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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitizen RequestsVenessa Garza From: Sent: To: Subject: FYI Jennifer Prochazka Thursday, February 14, 2013 8:19 AM Venessa Garza FW: South Knoll Neighborhood Jennifer Prochazka, AICP Principal Planner Planning & Development Services City of College Station P.O . Box 9960 1101 Texas Avenue College Stati on, TX 77842 Office : 979 .764.3570 Fax: 979.764.3496 Email: jprochaz ka@cs tx .gov Website: www.cstx.gov City of College Station Home of Te xas A&M University -----Origi nal Message ----- From: Hurst, Kenneth R [mailto:khu r st5775@neo .tamu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 8:29 AM To: Jennifer Prochazka Subject: South Knoll Neighborhood Dear Ms. Prochazka, Last night had the opportunity to attend the meeting for a little bit at South Knoll Elementary. It was a good, thoughtful meeting but seemed to be dominated by the people living on Glade and I had to leave to get some work done. I am a homeowner and live at 1711 Welsh. The r e are some thoughts I would like to share, I will put them in bullets for brevity: I would like to request a bike route to Easterwood Airport. They have bike racks there but no bike lane west on University. A bike lane there could also serve the extended west side of campus. Could a bike route be put on the shoulder of West University? I'm new to College Station this past fall. It was interesting to notice the development code seems to allow sidewalks on one side of the street only in residential areas. That seems unusual for a progressive growing university city like College Station. Why doesn't the city use sidewa l ks on both sides of the street which is the norm in other metro areas?~e\,.J~~~~ """'-~ lJ ? cl t \/\ ~ I CS'--S Lastly, ther e are a couple of issues specific to my neighborhood on Welsh. There seems to be { a lot of j unk in the alley and it is in a state of severe dis repair. I understand that last yea r an HOA was attempted but as you probably know, if there isn't 100% acceptance by all homeowners, it cannot be added to the deed. I was discussing the situation with one of my neighbors and we are wondering if the folks at code enforcement could help give people incentive to clean up. We are also looking for a way to get the alley re-paved and are n er1ng i there is n avenue to allow the city to get that done for us. We recognize 1 there might have to be a special assessment on the properties to get that done but as we have no HOA, we cannot get it done on our own. Again, that was a very good and thoughtful presentation, it looks like the city is being very responsive and interested in our neighborhood. We feel it is a neighborhood with a lot of potential but could easily fall into disrepair and blight. Can you help us with these two items? I will be happy to discuss in more detail and help work to a positive outcome. Thank you, Ken Kenneth R. Hurst RLA, MLA, ASLA, CLARB, CPSI Ph.D. Student, Urban and Regional Sciences Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Texas A&M Universtiy khurst5775@tamu.edu 214.228.1052 2 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Thoughts ; April 20, 2013 Let us know what you like, what you think is needed, and what you would like College Station to have in sidewalks, trails, multi-modal paths, bike routes, and bike lanes! '\)~\\i \A_ 'J[ f5r/c efz5 l;J .rfV\ B~""fS ~'f'c,-l \ e ..f--.iv1 001) / + ffiq~ 0 h ,-{~ 'We0f A o ~,-UL hl I r1 tt:<JT ~-----~ -lv 111\~--Jv · le_ ~Pr~ b)I. 7 1,___'CS. --7 /()OJcd-'3PG pl~ ~~ t~ Q ... RECEIVED Dear College Station City Council, I write this letter in concern for the City of College station, where I am a full time student as well as resident. My problem of interest has to do with the sidewalks, or lack thereof in College Station and in particular around where I live (2818 and Holleman). My neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods don 't have very many sidewalks, or they are present but end abruptly. The la ck of sidewalks poses a risk to pedestrians that have to walk on the side of the street. There's always the chance that a person driving a vehicle may not see them. I think it would be very beneficial to relieve this minor problem since this is a college town and there is a lot of pedestrian traffic on a day-to day-ba sis. The sidewalks could also serve as a place for bikes too, because there are a lot of streets that don't have a bike lane as well. I can u nderstand if some neighborhoods don't have the physical room for a sidewalk, but I know that some do. And I do think it's crucial for new nei hborhoods to have one, especially ones that consist of mostly college students. I hope that you can take these things into consideration and over time this problem can be res olved. Sincerely, ].00 I f+ol/emct n Drz. ·#I Z 1 Co 11 ej e,, ~-hn n, I )I. 71 g +o gasoline usage. Bike racks could be added almost everywhere where bikes are just being thrown which would allow for a less crowded campus as well as more organized_transportation. Yet another issue that bike riders frequently encounter is how small the width of the bike lanes are, allowing only one biker at a time. Therefore, if you want to pass a biker in front you would have to merge into the car lane increasing the probability for an accident. The small widths of bike lanes also cause accidents with bikers themselves due to how cramped the lanes get. It can lead to head on crashes causing the bikers to fall and land outside the bike lane with all the cars passing. The bike lanes should be increased in width to allow two bikers to bike side by side. Cars have enough space as it is. · They could decrease the width of the turning lane, which isn't as occupied all the time as well as the regular car lane which has double the space of the bike lane left over. This would give security to those students that don't bike due to the fear that they will get hit by cars as weJI as give enough space for someone to pass the person going slower in front of them without them having to merge into the car lane and running the risk of getting hit. Increasing the width of bike lanes would make for more safety and reduce the chance of fatal JJ accidents. Providing more bike racks on campus would prevent bikes from getting stolen as well as "()"-'. ~ provide a little more on campus organization. By addressing this issue, you can be on your way to ' 'fl''t-making College Station a safer and more organi,ed plac~,p~ k.¥ y ~<~~~ .~x;~~~~~l)o)Jne&i ~"' -1:.'~ ~ Elizabeth Valencia 1800 Holleman Dr. Apt. 708 College Station, Texas 77840 September 6, 2010 Ms. Nancy Berry College Station Mayer 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 77840 Ms. Nancy Berry, SEP ..2 ll '· •./ .. / There are many problems and issues surrounding college students but the ease of transportation should not be amongst the top of the list. With an increasing population, many problems ~ and issues are bound to occur. Attending a university such as Texas A&M with the student population . 