about "the Process" of traffic mitigation that will be necessary to solve these issues as they may arise. That position appears to brush aside the immediacy of the problems, their overall cost, and the time required to solve them. Even a causal observer must admit, one would judge, that it will take years to solve the traffic problems that would attend to major retail changes in the Sebesta Road and Rock Prairie communities east of Highway 6. Of equal concern to the citizens of these residential areas, and to every resident of the city and county we think, is the issue of future land usage. Big Box stores have a history of abandoning their properties within about 20 years. Consequently, their buildings often remain unoccupied eye-sores for years if not decades after their abandonment. At a minimum, logic would argue, every Big Box applicant should be required to agree to a contingency plan in the event of its abandonment of its property, as well as agree, in advance of building, to take and pay for the design and construction steps necessary to protect the neighborhoods against destructive encroachment while at the same time maintaining and enhancing the aesthetic appeal and addressing environmental concerns, e.g., water drainage, within those neighborhoods. While numerous studies support the contentions made thus far in this statement,there are not many studies (that we could find)that have dealt with the impact of Big Boxes upon property values. What evidence there is suggests that the negative impact may be more long range than immediate; in other words, it takes a while for the property values in the affected areas to drop significantly, but in time they do. Anecdotally, however, if today one drives along Quail Hollow street in Bryan, which runs one block north of Briarcrest Drive, and parallel, in front of the Wal-Mart Super Store, the For Sale signs (6 or 7) are immediately noticeable, visibly suggesting a direct correlation between the presence of the Store and the desirability of several residents to flee the area. THE RESIDENTS OF COLLEGE STATION WANT TO STAY. THEY ARE FOR GROWTH, SMART GROWTH! end 2 Brittan,AK,orthauer-We Need the Wal-Mar in College Station Page 1 From: "Ronald Smith" <ronns@cox.net> � n To: <bkorthauer@cstx.gov> \\tQ Date: 7/19/2006 11:09:27 am Di)Subject: We Need the Wal-Mart in College Station Dear Mr. Mayor, Council Members and all Planning &Zoning Members, I am writing to let you know as a resident of Emerald Forest (on Sandstone Dr.)there is a citizen who does believe we need the new Super Wal-Mart to be located at corner of Rock Prairie and Hwy 6. We are surprised that our planning and zoning has even entertained any other option then to locate the Super Wal-Mart in this location. Sure there are a few citizens affected negatively over this but that is not taking into consideration the rest of the Citizens of College Station. I do believe Wal-Mart people should be presented with conditions to develop & remodel the façade of the old Wal-Mart to not be an eyesore for the city. This will probably not be difficult for them. I also support the idea that the rear of the new Wal-Mart should have stiff requirements as far as green space and a desirable view from the rear. I can give you many reasons to why we need this development. Believe it or not I don't have a problem with the Sebesta development even though we are located right in the middle of Sandstone Dr. where the traffic is heavy. I have faith that our great city government will do the right thing here. Our situation here is a little different because traffic almost has to be directed through Sandstone to get to the Sabesta area. I am sure you all will come up with an acceptable solution here in any case. As for Woodcreek residents they should be made aware that Wal-Mart traffic will not be directed though their neighborhood. The city or the residents of Woodcreek can easily restrict traffic into the back entrance of Woodcreek. I hate to sound mean here but has anyone asked those who are apposed to this development if they have shopped at Wal-Mart even once. If they have they have supported Wal-Mart's growth and expansion. I don't love big boxes but lets be fair. Concerning fairness if you hear Woodcreek residents you are snubbing the Residents of Southwood Valley who have lived near the old Wal-Mart. That is not right because the city planners really have to be fair no matter of income level. Brittanv,K,orthauer-We Need the Wal-^1a' in College Station Page 2 The bottom line is the rest of the residents need this new Super Wal-Mart development. We don't want to have to drive to Bryan to go the Super Wal-Mart there because it is usually over crowded and far away. Right now College Station looses tax$'s to that city&other cities. I know total tax$'s will greatly increase for everyone's good even if property values go down near the new Wal-Mart. I am sure you all are aware of that as well. This is the best location when all things are considered. Something like this should not have to go way out near the outskirts of the city and it is on a highway for a purpose and that is usually good traffic flow. All resident should be able to get to this development in a limited amount of time. As for the residents of Woodcreek there are plenty of places to live in College Station near or far away from a new Super Wal-Mart. It is their choice where they live. The only thing I can see to criticize about city planning right now is there should already be an overpass at Hwy 6 and Barron Rd. I know TX Dot is paying for the Nantucket overpass but why it is being built before the Barron Rd overpass is really a poor decision. Many more residents are affected by not having the Barron Rd overpass then the Nantucket Overpass. I know this is the fault of TX Dot but College Station politicians should have their eyes open more on this issue. For that matter I think this should be one of the biggest platforms in future elections and a candidate should bring it to the top of the agenda. It almost should be made political because it is a major blunder. That overpass should already be in for everyone's safety. Concerning the Wal-Mart development I could go on for hours but I hope the every member of the Council and P&Z is not blurred on this. This Super Wal-Mart development is right for the citizens or residents of College Station. Growth is a good thing and should not be frowned upon. We appreciate your time in reading this and we will be sending this to all Council Members and P&Z members. Sincerely, Korthauer-We Need the Wal-^gyp.. in College Station Page 3 Ron &Claudia Smith 8706 Sandstone Dr. College Station,Texas 77845 <mailto:ronnscox.net> ronns@cox.net J U L 1 3 2006 > J July 13,2006 �� I fs,CI CE F E S STATION r COLLEGE TATIO To: Ron Silva,Mayor Ben White,CC,P1 John Happ,CC,P2 Ron Gay,CC,P3 Lynn Mcllhaney,CC,P4 Chris Scotti,CC, P5 David Ruesink,CC,P6 I/ Glenn Brown,City Manager From: Don Hellriegel 8704 Appomattox Drive College Station,Texas 77845 Subject: Sebesta and Rock Prairie Land Use Issues Please read the attached document that I wrote on July 4th entitled Comments and Recommendations Related to Sebesta and Rock Prairie Land Use Proposals for submission to the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission on July 6, 2006. At the meeting, I learned that citizen comments on the Sebesta land use proposal would not be received. Thus,a portion of the attached document became moot. Given the three-minute time limit for citizen input, my intent was to read aloud the lower portion of page 5 and all of page 6 of the attached document. I planned to give each P&Z Commission member a copy of the entire document at that time. Given how the P&Z meeting process unfolded, it was not feasible to give each commission member a copy of the attached document until after the meeting ended. At that time, I gave Mr. Ken Fogle several copies as well. Sebesta Land Use Settled,But Not Threats to Adjacent Neighborhoods As one who served on the Sebesta Mitigation Task Force, I am not appealing the P&Z Commission's recommendation of office and "planned development" for the Sebesta parcel. We had worked many hours on the hope for this type of land use. Our focus was on how to proactively mitigate the transportation issues created by the Sebesta development so as to preserve and protect the quality of life for residents in surrounding neighborhoods. This is addressed in the attached document. Bill Stockton, Associate Agency Director of the Texas Transportation Institute, and two of his colleagues served on the mitigation task force as well. They had great insights as to what needed to be done and how it should be done so that the after-the-disasters reactive mitigation model, advocated by Planning and Development Services, would become the last option—rather than the first option in attempting to maintain neighborhood integrity, safety and quality of life. MT, L )atic6rnput dap gmiru 2 My request is that City Council take to heart Bill Stockton's recommendations, one of which involves employing a qualified external consultant. Again, the attached document addresses various aspects of this suggestion. In an e-mail dated July 4, 2006, Bill Stockton made the following comment to the citizens who served on the Sebesta Mitigation Task Force: I don't think this makes much difference any more, as I think the stars are aligned to ignore a year of work by the neighborhoods. While `losing' is disappointing, I am more saddened than anything at the apparent inability of City government to listen to and work with its citizens. Without the outpouring of approximately 300 citizens at the July 6th meeting of P&Z and the hours of strategic and thoughtful inputs by citizens to the commissioners, I am convinced that Bill's quote above would have represented his anticipated outcomes. Paternalism by Representatives of Weingarten Realty Investors At the July 6th P&Z meeting, two representatives of Weingarten made 19th century like paternalistic comments. Their comments implicitly demean the thoughtfulness, intelligence, and rational perspectives of the many