1 .\if' surpassing forty thousand, I have witnessed the many different methods college students have chosen \,Y' .., to transport themselves. One of the most common forms of commuting methods that I have witnessed v/J . (j1 and done so myself is bike riding; it is no longer just a leisure activity, it is now a necessity for many ... l~ ,.}" college students to get to campus and their classes. This effort has allowed the average college student t--~' ~ to become environmentally friendly by somewhat reducing the amount of gasoline used as well as ~ '..,.? • allowing the student to get some exercise in their busy schedules. ·· ~..yl\ ,,.!$-~ ~· Once again attending a university where thousands of students cannot merely ride a bus l<-~.-.. F \..~ecause at times the buses can be extremely overloaded. Not everyone attending college has a car ()Y .. -t(..y available to them. Thus riding a bike has become an essential action for education as it allows ~ independent students another option for getting to class and or campus. Riding the bus is a good ,,)-' transportation option, but when the bus gets overloaded, some students get left behind even though ~ • • they were at the bus stop at the appropriate time causing them to get to class late and at times even ':) )r;~.~~~ miss class. Driving is also another good option for college student transportation but, when you attend a V'-·,,r.,-university with thousands of student's I am sure that you are aware that traffic commonly gets out of ~ b:? control. 4 '){> • Biking is a good option for most students. It has become a big hit for most students but it t-t. /seems as if the amount of bike racks on campus has not been able to keep up with the increasing ~ amount of riders. The lack of bike racks has caused many students to get their bikes stolen because there are too few bike racks making it extremely easy for someone to just stop and pick it up. With an increasing population at a fast rate, there are more bikers every day. You would think that more bike , , racks would be available; it is crazy to think that there is only one bike rack outside a building that has ~~various classrooms that can e~sily hold up to 200 students each. Leaving students no other option but to S~ leave them lying up against the trees or just thrown on the ground. The lack of bike racks poses a huge ) problem to the large amount of bikes. At the trigon on campus I've witnessed many bikes just thrown . everywhere do to the extreme lack of racks. There only seems to be one in front of the military science building that seems to only be able to hold abo.ut _1~.,bikes while there are many left without a place. Having more bike racks available on campus would reduce the amount of bikes stolen each year as well as encourage others that fear their bikes being stolen to bike, not to mention reduce some of the August 10, 2010 1615 Shadow Bend Houston, Texas 77043 Dear },.fr. Stalnaker, CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Thank you for your letter and sharing your concerns and interest in improving the City of College Station. The City strives to provide the community with opportunities to get around easily and safely regardless of the mode they choose. We agree that promoting healthier lifestyles through sidewalks, multi-use paths, and bicycle facilities foster health and welhless and increase the quality of life for its residents. The City recently adopted a Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenw;lys Master Plan which was developed to address the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians for tl1e next 5-10 yeru:s. The City currently has 130 miles of sidewalks and proposes an additional 113 miles around the City. This includes a sidewalk tl1at runs along tl1e east side of Wellborn (FM 2154) from Southwest Parkway to George Bush Drive, tl1e segment of concem in your letter. It was identified in the Master Plan as a short-term need. The op erations and maintenance of tl1is road is under the jurisdiction the Texas Department of Transportation (TxD01). Funding for the additiqn of a sidewalk in this section would need to come from their budget or the City would work in collaboration with TxDOT. The City intends to help make this sidewalk a reality by applying for. gran,t funding and/ or allocating future bond funds for tlus effort. Again, thanks for your comments and concerns. T hey will help us as we continue to prioritize all of ilie sidewalk: needs around tl1e City. Please visit our website at www.cstx.gov/hikeandbike if you would like to see evetytliing that is proposed in the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan. Sincerely, v~~r Venessa Garza Greenways Program Manager City of College Station the heart of the Research Valley P.O. nox 9960 1101 TEXAS AVENUE COLLEGE STATION· TEXAS· 77842 979.764.3510 www.cstx.gov CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PIAnning & Dev•lopmcnt Smlicu October 5, 2009 Daniele Burchard 1725 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy College Station, TX 77840 RE: Letter to City Manager Glen Brown regarding bike facilities in College Station Dear Ms. Burchard, Thank you for your attention and interest in the quality of life and safety of bicyclists and pedestrians in College Station. The City of College Station strives to provide this community with opportunities for bicycling and multi-modal activities that foster health, wellness and environmental stewardship. The City currently has approximately 32 miles of bike lanes and 60 miles of bike routes. An additional 20 miles of bike lanes are proposed in the current mas ter plan. The creation of these facilities is triggered with the design and construction of new roads and the resurfacing or reconstruction of existing roads. Funding for projects is appropriated through the City's general fund and successful bond referendums. In the coming year, a Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan will plan for and address the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians for the next 5 to 8 years. Additional bike lanes and routes will be considered citywide and input from you and others is encouraged and appreciated. Studies have shown, as mentioned in your letter, that bicycle lanes can improve riding conditions for bicyclists and motorists. The City is also aware of the value and importance of safety education and will address this need as a part of the Master Plan update. Another component of the update will concentrate on the needs of pedestrians by looking at sidewalk facilities throughout the community. Runners and walkers alike are encouraged to use sidewalks and trails to exercise and reach desired destinations. Although state law does allow the use of a street when a sidewalk isn't available, it is not encouraged or considered as safe as using a sidewalk. City staff would appreciate being made aware of streets that are frequently traveled by pedestrians and don't have sidewalks in order to address those needs and help ensure the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. The City of College Station is making efforts to create and maintain a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community. Thank you again for your comments and concerns. They are greatly appreciated. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call me at 979-764-3674 or email vgarza@cstx.gov. Sincerely, Venessa Garza Greenways Program Manager P.O. Box 9960. 1101 TEXAS AVENUE COLLEGE STATION· T EXAS· 77842 PHONE 979.764.3570 /FAX 979.764.3496 www.cstx.gov I Texas Department of Transportation 1300 N TEXAS AVE • BRYAN TX 77803-2760 • (979) 778-2165 May21, 2010 Ms. Kathy Magee '(' 201 Vanderpool# 152 1 l '3 -44'& .... 31 ~ Houston, Texas 77024 REQUEST FOR USE OF TxDOT RlGI-IT OF WAY D ear Ms . Magee: ·, I received your recent letter asking our office to consider constructior1 of visitor parking and a pedestrian path in T xDOT right of way for the residents of Canyon 0-eek Orcle. T xDOT shares your concerns for the safety and convenience of the residents of your community as well as others in the traveling public. It was our concern for traffic safety that led us to work with the Oty of C.ollege Station to create the No Parking Zone in front of Canyon 0-eek to halt what was becoming an increasing hazard to the traveling public and to those who were parking along FM 2818. It is unfortunate that your community's developer did not provide adequate parking areas for visitors. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate private parking on TxDOT right of way. That property was acquired at the taxpayer's expense for the construction of FM 2818 and its future expansion. There are numerous other locations throughout our district where the adjacent landowner has inadequate parking space and would like to use the right of way on their frontage as a supplement. We struggle constantly to prevent these encroachments and cannot allow the establishment of that precedent. C.oncerns for the safety of bus traffic stopping at Canyon 0-eek Orcle and for pedestrians crossing FM 2818 to use that bus stop prompted the discontinuation of bu5 service there. Again, it is unfortunate that the developers of your community did not provide for multimodal access to surrounding facilities so that the residents could be given more choice in their mode of transportation. Your suggestion of a pathway has merit. Within incorporated city limits TxDOT has agreements with municipalities that make most sidewalk construction and maintenance the city's responsibility. Therefore, I ask that you contact the Oty of C.ollege Station with regard to the pedestrian pathway that you requested permission to build along FM 2818 between Canyon 0-eek Orcle and Luther Street. In the current draft of C.ollege Station's BicJ'=le, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan there is a proposed near-term priority pathway in the area you are suggesting. Perhaps your homeowner's association's offer to partner in funding the construction of a path would accelerate the schedule for that project. Ms . Venessa Garza is the city's Pedestrian and Bicl'=le Facilities Planner. She may be reached by phone at 979.764-3674 and I will provide her with a copy of this letter. I appreciate the time you have taken to propose solutions to this situation. If you wish additional information on this situation, please call me at 979.778-2165. c oJJ_;_J._ cef ~-~ WJl-{_,~ ~- 1,<.I~ Ll -fJJ:. tr.J( Bo~~~. Robert A Appl ton, P.E. Director of Transportation Planning and Development cc: MS. Venessa Gara, Oty of C.ollege Station THE TEXAS PLAN REDUCE CONGESTION • E,~/HANCE SAFETY • EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY • IMPROVE AIR QUALITY INCREASE THE VALUE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION ASSETS An Fn11:.I nnnnrt11nilv FmnlnvPr . . r-----------------------..... ·-····------------·--------- RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF BRAZOS KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT: 642661. , .. l' --r\ :·-I ;_ LJ • t ._. ·- 97 ~lOV -5 Ml 9: 05 That CAYUSE LIMITED, hereinafter called the Granter, for a good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, does grant and convey unto THE CITY OF BRYAN, a Texas Home Rule Corporation, and to its successors and assigns, an easement and right-of-way to enter upon and to erect, construct, maintain, operate, inspect, replace, repair, patrol, and remove its transmission line(s) of wires, cross arms, guy wires, conduits, stubs, and other usual fixtures for the maintenance and operation of a transmission system(s) upon, over, under, ~nd across the the real property being the certain tract or parcel of land owned by the Grantors, situated in Brazos County, Texas, and being mo~e parti cularly described as follows: BEING all that certain tract or parcel of land consisting of a called 1.172 acres, being conveyed to CAYUSE LIMITED, as recorded in Volume 333 Page 766 and being situated in the City of College Station Crawford Burnett League, Abstract #7, Brazos County, Texas; The easement and right-of-way being further described as follows: See Attached Plat and Metes and Bounds of the "Easement Area." Nothing contained herein shall be construed to grant to Grantee any right to use the Easement for any purpose other than as set forth herein, or to change the dimensions or location of the Easement except upon written permission of the Granter as provided above. The Granter hereby grants unto said CITY OF BRYAN, its successors and assigns, the right at any and all times to trim and/or remove without payment thereof, all trees, underbrush, or other like obstructions upon the land as shown on the Exhibit "A", also known as the "Easement Area", insofar as same may be embraced within said tract also known as the "Easement Area", and to trim and/or remove such hazardous trees on the adjacent land, also ~o~ 2970 r~~~157 ' ii i ~ ,. I j , ' ,, i; ____ ..). j'. i. I' ii i t. I.. . --···-··· ... known as the real property being that certain tract or parcel of land owned by the Granter, by the CITY or BRYAN that would interfere with and/or endanger said line or the operation thereof, together with the right of ingress and egress in and across the "Easement Area" for the purposes described herein. To have and to hold the above described easement, rights, and privileges unto the said CITY or BRYAN, its successors and assigns, forever so long as same are used for said purposes. The Granter hereby covenants with, represents the warrants to said CITY or BRYAN, that Grantor has good and marketable title to said land, and has the unqualified right to grant the privileges herein contained. IN WITNESSJ1'f1REOr, The Granter executed this instrument this e,:.t/J.. day of_#at1~W , A. D. 1997. VO~ 2970P~~~158 ·'. THE STATE or TEXAS COUNTY or ~:r:'2 . . ·---------·------·------ Before me, the undersigned authority, a Notary P~blic in and for th' tate of?1.J}as, on this day personally appeared .C:. · ? l'1 i; · ..., known to me to be an officer in and' for and acting in the legal capacity for said corporation and to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrumen~ ndf.