hundreds of citizens who oppose the massive negative consequences for the established nearby neighborhoods with the establishment of a Wal-Mart Super Center at the Rock Prairie intersection. I was stunned by the Weingarten representatives' comments and even more dismayed by the credibility given to them in the July 8, 2006 issue of the Eagle. The Eagle cites Brent Mann, a Texas A&M graduate and representative for Weingarten, as stating: I would not do anything to hurt this community, as I have a great love for it and its university. This is an accurate quote to the best of my recollection. I do not recall if it was Mr. Mann or the other Weingarten representative who also attempted to make a sales point out of being an Aggie with two children who graduated from TAMU. Let me offer a few comments to demonstrate the irrelevancy of their paternalistic posture—namely as former students with children who graduated from TAMU. In effect, they are claiming we know what is best for the citizens of College Station and given our connections to the community and university, how could our proposals be questioned or viewed as anything but in the interests of the community and University. Here is an alternative paternalistic perspective. I have three daughters with a total of four degrees from TAMU, 31 years as a Professor of Management at TAMU during which I served in multiple leadership roles, and 31 years as a citizen of College Station. All should know that I would not do anything to hurt this community, as I have a great love for it and its university. Therefore, the land use change proposed for a Wal-Mart Super Center at Rock Prairie intersection should be denied, big time. I submit that my children with four TAMU degrees (plus four degrees from other institutions), my 31 years as a Professor of Management, and 31 years as a citizen of College Station trump Mr. Mann and his associate. In fact, the connections to TAMU by all parties are totally irrelevant to the issues before us. 3 Weingarten Realty Investors Weingarten Realty Investors is a full service real estate investment trust company. My review of the many documents on its website, the U.S. Securities & Exchange website for this organization, and other searches I undertook suggest that it is a quality organization. In the Weingarten website section entitled Corporate Governance-Highlights,they state: The following documents serve as evidence of Weingarten's accountability to all of our stakeholders—our shareowners, our associates, our merchants and tenants, our suppliers and lenders, and the communities in which we serve. [Emphasis added] Does the leadership of Weingarten Realty Investors take this statement seriously or is it another example of corporate public relations babble? 1. If serious, Weingarten will immediately withdraw its land use proposal for a Wal- Mart Super Center at Rock Prairie. 2. If serious, Weingarten will delay the development of any other land use proposals until the transportation system and infrastructure at Rock Prairie are well on the way to solution. 3. If serious, Weingarten will eventually begin the development of land use plans at their Rock Prairie site that are compatible with maintaining the integrity and value of established neighborhoods in the area. The hundreds upon hundreds of College Station citizens who adamantly oppose the super center at Rock Prairie should make the land use withdrawal a simple matter, given Weingarten's espoused statement of corporate governance. Wal-Mart: Our Commitment Wal-Mart has a page on its website that states Our Commitment in these words: We are a neighbor and citizen in thousands of communities across the U.S. and around the world. We believe that being a member and store of the community is a privilege and that we are accountable to help sustain the communities that rely on us. Thus we are committed to the following: • We will engage in a community dialogue process which will include business unit leaders, operations, realty, store design, and construction. • We will test this process in 3 markets over the next 12 months. The goal is to improve our existing community engagement process to find mutually beneficial partnerships with the communities we serve. • To better understand and address local needs, we will open Corporate Affairs offices in diverse markets. • We will continue to build and design "stores of the community" that use locally relevant store designs and blend with local architecture. • We will adopt a store siting and construction policy that addresses environmental, social, cultural, and historical considerations. 4 When taken as a whole or in specific parts, this Commitment, if it is to be more than corporate public relations babble, clearly suggests that the leadership of Wal-Mart would want Weingarten to withdraw its request for a land use change to enable a super center at Rock Prairie. Councilman Gay's Village In the July 9, 2006 issue of the Eagle, Councilman Gay wrote a feature entitled It's too late to keep CS a village. It is copied as Appendix 1. This commentary was in response to feature entitled What kind of community do we want? by Hugh Stearns that appeared in the July 3, 2006 issue of the Eagle. It is copied as Appendix 2. Councilman Gay's commentary prompted a variety of thoughtful letters on July 11th to the editor of the Eagle. They are copied as Appendix 3. I suspect that all of you have read these appendices. However, it is likely that a number of College Station citizens and others who are attending the council meetings on July 19th and 20th do not subscribe to the Eagle or may have missed reading one or more of the appendices. I am bringing many hundreds of copies of this memo and attachments for distribution at the July 19th and 20th meetings. There is no way for me to share the full range of perspectives that are being offered by me and others within the three-minute public commentary time limit. I do have several additional comments to make in relation to Councilman Gay's commentary. 1. Mr. Gay asserts A development with a big-box tenant does not mean that property automatically would decline. The probability of property value declines in the quality neighborhoods near Rock Prairie range from 90 to 100%. Experts in the Real Estate Center, housed within the Mays Business School at TAMU, or College Station realtors will confirm this perspective. 2. Mr. Gay asserts false dichotomies and creates artificial "straw men" throughout his document. 3. Mr. Gay makes reference to a capital improvement budget of between $10 million to $12 million for 2005-2006 and a set of capital improvement projects that total $170 million. I called a representative in College Station's Office of Budgeting and Strategic Planning on July 13th. I learned that the $170 million reflected an unscreened and unprioritized"wish list"(my term)that was accumulated/totaled from submissions by all city units. This total is best thought of as a set of unrestrained desires by units rather than a set of carefully considered needs/imperatives. By the time of the next capital campaign (2008), it is anticipated that the new bonding authority of College Station will be between $35 and $40 million. Not ideal, but better than the impression left by Mr. Gay. Of course, there is likely to be a 20 to 25 percent decline in school property taxes (conservative estimates) by 2008. School property taxes make up approximately 64 to 68 percent of the total property tax bill, depending on the homeowners exemption situation. Thus, property owners in College Station may be receptive to a thoughtful, robust, and specific set of city capital improvements projects and the related moderate increase in city property taxes. 5 4. I suspect that most citizens agree that we have made progress with respect to non- residential architectural standards. However, we should not be satisfied with meeting the "average" or the repeated comments I hear from certain city staff and P&Z members who seem to be complacent if we benchmark well in relation to the "average city" of our size in the state of Texas with respect to planning, zoning, and development. At Texas A&M University, the University, colleges, and departments benchmark in relation to best throughout the nation and world, not the typical university in the state of Texas. The University focuses on being a flagship institution. 5. The city should also be benchmarking in relation to the best cities in planning and development services. Ironically and as I suggest in the attached document, we do seem to strive to benchmark in relation to the best with respect to many of our other city services, such as parks and recreation. 6. As part of the process of updating the College Station comprehensive plan, all parties would be well served by a benchmarking process in relation to the best-in-class cities, which may or may not be of comparable size to College Station, with respect to a variety of standards, issues, and practices in the domain of planning, zoning, standards, and land use. We should not limit ourselves to cities in the state of Texas; just as the most admired corporations in the world do not limit their benchmarking initiatives to firms within their own industry. 