~cb'.no edged to me that the same was the act of the said ~ · 1./1. ·~C , and that he/she executed the same •for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. Given under my hand and seal of office this the ~~J/;~{j,....._~~- day of ;qvrnchk A. D,. 1997. ( ) : I ' • ' V//') ' fuL .( tJ •' U /i fr; ... J; , N6tary Public, State of Texas Printed Name: My Commission Expires:~~6~1-·~(_._..,J~O_O_L~1-~--~~~~-~- DEBBIEJ. MOORE Nalrt N*. 111119 ol TIUI lllf Cllmllllll ........ a.2DCXI VO~ 2970r~:;:159 ii /. L: ' ' I ; ---{ i: ,.· I ,: ---·-· _. --··-···-~··--:_ -----.: 1.172 ACRES CAYUSE LIMITED ELECTRIC EASEMENT Exhibit A DESCRIPTION FN. NO. 97-439 (MJJ) OCTOSER 16, 1997 BPI JOB NO. 759-02.41 OE' A 1.172 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OE' THE CRAWFORD BURNETT LEAGUE, ABSTRACT NO. 7 SITUATED IN THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, 3RAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS, BEING A PORTION OF THAT 21. 9 3 ACRE TRACT Of LAND CONVEYED TO CAYUSE LIMITED SY DEED OE' RECORD IN VOLUME 333, PAGE 766 OF THE DEED RECORDS OF BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS; SAID 1.172 ACRES BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS AS E'OLLOWS: COMMENCING at a 1/2 inch i:on rod found at the corr.men southerly corner of said 21.93 acres and a 5.941 acre tract of land called Tract I, conveyed to MBO Corporation by deed of record in Volume 2611, Page 256 of said Deed Records; THENCE, N45°44' 24"W, along the corr:non line of said 21. 93 acres and said 5.941 acres a distance of 10.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and southwesterly corne: he:eof; THENCE, N45°44' 24"W, along the com.11on line of said 21. 93 acrc!l a:id said 5. 941 acres a distance of 60. 00 feet to the northweste:ly corner hereof; THENCE, over and across said 21. 93 ac:es the following two (2 ) courses and distances: 1) N43°38'17"E, a distance of 756.81 feet to an angle point; 2) N30 ° 38' 3 9"E, a dist2nce of 93. 22 feet to a point in the co::1::ion line of said 21.93 acres and a tract of land being the Remainder of 58.30 acres conveyed to Arapaho, Ltd. by deed of record in Volume 354, Page 416 of said Deed Reco:ds for the . northeasterly corne: hereof, from which a 1/2 inch iron :od found at the northwesterly corne: of said Remainder of 58.30 acres bears N47°48'00"W, a distance of 358.65 feet; THENCE, S47°48'00"E, along the common line of said 21 .93 acres and said Remainder of 58. 30 acres a distance of 61. 24 feet to the southeasterly corner hereof, from which a 1/2 inch iron rod found at the common southerly corner of said 21.93 acres and said Remainder of 58.30 acres bears S47°4B'OO"E, a distance of 29.75 feet; THENCE, over and across said 21. 93 acres the following two ( 2) courses and distances: 1) S30°38'39"W, a distance of 87.78 feet to an angle point; Page I of 3 ~o~ 2910r~:;:160 ----·--••••c• ··--~--·--~-____ :.__ __ -··--. FN NO. 97-439(MJJ) OCTOBER 16, 1997 PAGE 2 OF 2 . . . . ----------·~----------- Exhibit A 2) S43°38'17"W, a distance of 764.29 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing an area of 1.172 acres (51,063 sq. ft.) of land, more or less, within these metes and bounds. I, JOHN T. B!LNOSKI, A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE PROPERTY DESCRI3ED HEREIN WAS DETERMINED BY A SURVEY MADE ON THE GROUND UNDSR MY DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION. A SURVEY EXHIBIT WAS PREPARED TO ACCOM?ANY THIS FIELDNOTE DESCRIPTION. 1 I 4-- BURY & PITTMAN, INC. '.J/IA./ V' /0/lff('I ENGINEERS-SURVEYORS JOH T. BILNOSKI DATE 33~5 BEE CAVES ROAD NO. 4998 SUITE 200 STATE OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 Page 2 of3 VO~ 2970 r~:;~161 ! Exhibit A LEGEND e 1 /2" IRON ROO f'OUNO (UNLESS NOTED) P.0.8. POINT OF" BEGINNING P.O.C. POINT OF" COMMENCEMENT •• ~--0 150 300 SCALE: 1 M = 300' TEXAS AecM UNJVERSrrY-UNPLATIED VOL. 49, PG. 340 LUTHER STREET _. Pngc 3 of 3 600 VICINITY MAP I .5 ACRES N.T.S. ANNIE MAY HUGHES CT. AL. VOL. 82, PG. 569 0.25 ACRE D.25 ACRE LELA McCOY Vol.. a2: PG. 2Z6 NED PCTl:RSON and wifo --+--ETTA PCTERSON VOL. I J7. PG. 634 1.5 ACRES 14.946 ACRES . KIOWA LTD. 21.93 ACRES CAYUSE LIMrrED REMAINING PORTION Of RESERVE TRACT PARKWAY VIEW ADDrTION ! voL. soo. PG. ago VOL. 333, PG. 766c,\)'t.. -:--arcr11:c CAZuCNr (10· ~~o .,.-0 .;<Y 0-r-""'~ ~o~ : f>.IC orr (/ OP1'~N, l'!'K~S VOi.. 2463 PG. 49 i ..;'<, 181, PC. J41 0 co c,'\ ~10~ s'\W: 1----'C'?-~ ~'O ELECTRIC EASEMENT 1.172 ACRES 51 063 SO. FT. N43'.38'1rE 756.81' .. ; '··. ·. : ... · ........ ·.:·: ·:.: .. · .. : :~:.: : ... . PARKWAY VIEW ADDrrlON VOL. 2453 PG. 49 BLOCK I L4 SKETCH TO ACCOMPANY DESCRIPTION f:> Burv+Pittman, Inc. C.n111liln1 hclocc11 and SUM17"11 '-'1a. h1 .. ttil tU./m-411 lu II~ .'"""""" .... ...,....._. .... OF" A ELECTRIC (ASEIAENT 60' IN WOT'H OUT or THE BURNETT U:ACU( ABSTRACT NO. 7, SITUATED IN THE CTY or COl.LECE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS, BEINC A PORTION er A 21.9J ACRE TRACT or LANO CONllE'l'tO TO CAl\JSE LIMITED BY DEED OF" RECORO IN I/Cl.. J3J, PC. 765 or 'THE OEEO RECORDS or B~AZOS COUNTY, T(XAS. DATE: 10/16/97 SJO'JB'J9"W 87. 