7. The number of best-in-class cities might be six to ten in total. Two best-in-class cities within Texas that come to mind, in my judgment, are the Woodlands and Kingwood. I am not suggesting that all aspects of the set of cities selected for benchmarking can be or should be incorporated by College Station. I realize that there are always a number of contextual and tacit considerations. A Win-Win Solution There is a win-win solution that will enable a Wal-Mart Super Center in College Station while minimizing the number and severity of dysfunctional consequences for citizens, yet be highly profitable for Wal-Mart. On July 11, 2006 [10:30 a.m.], I called Wal-Mart's headquarters. I asked a simple question of the Wal-Mart corporate representative. I asked if Wal-Mart does "major makeovers" of current stores to transform them into Wal-Mart Super Centers. Her reply was unequivocal: We do that all of the time. The College Station Wal-Mart is adjacent to a poorly performing Albertson's store. Albertson's put itself up for sale in September 2005. As reported in the December 16, 2005 issue of the Wall Street Journal, Even relative to other grocery chains, Albertson's has been underperforming and its margins have declined steadily. Albertson's has, indeed, been purchased by other finns. The Wall Street Journal article goes on to state: Analysts also predict the buyers will jettison Albertson's roughly 470 stores in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona, a weak group that has struggled to stay ahead of the competition. That jettisoning has commenced. The June 15, 2006 online issue of the American Statesman (www.statesman.com) states that Albertson's is closing 10 of its 15 Central Texas stores between August 3 and August 6 18. Jennifer Vroman, an Albertson's representative, states: Our goal obviously is to liquidate the stores. The liquidation will extend weeks. This set of circumstances for Albertson's and others I have not mentioned, creates a window of opportunity for the city, citizens, and Wal-Mart. With the potential acquisition of the Albertson's site at the current College Station Wal-Mart site, all of the ingredients would be in place to develop a Super Wal-Mart at its present location. Obviously, Wal-Mart would destroy the current Albertson's as one of the steps in the transformation process to a super center. Hopefully, city council will see the wisdom of encouraging major initiatives by Glenn Brown and his development staff with Wal-Mart and Albertson's to make this win-win solution a reality. Relatively modest/reasonable highway improvements would be needed with a super center at this location. Perhaps, it would be appropriate for the city to provide some reasonable incentives to the parties that would foster this win-win solution. Recommended Motions and Resolutions I suspect that many, many hundreds of College Station citizens would endorse the following types of motions and resolutions by city council: • City Council endorses the recommendation of P&Z for the planned development designation at the Sebesta site. • City Council endorses the need for proactive mitigation measures to affirmatively maintain the integrity of neighborhoods surrounding the Sebesta development. • City Council endorses the recommendation of P&Z to preclude land use changes that would enable the location of a Wal-Mart Super Center and/or other types of big box stores at the Rock Prairie site. • City Council will not be receptive to proposed land use changes for "big box" stores near neighborhoods that are likely to have adverse impacts on them. This position is consistent with the No. 1 priority we adopted, namely Council members agreed that the health, safety and well being of the community is their No. 1 priority. It is also consistent with the College Station mission, namely On behalf of the citizens of College Station, home of Texas A&M University, we will continue to promote and advance the community's quality of life. The careful consideration of all of these documents by the individuals addressed on this memo and others will be greatly appreciated. Attachments Ir( Weingarten Realty's rezoning requests C0 LC, What is the basis for including Weingarten Realty's rezoning request on the P&Z meeting on July 6? Did the city plan to accept civic input particularly from the effected immediate impact neighborhoods before putting such a request on its agenda? Does the City have an economic study and analysis for the rezoning to allow Big Box Stores have any comparisons to other alternatives such as local stores? Did the City's traffic mitigation plan of April 2006 consider the Weingarten Realty request or only the requests for rezoning "in the area generally surrounded by Emerald Parkway to the north,Woodcreek Drive to the south, State Highway 6(SH 6)to the west,and several residential subdivisions to the east."?If not why not Does the city's economic analysis include Quality of Life effects caused by Box Stores? (Traffic, Crime, Transiency, Property Values, Pedestrian and Bike Un Friendly Neighbourhoods) Does the city's economic analysis of the rezoning request consider environmental impacts including green buffer zones, drainage, noise, light and air pollution? Can the city provide any economic analysis prepared by itself or submitted by Weingarten as well as documents pertaining to any discussions with Weingarten Realty? As requested of Jennifer Prochazka can the city ensure that documentation on the web site is complete especially the "East Bypass Small Area Plan" that is missing some essential information such as the Land Use Scenario plans etc? In the context of the Weingarten Realty rezoning request is there plan to see what if any assumptions in this 2000 plan have changed? Jagannathan Viswanathan 9016 Stonebrook Drive, College Station, TX, 77845 Tel:979-696-6141 Ce1:979-571-8603 5th July 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: HL & Darlene Bartell 9300 Bloomfield Lane REX((�'1T�riv D College Station, TX 77845 SUBJ: Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a "green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. eait _CuLA,.3L 41) HL Bartell Darlene Bartell D C)e- co 'I lP c_nt eitiD � - `) Stenc Construction, nc. 7 ...-- X15! ]arJey Hi fce' D,1,,ac11 (,p)-4e 'r.j: J ,1+;- ex 45 340 Rgau phone �iq, ;:�i _. 4 r tit,„,,,'')-2lC ,a: fio@stPai nscorstr,ctior o: /,t Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Re: WRI Development Dear Commissioners: You will soon be making a recommendation to the City Council on a proposed development by Weingarten Reality Investors (WRI) at the corner of Rock Prairie and SH 6. This is a major development at the gateway of our city and deserves everyone's focused consideration as it relates to every aspect of our community and its development. Your recommendation will be guided by the Comprehensive Plan, a part of which is the Small Area Plans, including the Rock Prairie/Greens Prairie Triangle Plan. Much of the direction suggested in the Small Area Plan,however, conflicts frequently with the main body of the Comprehensive Plan, and it is important to understand the vast difference in the methodology used in arriving at these different sections, which in fact amount to distinctly different instruments. This difference in methodology is key to establishing a priority in assessing these different documents and in evaluating al this proposal for rezoning. Our Comprehensive Plan is nearly ten years old and about to be rewritten. As such, the argument could be made to wait for the new Comprehensive Plan before making any zoning changes, especially given the impact that this development is likely to have. Though this approach would be a far better choice than recommending approval for this ill-advised project, you will find clear and compelling reasons in the existing Comprehensive Plan to recommend that this project and the necessary rezoning be rejected. The main body of the comprehensive plan was derived with very deliberately sought after input from a broad cross section of city staff, elected and appointed officials, land owners, business owners, developers, and churches, as well as the general citizenry. Other instruments of the Comprehensive Plan, including the Small Area Plans and Land Use Maps, were derived later with very little citizen input. These changes and additions to the Comprehensive Plan were created to a large degree at the request of developers and under guidance of the City Staff who are restricted by process and procedures that leaves them with less latitude to consider a wide range of quality of life issues. This significant difference in methodology yields very different visions for the development of College Station. A clear difference in the vision that arises out of these different processes can be seen by comparing the Urban Design section of the original Plan to the later added Small Area Plans. The Urban Design section includes four area designs that are similar in nature to the later added Small Area Plans, yet these sections are distinctly different in the character of the vision that they define. Even though the parent document has been derived with a great deal more democratic involvement and creative effort, it has been shadowed by these attachments that often conflict with it. If the process worked as it is envisioned,these new instruments would reflect the mission, vision and goals of the parent document. But because vastly different groups and methods direct these different processes, we are left with a report that does little to harvest the original intent of the parent document. These later reports should also be subordinated to the original Plan because their geographic scope is much more limited. When independently considering a small area there will be a restricted set of variables to consider. As this is a major development at the gateway to our city, it is especially important that we take the more global view of the original Plan and not limit ourselves to the constrained view of the Small Area Plan. The City Staff, in their report to you, has stated that"This rezoning is in compliance with the City's Comprehensive Plan with specific reference to the Greens Prairie/Rock Prairie Small Area Plan." But as you will see,this rezoning is unambiguously in conflict with the original Comprehensive Plan. As a matter of bureaucracy,NOT conspiracy,the Staff has pressure to unduly represent the interests of developers over that of other citizens. This pattern can be seen in a long history of recommendations that have been reversed by our citizen's bodies, including Planning and Zoning Commissions and the City Councils. The Staff's bias should not be construed as malicious intent. It can, in fact, be seen as a measure of good job performance. It is the job of the staff to be good listeners and act accordingly. As developers are the ones who have a financial stake in coming forward, it is their voices that are most often heard. Also, developers,unlike ordinary citizens, have