78' INTEGROUP VO~ 2970 r~:~162 M.J.J. PROJ. No: 759-02.41 (6/8/2010) Venessa Garza -Re: Request for Use of TxDOT ROW From: To: Date: Subject: "Bob Appleton" <BAPPLET@dot.state.tx.us> "Venessa Garza" <Vgarza@cstx.gov> 61712010 4:15 PM Re: Request for Use of TxDOT ROW As long as we did not have to maintain it, we would not be opposed to something unpaved. It would probably only require minimal environmental coordination. Bob »>"Venessa Garza" <Vgarza@cstx.gov> 6/7/10 3:38 PM»> Hi Bob, I have spoken with Ms. Kathy Magee concerning the pedestrian path she is seeking for the residents of Canyon Creek. Thanks for copying me on your response to her request. As you know, the multi-use path that has been proposed for this area on the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan is a near-term (10-20 yr) project which means we currently have no funding and aren't in the position to start such a project. I tried to find another workable solution in the area but it seems the ROW may be the best and only option. Before I talked with her further and told her there is really nothing we can do at this time, I wanted to see if y'all would allow an unpaved path within your right-of-way? It seems they may be able to find some money but far from enough to construct what we envision long term. Let me know what you think. Would this type of project require environmental documentation? Thanks! Venessa Garza Greenways l"rogram Manager Planning & Development Services City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, TX 77845 Phone: (979) 764-367 4 Fax: (979) 764-3496 Website: www.cstx.gov City of College Station Home of Texas A&M University® Hurricane season is under way. Do you have a Personal Plan for your family's safety? Visit www.texasonline.com/portal/tol/en/emergency Page 1 Patrick Stalnaker 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas Dear Mr. Crompton, RECEIVED AUG ·-·s 2010 Recently, after a workout at the recreation center, I ran home on Wellborn. I began to notice that sidewalks were limited. In that area my footing was very unsteady due to the unlevel ground. I noticed that many people use this route back and forth from class, work and general activities. Leaving the path in this condition is a safety hazard to walkers, runners and those who are handicapped as well as the daily automotive traffic. When I was running, I soon realized the dangers and found that what I had hoped would be the final stage of my workout could no longer be completed. The sidewalks changed to grass and then back to partial sidewalk. I was always leaving unstable ground to be maneuvered carefully to prevent injury no matter if I was walking or running. The surfaces were very unstable and unlevel having the potential to cause serious injury. Which could include hefty medical bills? On another day, I decided to take the bus to class. While riding I witnessed an elderly man in a wheelchair trying to make his way down Wellborn. As the bus went along, I watched as he had to travel with great difficulty from sidewalk, onto the grass and eventually into the street. This was a hopeless battle to stay out of the way of traffic. The dangers were obvious for the man and the traffic moving along behind and beside him. The bus only narrowly avoided tragedy when having to swerve out of the way and into the other lane. Sidewalks would be safer for all types of pedestrians whether in a wheelch~r on foot. Even moving traffic would find that their route would be safer and better suited for the ease of travel by not having to dodge the pedestrian, bike riders or handicapped person making their way down the road. These safety issues should be your first concerns but the common inconveniences such as getting muddy thus ruining clothes and footwear are just another consideration for those who must use this path as a direct route to their destination. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the man in the wheelchair and have spent some time looking at the Wellborn route. I know that constructing a new and continuous sidewalk might be costly for the city. I can't help but wonder if there aren't funds available for just this kind of project. It would be in line with the ADA laws and I feel you will be able to find grants or federal funds that support this endeavor. You may also be able to increase the public's support with maki,ng it part of the city's initiative to promote healthier lifestyles by providing jogging and biking paths throughout the city. I have made note that in a few areas homeowners might lose some of their backyards to the right of ways to this sidewalk. Possibly prompting this initiative to the homeowners as added safety measures to keeping their children and all pedestrians safer will help. Safety is the key, no one wants to hear reports about a pedestrian or a child being critically injured or killed due to unsafe passageways. We both know that safety is a big issue for the runners, bikers, pedestrian, drivers, and construction workers not to mention the City of College Station. How long could it actually take to construct sidewalks? Isn't it better to spend a few dollars and possibly a couple of months of inconvenience to provide a safer pathway? The sidewalks could be constructed in a non busy time of the year when not as many students are not in College Station. For example, workers could start working during the summer time or perhaps if rushed during Christmas break. Money can always be a burden on people's hopes and dreams. The money issue is difficult during this economic crisis. With this in mind, it is also causing more and more people looking for ways to save a buck. Especially in a college town you tend to see more people going more economical, riding a bike to school, walking to school, or riding the bus. At this point any of these choices could be very risky for the participants on Wellborn. I think that building sidewalks on Wellborn will be very safe in all aspects for adult and children alike whether running, driving, riding a bike, and walking. Sidewalks on Wellborn would be great for the city of College Station to have. Doing this would let your voting public know that you are always looking for way to keep your constituents safe and sound. Patrick Stalnaker Pt:c-h1~ a.. Sta,( n~ter l tol5 5hodvw .Bfrtc( ~oust-01 1 Texas 170lf3 mtlfll s1rn i 111 cmo ~11~ RECEIVED MAR 0 2 2009 Dear Mayor White, My name is Bain Christopher Runyon, and I am an active college student at A&M and commute to school by riding my bicycle to class. I am writing to you in concern that I feel ore bike lanes are needed throughout College Station for the isafety of the students who do ride their bikes to class instead of driving or riding the bus. I feel that bike lanes are not big enough and I don't feel that there are-enou anes--throughout the city to safely travel by bike. I understand that there are sidewalks but I have always felt that those are for people who are walking. Bike traveling safety should be made aware of to drivers and to those walking and riding to encourage to ride instead of driving or riding the bus all of the time. In an attempt to help support our new President in saying that we as Americans need to change I feel that College Station can help that change and go green. To help in that change, we could build more ike lanes throughout the city. Like the crowded city of Austin, College Station has a swelling population of college students who normally drive or take the bus to campus, but with an increase in bike lanes im sure more students would find it more time efficient if they simply pedaled their way to class. The more students that begin riding their bikes to class, would decrease the amount of natural gas consumed in this area and would lower emissions released into the atmosphere. Making the environment in College Station not only safer, but more eco friendly. It would also lower traffic build up in the busy parts of town, and decrease the wear and tear put on our roads here in College Station. It will decrease the number of drivers on the road, thus decreasing the probability of accidents. I understand that Texas relies heavily on oil and gas sales but sometimes we have to think about tomorrow rather than today. More bike lanes would also create a more peaceful environment -on and around campus. We don't want to give incoming potential Aggies to feel the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of(fexas 800 Welhom. So why not calm it down with more bike lanes to disperse the traffic. College Station has a beautiful natural feel, and getting more Aggies out of their cars to enjoy nature would only brighten the light that is shined by this wonderful city. Most college students don't get enough exercise, and more bike lanes could provide them the incentive they need to get back into shape. College Station could begin .::e new trend of getting Americans back into shape. Physical fitness is just as important to a successful future as is mental fitness. Senior citizens could also make use of the newly created bike lanes. The people of College Station who live here year round could use the quiet roads during the summer when school is out and ride their bikes and enjoy the outdoors again. I hope this letter finds you in good health, and in a helpful mood. The students of Aggieland hope you too want to make a change in~ur future and help create a eieaneli .enllironmentf~o~fufilre Aggies. Sincerely, Bain Runyon :(,01 ~+w .~ :(oll£,c. $1...~ T,,1 111'1~ ffiAyor-Be." ~J,i.f-~ Ir 0 l r~ic· ~ Av~tUA'­ (ellt.7L.-Sf.,fiol\ 1 f)( 77B'fD RECEIVED MAR 0 2 2009 Daniel Clanton Blinn College Student 1800 Holleman Drive, Apt. 713 College Station, Texas 77840 September 6, 2008 Mr. Ben White Mayor of College Station 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 77840 Dear Mr. Mayor: (May()( an l~J COPY RECEIVED tSEP 2 9 2008 I am writing to you to discuss the amount of bike lanes in our city. As you know, there are many well- traveled streets and side-roads that lack adequate Dike-lanes Because of this, the safety of students and residents who ride bikes is in jeopardy, especially considering the lack of appropriate driving of many motorists around town. There are many reasons why I think additional bike lanes would be beneficial to our community. First ef a II, whenever students or residents of our town are forced drive t ir bikes in the regular car lane because a bike lane is not available, their safety is greatl at ris Man:{ motorist in our town are preoccupied while driving, with things such as talking on ttie phone, playing with their iPod, applying makeup, or being distracted by the passengers in the car. Because of this, motorists are less likely to be paying attention to things around them, such as pedestrians and bike-riders. If motorist do not notice a bike-rider who is sharing the lane, they are more likely to injure or kill that person. Second of all, the additional bike lanes can be used as a:::safe::plae-e:fo&destrians \o walk in places where sidewalks are not available. Considering things such as distracted motorists, frequent road construction, and the Aggie school buses, the streets of College Station are not very pedestrian-friendly. By creating more bike lanes, we would not only be improving the safety of bike riders, but also the lives of other citizens that will use them. Thirdly, another group of College Station residents that will benefit from additional bike lanes isG;nners.1 Many Texas A&M and Blinn College students, along with other residents that live the in the area, enjoy running as a form of exercise. It is an easy, low-impact type of exercise that can last as long as the runner cho0ses, which makes it a popular choice among most young people. There are many reasons why people chose to run outside, including not owning a gym membership, the beautiful weather, and the desire to enjoy the wonderful scenery our city has to offer. Because of tt~se reasons, motorists and runners are forced to share the same space in areas where sidewalks are not easily accessible. By adding more bike lanes, we would be able to provide an additional barrier of protection for runners an motorist alike. Lastly, more bike lanes would be a beneficial improvement to our town because they would encourage more people to ride their bikes or walk around the town, instead of using less environmentally-friendly forms of transportation. Many students and other residents do not use public transportation or carpool like they should, which has a negative impact on the environment. Instead most residents choose to ride alone to school or work, instead of riding their bike or walking, if possible. Sometimes, there are circumstances that do not allow people to ride a bike to their destination, including inclement weather, not having a place to park and lock the bike, and fear of unsafe travel on the roadways. While some of those factors cannot be changed, one thing that can be changed is road safety. Eh'. creating more bike @nes, we can do our part in encouraging people to ride their bike more often, which will help improve the environment. ~ In conclusion, there are many benefits of additional bike lanes in College Station, including the safety of bike-riders, pedestrians, and runners, as well as improving the environment by encouraging people to ride their bike more often. I know that there are many things involved in such improvements, such as passing policy and raising mo~y, but I feel those obstacles can be overcome with time. I know there are many other important issues facing our city at this time, but I feel that this issue should also be looked into. Thank you for your time. I appreciate any consideration you give to this issue. Sincerely, Daniel Clanton B.R"i'"AN·· TX." '7'7'8 . 2~~ S-~:p ;;!~)QB;: P~t :t T . . "" · ... RE~r::.,i · SEP 2 9 2008 M rt \?eN W\-T\\s MA~OR. OY C.OLU:.~E.. Sl~l \01\J \ \ 'O \ \~)(AS A-\1£.NUE, CoLt.t:.G£ STf\TI oN ,TX.. 1181.