daily business with the development staff. As such they form a rapport with them. This is not so much an issue of intended undue influence; it is unavoidable influence While I wish to make clear a bias that exists in the recommendation of the Staff, I hope that it is equally clear that this bias arises from process and not from bad intention. It has been my experience at every turn that the College Station City Staff is professional, knowledgeable and concerned with the best interest of the city as a whole. We are very lucky to have the quality of people working for us as a community that we do. Though the people who work for the city are trustworthy, the influence of friendship and frequent contact cannot be fully mitigated by even the best of integrity. This is one reason why we depend on oversight from citizen boards such as this commission. Page 2 of 12 As is evidence from the report on this development,the staff seems to be guided primarily by the more restrictive attachments to the Comprehensive Plan than the main body of the Plan. In this way there has been an incremental divergence from the visionary intentions of the original Comprehensive Plan to this recommendation for a development that would be uniquely destructive to our intended quality of life as set out in the Comprehensive Plan. We can see this built in bias in the Rock Prairie/Greens Prairie Triangle Small Area Plan as we look at its process. Though the study claims to have involved residents, this was a very minimal effort as dictated by statute. Experience makes clear that broad-based resident involvement in a study like this would require much more than a minimal effort. This involvement is one of the primary factors that makes this instrument much less reliable than the Comprehensive Plan. The process also says, "property owners expressed a few concerns, but in general were very positive about the proposed plan." Of course they were. The property owners, like the developers, stand to make money from these recommendations. Not so the rest of our community, especially those in nearby neighborhoods, which are not considered in this reference as property owners. Nor are they adequately represented elsewhere in the study. The process defined in this study claims that it"examined the current Comprehensive Plan and Council Strategic Issues." These are two very different documents that are likely to have conflicting goals. Nothing is said about how the study weighs each or about the process used in deciding which to prioritize. In fact,this study even fails to cite which City Council created the Strategic Issues that they are referencing. This ambiguity arises later in reference to this specific piece of land and in so doing we also get a sense of the bias at play. Most notably it says, "There is a large amount of retail commercial use planned for the intersection of Rock Prairie Road and SH 6." But this is not the whole truth. At the time of the Comprehensive Plan this land was not zoned for retail at all. That change came later,not as a part of the original Comprehensive Plan's process, but as a Land Use Update as requested by developers and recommended by the Staff. Again it is important to note that like the Small Area Reports, Land Use Updates are a much less involved process that does not benefit from much, if any, citizen input. This becomes obvious when we see the degree to which these attachments deviate from the original Comprehensive Plan. Nonetheless,the Staffs report claims that this rezoning is a part of the Comprehensive Plan without mention of this vital difference in the methodology and inclusiveness in its various parts. It also claims that Rock Prairie Road is a major arterial. These are recommendations of the Staff which,perfunctorily become a part of the Comprehensive Plan,but which depend on the approval of the City Council as directed by the recommendations of this commission to become applicable. The report on this development says, "This rezoning is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan." But that does not hold up to even the most cursory look at the main body of the Plan. Page 3of12 We see further evidence of bias as the study goes on to say, "This is in response to the City Council's Vision Statement#7, Strategy#2, Implementation Plan B"As mentioned above, one has no way of referencing this information. But we do now know that this report has prioritized the Council's Vision Statement, which is arrived at with far less vision, rigor or democracy than that contained in the process of the Comprehensive Plan. The Staff cited this same ambiguous reference in their report on this development. To get a sense of the priority that the Comprehensive Plan should have in such matters, consider that there is not ambiguity when it is cited. It is a focal point in our public records. This is not the case with an unknown council's vision statement. This directive to place regional retail at this location is in absolute conflict with the main body of the Comprehensive plan, which clearly states, "College Station should continue to avoid strip commercial development(such as along Texas Avenue) and encourage centralized commercial development which encourages multi-modal access." We see continuing evidence of this bias in the Study Objectives, which again seem to give priority in long range planning,not to the Comprehensive Plan, but to the vision of a single council. It says, "There are two council-established strategies applicable to the project." "The first deals with encouraging retail development." The study claims that pressure had been great for commercial zoning in this area. They do not mention that pressure was also great to avoid commercial zoning in this area. This is not because they were being dishonest. It is because they had not yet heard the voices of those who were opposed to commercial development. They did not hear these citizen voices because they were not able to use, in this limited report, a methodology as involved as that of the Comprehensive Plan. And the process that they have been given to work with does not give sufficient gravity to the main body of the Comprehensive Plan as our vision for growth and development. The second objective of this council"deals with facilitating travel within the community." Interestingly,this objective also states results. In this case the report claims, "In response to this strategy,the area thoroughfares were sized and aligned to provide the safest most convenient movement for all forms of traffic." Not only is this incorrect, it ignores the fact that the development that they are proposing would negatively impact every aspect of transportation within a rather large radius. This plan proposes that the future extension of Baron Road be misaligned with the current road to avoid the expense of going over an old landfill and a wider section of creek. Regardless of the merits of this recommendation, it cannot be argued that it had anything to do with convenience of transportation. So, let us now bring our attention to the main body of the Comprehensive Plan. Though this document does eventually narrow your range of decision with some rather well defined specifics, it starts its job with large abstractions that point in a general direction. Starting with the city's mission statement we see problems with this development as it relates to its nature and placement. That statement says that we will, "...promote the safety, health, and general well-being of our community within the bounds of fiscal Page 4 of 12 responsibility while preserving and advancing the quality of life for its citizens." Clearly safety,health and general well-being are all challenged by this type of development and especially this specific development. But most obvious, as made clear by the outcry of citizens,this project is not a means of"advancing the quality of life of its citizens." The vision statement included in the Comprehensive Plan is a little more specific than the mission statement in its approach. It says in regard to transportation that, "citizens benefit from the ability to move into, out of, and within College Station in a safe and efficient manner." This development will degrade most aspects of transportation across our city. This vision also says, "citizens benefit from a reasonably safe and secure environment." Not only will congestion from this development disproportionately increase the number of traffic accidents, it will also increase the number and distance of auto trips thus increasing air and noise pollution. This type of development has also been shown to significantly increase crime rates. The vision statement also says, "Citizens benefit from an environment that is conducive to providing diverse employment opportunities." This sort of development is a significant step away from this aspect of our vision. This development is anchored by Wal-Mart and is sure to attract other formula businesses that tend to drive locally owned independent businesses out of business. These are the businesses that provide diversity of services and employment and they are also much healthier for our local economy as they tend to hire local professional services rather than ship that work to distant corporate headquarters. With locally owned independent businesses, profits also stay in our local economy. It is hard to imagine anything less representative of a concept of business diversity than a Wal-Mart. Most pointedly,the vision statement, under the heading of"Civic Pride" says, "citizens benefit from well-planned, attractive residential and commercial areas, and from preserving historic areas." This sort of cheap, sea of concrete, sprawl development that puts locally owned independent business out of business and leaves vacant shells in the core areas of town, while increasing crime and the need for additional police does not inspire civic pride. The comprehensive plan sets out goals and objectives in six general areas. This development conflicts with most of these goals and objectives. Under land use, Goal #1 states, "College Station should continue to provide and locate adequate amounts of appropriately zoned land for all necessary types of land use in an efficient, convenient,harmonious and ecologically sound manner." Specifically Objective 1.3 states, "College Station should continue to avoid strip commercial development(such as that along Texas Avenue) and encourage centralized commercial development which encourages multi-model access." The Comprehensive Plan encourages us not to acquiesce to the short-term interests of developers in planning our city. It encourages us to be proactive. "College Station Page 5 of 12 should identify the most appropriate land use for all undeveloped parcels within its city limits and its ETJ and use its development powers (including zoning and capital improvement programs)to guide the location of desired development. Still under the heading of Land Use: Goal#2-College Station should continue to provide for the orderly development of existing and future land uses. •Objective 2.1 -College Station should develop standards for providing appropriate buffering and screening between residential and non-residential uses. •Objective 2.2-College Station should develop standards that promote a reduction of land use intensity as development approaches established and future residential areas. •Objective 2.3-College Station should encourage compatible in-fill development in areas between neighborhoods, such as neighborhood retail. •Objective 2.4-College Station should develop zoning districts which allow a mixture of residential and non-residential uses which complement and support each other with appropriate buffering. The Staff's recommendation suggests that a major arterial road should serve as a buffer to a neighborhood from this development. If ever there were something that needed to be more buffered than a trashy Wal-Mart parking lot, it is a noisy major roadway. This development would bring a rather dense 24 hour a day, seven days a week development right up to a neighborhood. There is no sense in which this development complements the adjacent, long standing neighborhoods. Goal#3-College Station should continue to protect, preserve and enhance existing and future neighborhoods. •Objective 3.1 -College Station should continue to protect the integrity of residential areas by minimizing intrusive and incompatible land uses and densities. •Objective 3.2-College Station should encourage compatible in-fill development, such as small-scale neighborhood retail, adjacent to residential neighborhoods with appropriate buffering. • Objective 3.3-College Station should encourage mixed-use developments which provide for an appropriate combination of residential and support uses. Here we see that the Comprehensive Plan is making rather specific suggestions for this type of area. This development in no way resembles what the Comprehensive Plan is suggesting that we should protect and encourage. Goal#4-College Station should continue to encourage community participation and involvement. •Objective 4.1 -College Station should continue to actively involve citizens and business interests in the development review and approval process. • Objective 4.2 - College Station should encourage residents to Page 6 of 12 be actively involved in community decisions and should promote initiatives through community meetings, neighborhood associations, business groups, interest groups, and similar organizations. •Objective 4.3-College Station should encourage public/private partnership in resolving community issues. •Objective 4.4-College Station should actively inform residents of current land use decisions under consideration and educate citizens and community organizations about the associated issues. This is clearly a part of where the existing process breaks down. While developers are paid to know the process and thoroughly understand its rules and regulations, citizens are not. The Staff is frequently frustrated because citizens come to the process late. Usually this is because citizens don't know that something that affects them is in process. It also happens because they do not understand the process well enough to stay informed as development issues unfold. The need for this level of vigilance is relatively new in College Station, as outside developers,who usually have less concern for community values and circumstances, have only recently started to have a major impact on growth in our community. Under the best circumstances the minimum standards of notification that the city has to go by are not adequate. This creates a void of knowledge and understanding,which is filled with frustration and mistrust on all sides. As such, Goal #4 and its Objectives point to a more inclusive process than is our habit. Goal#5-College Station should encourage development that is in harmony with the environment. • Objective 5.1 -College Station should prohibit reclamation of the floodway associated with Carter Creek, Lick Creek,Wolf Pen Creek, and the Brazos River in order to prevent upstream flooding, avoid long term structural and erosion problems associated with floodplain reclamation, and to provide a city wide network of natural open space. •Objective 5.2-College Station should allow compact, "village"- style development patterns in appropriate areas such as in Northgate and Eastgate/College Hills. •Objective 5.3-College Station should continue to comply with all existing and future State and Federal regulations that identify and protect natural areas. •Objective 5.4-College Station may consider new land uses and development patterns that were not anticipated by the Comprehensive Plan, provided these new land uses and development patterns are compatible with the environment and any surrounding development.. This development will cause significant runoff with its massive parking lots. This runoff will be funneled to the southwest corner of the property where it will be dumped into Lick Creek. The oil and silt from this runoff will end up in Lick Creek Park, one of the area's best-preserved public areas, exemplifying the Post Oak Savannah. Page 7 of 12 Giving further reason to reject this proposal,under the heading"Community Appearance"the goal labeled"College Station should continue to promote a beautiful and safe environment." Objective 1.3-College Station should develop and encourage innovative solutions that are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sensitive to abate flooding and drainage problems in the City. Objective 1.4-College Station should continue to minimize and eliminate unsightly conditions such as junkyards, abandoned vehicles, dilapidated buildings/structures/fences, and excessive weeds and rubbish. The City should assure maintenance of signs and fences and the longevity of required landscaping through effective code enforcement. While the trash that accumulates in, and blows out of,the sea of concrete of Wal-Mart Supercenters is not exactly the same as a junkyard, it can become a major eyesore. Furthermore, it is important to consider that this development will cause the old Wal- Mart building to be abandoned and likely sit vacant. Objective 1.8-College Station should continue to implement the main gateways into the City along major corridors, including Texas Avenue, SH 6, University Drive, SH 47, Wellborn Road, and FM 2818. This location is at the main gateway to our city. This should be a location that expresses our personality and our civic pride. Are we to let a big box development, especially a Wal-Mart,be that symbol of who we are? •Objective 1.5-College Station should continue to promote community-wide pride in the City. As it should, our Comprehensive Plan also defines our vision in terms of economic development. The Plan is rather clear in this respect. Goal#1 -College Station should continue to encourage diversification of the local economy. •Objective 1.1 -College Station should continue to encourage industrial, commercial, and residential development to serve residents' needs which is in harmony with the environment and surrounding development patterns. •Objective 1.2-College Station should continue to encourage the retention and expansion of existing retail in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, especially in older redeveloping areas like the Northgate district. • Objective 1.3-College Station should continue to attract other professional businesses that would enhance the area's quality of life, including medical care, restaurants, and small professional offices. • Objective 1.4-College Station should continue to promote tourism and convention business, especially with regard to facilities such as the George Bush Presidential Library Center and the University. •Objective 1.5-College Station should encourage the Page 8 of 12 development of compatible uses to complement the University, such as additional lodging, restaurant or conference facilities. •Objective 1.6-College Station should encourage the kinds of goods and services that attract retirees to the community. This Development is not in harmony with surrounding development patterns or the environment. Again the Plan points to specific kinds of retail development that are very different than what this development is intended to be. The Plan also encourages very specific sorts of development. Of special interests is the development of tourism. Tourism is especially beneficial to our local economy as it provides low impact development that brings in money from outside. Placing a big box development at our primary gateway works against this recommendation. Wal-Mart and other big box stores do nothing to attract visitors to our area, as they have identical big boxes in their own towns. College Station has become increasingly dominated by formula businesses that leave it with little recognizable identity of its own. It was not that long ago that we were known as a community with small town values and a unique personality as defined by businesses like Loupot's Bookstore,Holick's Boots and the Dixie Chicken. In terms of transportation the Plan says: College Station should balance the development of all modes of transportation to assure the