\ o ... : • ' Re: Bike friendly infrastructure in College Station Daniel A. McAdams 1112 Finney College Station, TX 77845 979-703-6407 drdanielamcadams@gmail.com August 28, 2008 Ben White, John Crompton, James Massey, Dennis Maloney, Lynn Mcllhaney, Lawrence Stewart, David Ruesink, and Glenn Brown 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 77840 Dear Mayor White, City Council Members and Mr. Brown: I request that you place transportation needs high on your list of priorities as you plan the future of College Station. Transportation has a significant impact on where we want to live, where it is feasible to live, and the quality of our lives. I recognize that a good transportation system requires multiple modes of transportation. Nevertheless, I specifically encourage you to include plans that enable and foster bicycle use as you develop transportation solutions. Walking a mile takes 20 to 30 minutes. Riding a bike a mile takes about 4 minutes. The national average for time spent commuting (one way) is about 25 minutes (Census, 2008). Table 1 provides a Bryan-College Station context for commute times walking, riding a bike, or driving a car. For many in the College Station area, a commute by bike would not be appreciably longer than by car. Also, as traffic increases, the bike commute might be faster as shown by the Central Park (NY) to Wall Street commute in Table l. Time waiting for a bus or parking a car and walking to your final destination are not included in the Table 1 estimates. From To Minutes by Foot Minutes by Bike Minutes by Car Texas A&M Campus Downtown Bryan 115 18.4 10 Texas A&M Campus Blinn Colleqe Bryan 90 14.4 8 Texas A&M Campus Central Park 57.5 9.2 * Texas A&M Campus Post Oak Mall 42.5 6.8 6 Texas A&M Campus HEB on Texas Ave. 32.5 5.2 4 Texas A&M Campus My House 190 30.4 15 Central Park NY, NY Wa II Street NY, NY 150 24 30 Table 1. A comparison of estimated walking, bike, and car travel times required for typical commutes in the Bryan-College Station area plus one for comparison from New York City. Bike speed estimated at 4 minutes per mile. Walking speed is estimated at 25 minutes per mile. Distances and car commute times based on Google Maps (Google, 2008). *Google Maps did not provide an estimated travel time for the trip from Texas A&M campus to Central Park, College Station. I write this letter because I believe College Station and Bryan are populous enough that transportation is an important quality of life issue while at the same time are still small enough to develop comprehensive, economically sound, and high quality transportation solutions. I am grateful for the bike friendly infrastructure that is in place in College Station. As College Station grows, I encourage you to maintain a proactive position on bicycle use for transportation and recreation. There are eactive actions that are not difficult to do such as painting in some bike lanes and putting up share the road signs. Other items such as building roads wide enoug to 1 ... support both car and bike traffic and distributing retail, business, and government development throughout town to shorten required trips is difficult to fix if done incorrectly. I applaud the bicycle infrastructure recommendations of the East College Station Transportation Study (College Station, 2008). But, the level of commitment on the part of the city is unclear. I encourage you to stay committed to bicycle friendly infrastructure. Also, revising the plan so that the bike routes eros State Highway 6 north of Longmire might better encourage bike use for sho_P-ping and commuting and lessen the barrier effect of the highway. Sincerely, Daniel A. McAdams References Census, 2008, http://www.census.gov/Press- Release I www I releases I archives I american community survev acs I 004489.htmL sourced August 28, 2008. College Station, 2008, http: I I www.cstx.gov I transtudy I, sourced August 28, 2008. Google, 2008, http:/ /ma ps.google.com I sourced August 28, 2008. 2 .. Venessa Garza -bicycle friendly infrastructure in College Station From: "Daniel McAdams" To: ''''''' Date: 8/29/2008 9:14 AM Subject: bicycle friendly infrastructure in College Station Attachments: Daniel A. McAdams 1112 Finney College Station, TX 77845 979-703-6407 drdanielamcadams@gmail.com August 28, 2008 Re: Bike friendly infrastructure in College Station Page 1 of 2 Ben White, John Crompton, James Massey, Dennis Maloney, Lynn Mcllhaney, Lawrence Stewart, David Ruesink, and Glenn Brown 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 77840 Dear Mayor White, City Council Members and Mr. Brown: I request that you place transportation needs high on your list of priorities as you plan the future of College Station. Transportation has a significant impact on where we want to live, where it is feasible to live, and the quality of our lives. I recognize that a good transportation system requires multiple modes of transportation. Nevertheless, I specifically encourage you to include plans that enable and foster bicycle use as you develop transportation solutions. Walking a mile takes 20 to 30 minutes. Riding a bike a mile takes about 4 minutes. The national average for time spent commuting (one way) is about 25 minutes (Census, 2008). Table 1 provides a Bryan-College Station context for commute times walking, riding a bike, or driving a car. For many in the College Station area, a commute by bike would not be appreciably longer than by car. Also, as traffic increases, the bike commute might be faster as shown by the Central Park (NY) to Wall Street commute in Table 1. Time waiting for a bus or parking a car and walking to your final destination are not included in the Table 1 estimates. From To Minutes by Foot Minutes by Bike Minutes by Car Texas A&M Campus Downtown Bryan 115 18.4 10 Texas A&M Campus Blinn College Bryan 90 14.4 8 Texas A&M Campus Central Park 57.5 9.2 * Texas A&M Campus Post Oak Mall 42.5 6.8 6 Texas A&M Campus HEB on Texas Ave. 32.5 5.2 4 Texas A&M Campus My House 190 30.4 15 Central Park NY, NY Wall Street NY, NY 150 24 30 Table 1. A comparison of estimated walking, bike, and car travel times required for typical commutes in the Bryan-College Station area plus one for comparison from New York City. Bike speed estimated at 4 ti1,,.11r-\nr"'11mP.nts and Settings\vgarza\Local Settings\Temp\XPgrpwise\48C51CD3City of... 9/8/2008 t Page 2 of2 minutes per mile. Walking speed is estimated at 25 minutes per mile. Distances and car commute times based on Google Maps (Google, 2008). *Google Maps did not provide an estimated travel time for the trip from Texas A&M campus to Central Park, College Station. I write this letter because I believe College Station and Bryan are populous enough that transportation is an important quality of life issue while at the same time are still small enough to develop comprehensive, economically sound, and high quality transportation solutions. I am grateful for the bike friendly infrastructure that is in place in College Station. As College Station grows, I encourage you to maintain a proactive position on bicycle use for transportation and recreation. There are reactive actions that are not difficult to do such as painting in some bike lanes and putting up share the road signs. Other items such as building roads wide enough to support both car and bike traffic and distributing retail, business, and government development throughout town to shorten required trips is difficult to fix if done incorrectly. I applaud the bicycle infrastructure recommendations of the East College Station Transportation Study (College Station, 2008). But, the level of commitment on the part of the city is unclear. I encourage you to stay committed to bicycle friendly infrastructure. Also, revising the plan so that the bike routes cross State Highway 6 north of Longmire might better encourage bike use for shopping and commuting and lessen the barrier effect of the highway. Sincerely, Daniel A. McAdams References Census, 2008, http://www.census.gov/Press- Release/www/releases/archives/american community survey acs/004489.htrnl, sourced August 28 , 2008. College Station, 2008, http://www.cstx.gov/transtudy/, sourced August 28, 2008. Google, 2008, http://maps.google.com/ sourced August 28, 2008. A pdf version of this letter is attached. +.1,,..11r.