fast,convenient, efficient and safe movement of people and goods to,from, and within the community while continuing to protect the integrity of neighborhoods. This development will provide congestion, increased vehicular traffic and a colossal impediment to the sort of pedestrian friendly community that we can be, as envisioned in our Comprehensive Plan. Of special interest in this regard are the cluster of well- established neighborhoods on the eastside and the development of the R&D park as well as bicycle and pedestrian connection to Lick Creek Park and the core areas of town. The Plan specially says, "College Station should continue to promote a program of access management to minimize vehicular conflicts on collector and arterial streets." Can you imagine a bigger conflict? The Comprehensive Plan is a clear advocate for increasing alternative transportation, which this development is an impediment to. Also clear is the mandate to avoid forcing traffic into neighborhoods with new development. This development will place a heavy traffic burden on the surrounding neighborhoods. Goal#5-College Station should provide for the safe movement of pedestrians and bicyclists within College Station. •Objective 5.1 -College Station should continue to encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, including transit, bicycle, and pedestrian. •Objective 5.2-College Station should continue to encourage Page 9 of 12 that new developments be designed to minimize cut-through traffic, especially in residential neighborhoods and pedestrian areas, such as Eastgate/College Hills, the East Bypass neighborhoods, and Southside. Section 7 of the Comprehensive Plan provides the Urban Design Plan,which paints a rather clear picture of a different kind of growth and development than is recommended here. This community vision of nearly ten years ago is, in fact, quite different than the way that our city has been allowed to grow and develop since the Comprehensive Plan was written. This Plan represents the vision of a broad cross section of our community. But the process our staff has been given to follow is not nearly so democratic and it is much more strongly influenced by the financial interests of developers than it is the quality of life interests of our community. In fact, in this section of the Comprehensive Plan it says, "The characteristic most often cited during the visioning process was the quality of life in the College Station area and its small town atmosphere." This does not seem to be reflected in the direction that our town has been developing over the last several years. It certainly does not reflect WRI proposed development. Our current approach to development including this recommendation do not seem to flow from the goals laid out in the Urban Design Plan of the Comprehensive Plan. Those goals are: • Establish a distinct identity for College Station. • Maintain a landscaped atmosphere along the main roadways. • Protect and buffer established and future residential neighborhoods. • Provide visual buffering between differing land uses. • Maintain the present high landscaping standards throughout College Station. Looking at the East Bypass area of the Urban Design Plan can derive a better sense of our intended pattern of growth than that which is found in the Rock Prairie/Greens Prairie Triangle plan. Again the important difference in these two plans is the process by which they were derived. The WRI proposal is for a tract of land that is just outside the area contained by the East Bypass section. Not only is this piece of land on the border of this section, it contains most of the defining characteristics of the section. This section of town was envisioned to contain the potential for new sorts of development that would facilitate the overall goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. Specifically the Plan says: • South of Sebesta Road, a neighborhood-oriented shopping village is proposed. This village may also include some Iowscale single story, garden offices to create a mixed-use center. Additional medium density residential between the village center and the neighborhood to the east, combined Page 10 of 12 with a bike trail/buffer,would further protect this existing neighborhood. •The potential for new office and mixed-use centers is proposed along SH 6 between Sebesta Road and Rock Prairie Road. These centers would be developed in a campus-style setting, with two-story structures located immediately adjacent to the highway and single-story structures in the campus interior. Again, a wide landscape buffer would separate the non-residential and residential uses as well as between differing densities of residential uses. What has happened to make the WRI development our recommended path for growth rather than the vision of our Comprehensive Plan? What happened seems to be an abrogation of sound procedure. The Comprehensive Plan used a very deliberate and democratic process. This process is too involved to be used in creating later attachments to the Plan. But it is important that future changes flow from the mission, vision and goals derived through the comprehensive approach that has been used to provide direction for our growth. When recommendations from Staff fail to follow the direction laid out by the Comprehensive Plan, it is important that our Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council provide the leadership to get us back on track. One way that we have gotten off track is by allowing the process of the Comprehensive Plan to be confused with less involved, less democratic processes. This happens when references are made to the small area plans, and land use maps as if they were brought forward under the same process as that used in the main body of the comprehensive plan. Another example of this may be the citing of the Strategic Plan 2001-2002 as reason for recommendation of this development. It appears that this Strategic Plan was primarily the work of a single council. Though it claims to have included collaboration from staff and residents, there is no mention of which residents were consulted or the methods used in getting input. This stands in stark contrast to the Comprehensive Plan, which is clear in this regard and which provides a great deal of guidance in these matters. Ironically,the Strategic Plan 2001-2002 says, "The document is organized so that it may be easily referenced by the City Council, City Staff, and College Station residents." But, despite the wealth of information and documents available on our city's outstanding website, I had to ask that this document be emailed to me. This is the primary reference for the Staff's recommendation to approve this development. In looking over this Document, I wonder why only one implementation plan of one strategy of one vision statement was used to justify this recommendation. In fact,the vision statement that has been cited is one of the reasons that I have cited for rejecting this project. It says: As a result of our efforts citizens will contribute to and benefit from living in a strong and diverse economic environment. • Economic development compatible with community values • Protection of property values • Tourism, conventions Page 11 of 12 • Adequate transportation • Business center • Strong retail • Job opportunities • Reasonable cost of living Despite the Staff's very singular reason for recommending this development, each of these points, including strong retail and reasonable cost of living, are compelling reasons to reject this recommendation. Like the Comprehensive plan,the Strategic Plan 2001- 2002 is chock full of other compelling reasons,too many to list,to reject this development. Suffice it to say that this single implementation plan of this single strategy of this one vision statement is not sufficient reason. Our Comprehensive Plan does a wonderful job of pointing us in the direction of development that is economically, environmentally and esthetically healthy. It is mindful of all aspects and stakeholders in building community. Unfortunately,the primary intentions of this very forward thinking document have been lost in an ongoing process that does not do a particularly good job of carrying those intentions forward. This balance depends on the wise consideration of our Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Sincerely, • ( <. HughStearns Chair of the GrassRoots Education and Action Team 316 Suffolk College Station,TX 77840 Page 12 of 12 June 26, 2006 Planning & Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Dear P & Z Commissioners: I live in the Wood Creek Subdivision in College Station and wanted to voice my deepest concerns with the proposed business developments located both north and now south of my neighborhood. My neighbors and I are concerned with Weingarten Realty's current request to change the zoning at the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 for commercial use. If this request is eventually approved by the City Council, our home and property values will surely go down and our ability to sell our homes will be threatened for the future. I would strongly request that your commission membership recommend the rejection of the C-1 re-zoning request by Weingarten Realty and that every effort be made by the P & Z Commission and the City Council to maintain the integrity and character of our neighborhood by keeping the currently approved zoning for this area. In addition, there is no desire on the part of any of the Homeowners Associations to have any "Big Box"tenant like a WalMart Super Store located directly off of Rock Prairie Road. The Weingarten Realty plans we reviewed at their meeting on June 19 did not include any green space or buffer between our subdivision and the proposed business development, nor did it take into consideration the traffic congestion already occurring at Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 and the additional grid-lock that would be caused by their development and the other development proposed north of our neighborhood. In other words, they didn't do all of their homework! Once again, please recommend to the City Council the rejection of the C-1 re-zoning request by Weingarten Realty and restore our confidence in the democratic process. Thank you for your serious consideration. Sincerel dc uadalupe Reyes, Jr. Home Address: 1402 Stonebridge Ct., College Station, Texas 77845 Home Phone: (979) 694-1312, Work Phone: (979) 209-7202 A04401403 C 4201 W ac. e.t ecg 514;44., Tic 7194S June 26, 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station,Tx 77842 Dear Sirs, The purpose of this letter is to express objection in the strongest terms to Weingarten Realty's proposal for the designation of the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 as land for C-1 commercial use. This area is already heavily traveled. It will become impossible during the construction phase, and once finished,the traffic and congestion will dramatically increase in this area which will become a threat to the health and safety of the community. Property values and resale of homes will plummet. Unfortunately my wife and I will be out of town for the next zoning and planning commission meeting on July 6,2006. Please accept this letter as a record of our plea to the zoning commission to place the interests and well being of the community above commercial interests. Sincere,' ev y7a7-170e___ Larry C. apper Mary B. Napper 9100 Timber Knoll Dr. College Station,TX 77845 (979)698-8222 26 June 2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station POBox 9960 College Station, TX 77842 Sir/Madam: I am writing this to you to express my negative views on putting up a"BIG BOX'store on Rock Prairie and TX 6 by-pass. People are moving out of town to get away from all this sprawl and here you are adding to it Don't you think there are enough strip malls going up along that corridor? It is making Hgwy 6 look like 1-45 in Houston! The area that has been denuded on Hgwy 6 by-pass and Sebesta is sitting there empty just waiting for someone to come along and rent one of the available stores. So, how long is it going to take to put something there? Also,there has been another disagreement over the land south of Sebesta. Even more strip malls! How many is enough? There are so many in the city that are sitting vacant, looking run- down because there is no ordinance to keep up those concrete boxes after they are built. There is a much better use for that land,as it is much needed here in CS. Why not put in an over 55 community like the ones they have in Florida. I sure would love to have a community like that to move into. I'm getting too old and tired to take cane of a big yard. I would still like a 2000 square foot house with 4 bedrooms, but without all that yard work! Can't you try and get a developer interested in doing that instead? Also, the perfect spot fora"BIG BOX"store would be on the comer of Wellbom and How 2818. With all the student apartments along Wellborn and that vicinity, it would make a perfect spot! That way, they don't have to come to Rode Prairie or Greens Prairie and cross Hgwy 6 to go shopping. Putting it on Rock Prairie would be out of the way of all the students living in College Station! Another suggestion is to leave the"BIG BOX'where it is and fix it up. They could buy Appletree and incorporate it into the existing store. That location is convenient for everyone. As long as I'm writing this letter, isn't there some way an ordinance couldn't be passed to have the strip malls look better? Couldn't they have to put up a facade that would add interest and go with a western town theme? I'm getting tired of looking at gray concrete with a sign over the door. Also, how many nail salons, beauty parlors and cleaners do we need here? They seem to come and go and leave empty spaces in the already existing ship malls when they go out of business. As an example of an ugly strip mall,just look at the one on Harvey Rd. past the mall or the ones on Texas Ave and Holleman Dr. The old one sure needs fixing up and the new one just built is sure ugly!and hard to get into and out of, with all that traffic on Holleman Dr. Guess that's all I have to say,for now Kathleen Ireland Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P 0 Box 9960 College Station,TX 77842 SUBJECT: Land at the corner of Rock Prairie and Highway 6 Dear PZC: I am writing this letter to oppose, in strongest possible terms,the conversion of the land at the corner of Rock Prairie and Highway 6 into C-1 commercial, Such a conversion will ruin the"neighborhood atmosphere"that we have created with much hard work and investment of time and money. Most importantly such a conversion will significantly reduce the value of our property. Weingarten Realty has no right to make money at the expense of our property value. In conclusion,I hope you will listen to the collective voice of all the residents of this area and not convert this land to C-1 commercial. 400 TI you. • :ly ods •ill: . ,-nra 9206 Lake orest Court College Station,TX 77845 FAX; 764-3496 Tnn ITnn•2 aonn4 nATTvaakTrn\Ty anusnnvav an Tian Tl AAP;OGI c AC!AT Ann? ,7'AT11(1 06/29/2006 10:31 FAX 9798457029 ENTOMOLOGY 2002 • Chadwick Homeowners' Association do Darrell Bay 9310 Bloomfield Drive College Station,Texas 77845 June 29,2006 Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O.Box 9960 College Station,Texas 77842 Dear Commission: As President of the Chadwick Homeowners'Association in the Woodcreek Subdivision of College Station,Y am writing on behalf of 76 homeowners to encourage your rejection of Weingarten's request for C-1 zoning, under their present plan,at the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. The concern of our association is two-fold. First,we have always realized that this area is designated for commercial use;however,the proposed C-1 zoning requested by Weingarten's provides for numerous"big box"retail establishments with the creation of little, if any,buffer zone or"green space"to minimize the impact of this commercialization on nearby homes in the Woodcreek Subdivision. Secondly,this proposed commercial development has great potential to significantly increase traffic flow throughout this residential area,and no plan has been developed by the city at this time to mitigate this problem. As a result,we believe that the development,as proposed,poses a major threat to property values throughout our area. We therefore respectfully request that you reject this request at this time until the aforementioned concerns are more fully addressed. Respe (fully, arrell Bay 'resident, Chadvcrick HOA 06/29/2006 10:31 FAX 9798457029 ENTOMOLOGY tI001 --Irv,.' Texas A&M University 4 41 � 4Department of Entomology 1.11:9 :01 2475 TAMU ! College Station, TX 77843-2475 Phone: 979/845-2516 Fax: 979/845-6305 Internet:http://entowww.tamu.edu E-mail:entomain@tamu.edu Date: June 29, 2006 FAX TRANSMITTAL To: Planning and Zoning Commission City of College Station From: Dr. Darrell Bay Fax #: 764-3496 Total Number of Pages: 2 (Including cover sheet) Please call(979)8452516 if problems occur with this transmission. Page 1 of 1 >>> Molly Hitchcock 06/20/06 5:09 PM >>> Good Afternoon Mr. Pate! Thank you for your e-mail regarding the proposed rezoning near the intersection of HWY 6 and Rock Prairie Road East. The meeting last night was initiated by the applicant and was not a requirement to request a rezoning. Please know that the City is very interested in public input on all planning projects. We will be forwarding your comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission when they consider the rezoning request. Molly Hitchcock, AICP Planning Administrator, Planning &Development Services City of College Station 979.764.3570 979.764.3496 (f) mhitchcock@cstx.gov >>> "Andy Pate" <andypate@verizon.net> 06/20/06 4:38 AM >>> Dear Beverly(Development Coordinator), Molly(Planning Coordinator), and Katie(Neighborhoods Coordinator). I regret that I am compelled to write to accentuate the negative outcomes of last night's (June 20th's)meeting with the representatives of Weingarten (WRI). If, by now, you have not heard the message from the residents of our area (Woodcreek and environs), I urge you to hear it, and hear it well. Further, we residents feel strongly that our opinions are representative of a clear majority of the good tax-paying citizens of College Station. It appears to us, quite clearly now, that WRI and, quite likely, members of the Planning and Development Commission and City Council are attempting to railroad through, as quickly as possible, the necessary zoning change that would bring a Wal Mart Super Store into our immediate area. In other words, a deal has already been made; otherwise WRI would not be pressing so quickly to get the change passed. Be assured, this matter will not go unnoticed or left to idle. If you and other staff and persons involved fail to act judiciously and wisely, taking into full account the implications--traffic, ecological damage and a gravely serious devaluing of property values, etc---of the zoning change and the building of yet another Wal Mart in Brazos County, we will be deeply, profoundly disappointed in you and our elected officials. I trust that you will try to avoid any appearance of failure to take into account the wisdom of College Station residents, or the slightest semblance of a back-room deal with companies that have no genuine interest in what happens to our community from what their really brutal attempts to expand their commercial profits and earnings. Andrew L "Andy" Pate, 1312 Essex Green (Woodcreek) file://C:\Documents and Settings\chartl.CSTX\Local Settings\Temp\XPGrpWise\44A3BB... 6/29/2006 06-29-2006 Don&Cindy Hamblin 9106 Timber Knoll College Station,Tx. 77845 Re;re-zoning of rock prairie corner to C-1 P&Z commission of C S I would like to comment on the proposed zoning change of the above property. My wife and I do like our quality of life here in Woodcreek. The proposed changes would have a negative impact on us personally,and many other residents in this area. Let's look at the real underlying motive here and that is MONEY.The question we must all answer is,if the city has the final word are they going to pass up a wonderful opportunity to bring all of this property and sales tax revenue into there general revenue fund?The answer is most certainly no,so if we know the answer to that let's take a different approach. What properties are currently zoned C-1? We all want growth and a wonderful city we can all be proud of. So it seems to me that P&Z and the city need to really be honest and talk openly about the motivation they have in this matter.My wife and I have a personal loss that will occur if what is proposed by Weingarten realty does happen. I personally do not want that to happen,but I also see the bigger picture which as I said earlier and we all know is MONEY. So in closing I would like to offer this solution,Do not change the zoning on the above property. Let us all go forward and find a suitable C-1 zoned piece of property in the city of college station and maybe the landowner will be open to a development of this size. We all know if the property in question was zoned C-1 we would not be having this discussion.It is not,and there is a reason it is not! My wife and I want to continue living in this wonderful neighborhood, but we are not against growth,this like anything else can be handled in a proper way and we ask you the P&Z commission and the City of C S lets have growth and prosperity in a proper way. Last but not least,I have lived and raised my children in this community for the past 28 years,I have seen a lot of growth some good and some not so good. There is a way to get the revenue for the city that they want while preserving the quality of life we all have,I look forward to the commission and the city making the right decision. Thank you for your time. 4.1 4/;..(, Sincerely., Don Hamblin Cindy Hamblin L O C CD_ CT3 Q. - (n O o rY _ 0 0 o) T.: 2 7 o 4,-,Ps c ca) = a "C3 't o ±E° U a o O ! C6 c UI 0 c6 CO oCU, s= -E ' "E u) 2 (,) mina a=.. a) 8 -cT3 a) E Q. M _c g 51- a) a) •) O C6 n p) S2 o Tii o- c a- o c .a) c — c > ocr CC 0 u) L o w 0 .- in co co .17)-s; co EL3 a) ,C.; co o c c c L O C El.) -c 0 -- •� -p O 0 -I RS cn 0 co o V •= C) -R- 1- _I f R= O < ct) a) 0 p a) 'I CD .� E m o °- C6 .U co o o L t) (/) E E 73 a ..o (D(-) -FD 4- 1 2 w E 8 ° F) u) co . 17) IT Lci CD 4.1 2 c :E E -al (I) al . . . o .� f = U L a_ .c re 88/Z8/2U00 12:48 FAA 878 845 3322 SRPH STUD. AFFAIRS g001 June 2! 2006 Plannir g&Zoning Commission City of College Station P.O. B ox 9960 Colleg( Station, TX 77842 Subject: Rezoning of corner of Rock Prairie Road&Highway 6 Please:tEJECT VVeingarten's request for C-1 zoning under your current plan for the cor ler of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. This type of zoning which would allow h rge corporation and retail spaces with little or no buffer area for surrounding propert'is not a favorable move by the City of College Station administration's part. If you r lust use revoning as a means to generate more tax revenues from such enterprises, please c esignate the site under zoning that allows for"green belts"or buffer zones betweei.these commercial sites and neighborhood home sites. The inc'eased traffic of such rezoning is a threat to citizens in many ways: increased traffic i ,always an added personal safety issue; increased traffic poses a major threat to propert;'values for homeowners in the adjacent areas;increased traffic lessens the desirabi lity of home buying in the area. Althoui h the city would profit monetarily by this current plan,individual citizens would suffer. ince individual citizens collectively suffer financially,it is usually inevitable that local ec)nomies suffer and then the dwindling of city revenues follows. I implore city - governr rent to think long term with this issue and REJECT this proposed rezoning. Thank)ou. Sincere]y, /( / Devy A •rdeman 1526 Cc ncord Circle College Station,TX 77845 UU/28/2UU6 12:24 FAX 979 847 8863 TAMU LG AN MED & SURG (Z1001 June 29th, 2006 Planning &Zoning Commission City of College Station PO Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77842 Dear Commission Members: The purpose of this letter is that of a basic appeal to very carefully and accurately consider the most recent potential addition to the College Station community. The Weingarten Reality Corporation will be seeking a permission to change the present zoning for the parcel of land immediately on the southeast corner of Rock Prairie Road and adjoining the Route 6 service road. It is their intent to create a reasonably large retail center that would adjoin a residential community. I was able, I must admit without much advance notice, to attend their presentation two weeks ago. It is very evident that their collective plans call for the creation of a reasonably large retail sales area in a twin-city that already features several of the proposed businesses. As a resident of the Woodcreek Community I can easily attest to the present traffic problems that currently exist at the entrance and exit to Route 6. It is already a dangerous area. The addition of such a retail area will enormously and negatively affect the traffic. In addition it is obvious and apparent that individuals either living in the area or those attempting to get to such a facility will very quickly adopt alternate routes. Basically this means turning residential streets into thoroughfares. Presently those roads are frequented with children, walkers, and folks enjoying the community. That picture and privilege will end the minute this huge operation opens its doors. The corporation representing this venture has clearly articulated that the intent is one or more very large retail stores within this complex(Super Walmart and possible Loew's) which, as you know, operate 24 hours per day. The effect on those living in the community will be a 180 degree departure from the life style that the area was built upon and a major reason for people to buy or build. Property values will drop overnight and for all the 'right' reasons. "People problems"will escalate as the simple direct result of a concentrated human population with access to a 24hr/day public operation. The Bryan/College Station area has been a highly regarded 'university • town.' If this venture is approved, especially in view of the fact that such retail stores already exist, our entire community will only decrease the perceived and real value of that reputation. uoi40/cuuo i4:444 rtu ala 04r 0004 TAMU LG AN MED & SURG 41 002 I attended the presentation two weeks ago. Obviously my wife and I have a significant interest(financial and emotional) in the outcome. I can accurately state that the presentation was very poorly done and the plans poorly conceived. It was important to note that very few questions were answered with regard to questions concerning the ultimate effect on the community. They had not performed a traffic study, placed the Super Walmart as dose to the residential area as the property would allow, and showed no evidence/studies of how such an entity affects a community. Obviously it may be unfair to 'grade'the quality of a given corporation by a single presentation, but it was at best poorly done and presented and that may well be an accurate reflection of the bigger picture. There is absolutely no good reason whatever to allow this to happen. This is simply a `mini-version' of the many and varied examples in our country of how a community self-destructs. In addition, recall and understand that if this venture fails, which it may well, the community is then faced with having to figure out how to use permanently damaged land. Yours very sincerely, William Moyer, DVM 1411 Stonebridge Court College Station, Texas 77845 sj., V17., .a 979-764-1419 p.1 30 June 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FROM: Dale W. &Ma Maria Norris 9307 Bloomfield Lane College Station, TX 77841 SUBJ:Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 Development 1. As Woodcreek subdivision property owners, we ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to REJECT Weingarten Realty's request to designate the Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6 land parcel for C-1 commercial use. 2. We make this request because we don't want a Super Wal-Mart store, or any other "big box" retail store, built on the land under consideration. Allowing C-1 zoning will eliminate a"green space," or buffer area to create less impact on nearby homes. Additionally, traffic will increase in the Woodcreek area and threaten property values and home resale. 3. Thank you for your consideration. OA/.. DALE W. NORRIS ANA MARIA NORRIS Lisa Lind s ren-letter for the P and Z. 1 From: "EDW E HAZEN JR"<ahazen-9@msn.com> To: <LSimms@cstx.gov>, <LLindgren@cstx.gov> Date: 6/30/2006 10:10:48 am Subject: letter for the P and Z. Please forward the following to the members of the P and Z. To: Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission From: Anne and Ted Hazen 1309 Wilshire Court We ask you vote to recommend DENIAL of the proposed rezoning of the property on the southeast corner of Rock Prairie and the East by-pass(Weingarten)until the following have been addressed to the satisfaction of the already developed neighborhoods and businesses which will be severely impacted by such a huge development 1. Major traffic overload at Rock Prairie and the East-by pass, which will not be alleviated until the Barron Road overpass and reworking of the Rock Prairie Exits and bridge widening occurs, a TXDOT project awaiting funding. 2.The transportation plan for the city is updated to include a North South Arterial on the East side of the city. 3.Already in process Commercial developments at Greens Prairie and Rock Prairie(in front of the Marriott Hotel) have had a chance to impact the current transportation system 4. The proposed update of the transportation plan and comprehensive plan have been addressed. 5. The need for more large commercial developments has been identified. Thank you for your efforts on our behalf. . Q.m o ( r ^ \ 3 R » CD 500 KBq - - 2 CI. - � \ � _ wm / & 0 7 0 _ o 5 r- ap ap co wp� _ _ _ 0 6 (7)c° (/) D R X .- = -4 k 0co r 3 B O \ $' F k 2 . R / d . � 4)11 ( . » . . \ � � \ § k „, } \k4� |