\nnr11mPnt« and Settings\vgarza\Local Settings\Temp\XPgrpwise\48C51CD3City of... 9/8/2008 (8/1/l 08) Venessa Garza -Re: thanks for the bike lanes From: To: Date: Subject: Lynn Mcilhaney MCriscitiello@cvm.tamu.edu 7/31/2008 8:30 PM Re: thanks for the bike lanes Mr. Criscitielo: Thank you for your support of our bike loop plan and for encouraging others to ride their bikes. The city is working on implementing the plan. I am forwarding your email to our City Manager so staff can let you know ere and when the next project will be . Also, we will be having a bond elelction in the fall and any support you can give will be appreciated. Thanks again for your kind words and welcome to our community. Please contact me should you have any questions or concerns. Lynn Mcllhaney This message sent from my wireless Blackberry device -----Original Message----- From: "Michael Criscitiello" <MCriscitiello@cvm.tamu.edu> To: Lynn Mcilhaney <LMcilhaney@cstx.gov> Sent: 7/31/2008 8:36:41 AM Subject: thanks for the bike lanes Hi Councilwoman Mcllhaney, I moved my wife and three girls here in late June when I took a faculty position with the vet school. I was very excited about the scientific collaborations the job would allow, and I figured at least I would succeed in my goal of not dying in Baltimore. We have been pleasantly surprised by a really wonderful town full of some of the kindest people I have ever met (and I grew up in an idyllic small town in North Carolina). My girls think the city pool system is nothing short of heaven on Earth. On to the point of my missive. I enjoy biking to work and upon moving here started exploring routes from our home in Pebble Creek to the vet school. I have rode every weekday for years, with the exception of a few ice storms and out-of-town trips. I was happy to find lots of bike lanes (I use Welsh, Victoria, Holloman, Barron, and Marion Pugh regularly) plus really wide shoulders on some highways (Fitch). After making fun of me a bit in my tights and reflector vest, a couple of colleagues from Pebble Creek decided to pull their bikes out of the garage and ride in with me. In both cases, the couple of miles between Pebble Creek and the bike lanes unnerved them to the point of not wanting to try it again . This was worst in the evening , either on Wellborn or the HWY 6 frontage roads. I have rode in much worse in Baltimore and Miami and am used to just trusting drivers not to pick me off the shoulder. But the casual would-be-bike commuter is daunted by riding on the shoulder while traffic goes by at 55-60 mph. I think one of these coworkers would definitely be riding in daily if not for this, and I still might get them over the fear yet. So, I learned that a potential bike route is only as good as its weakest link. I have seen the Master Bike Plan on the web, and it is beautiful! Especially with current fuel prices, widening waistlines and guilty eco-consciousness, folks other than college students are apt to give bike commuting a try. Additionally, a network of convenient and safe bikeways is a relatively cheap way to address the city core value Page 1 (8/t/~08) Venessa Garza -Re: thanks for the bike lanes of "promoting the health, safety and general well-being of the community". College Station is well on its way to a bike system of the highest caliber, and I really appreciate that. Please let me know what I can do to speed the development of the bikeway plan into the outer suburbs, and increase connectivity of the existing lanes. I will be happy to write, speak, ride with, vote, or whatever, even pay what I can. Granted, if this is the biggest complaint I have in my first six weeks in College Station you most be doing an awesome job. Thanks for providing such a great community for us to live, work and raise a family. Appreciatively, Mike Criscitiello 711 Royal Adelade Michael Criscitiello, Ph .D. Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University, Mail Stop 4467 College Station, TX 77843-4467 Lab 979 845-9808 Office 979 845-4207 Fax 979 862-1088 ( mailto:mcriscitiello@cvm.tamu.edu) Page 2 me 21, 2005 >ear Mr. Dunn and Mr. Simms: am writing to you to voice my concern over the rapid land development in the Bryan and College Station area. I am thrilled 1at new businesses are settling in our communities and have actually encouraged several businesses to do so by writing to the ompanies. Moreover, I am a small business owner with a home based business, so I behind a growing economy. However, I m very concerned at the amount of land that is being destroyed so that buildings may be put in its place. ~gain, I am in full favor of bringing new businesses to the area because that produces more jobs and overall a booming economy or our area. On the other band, I am also in favor of keeping the imperative aesthetic and environmental value that the wooded .reas and wild animals bring to this area. It appears to me that while our area is growing at such a fast rate, that perhaps not :nough thought and planning is going into protecting the wildlife and densely wooded vegetation. There are currently many teavily wooded lots for sale in our area (many along hwy 6, some on Villa Maria towards 47, and throughout the twin cities). It vorries me to think that we will no longer have the beautiful wooded areas or indigenous animals once the lots are sold and lestroyed. t seems to me that there must be some way Bryan and College Station can work together to protect some of the dense wooded and that is for sale in this area. One issue that arises from tearing so much land up is the more land that is torn apart to build Jusinesses, the more people will view wildlife as a nuisance when they appear in people's yards, etc. Is that fair? Is there !nough land in this area to create a habitat for those animals currently losing their natural homes? I believe the answer is no. I vVOuld hate to see us make decisions on a whim that will impact our environment now and in the future. That is only one issue :hat touches the surface. lam asking that you please intervene and protect some of our land. It may take creative thinking and a combined effort for both cities, but I truly believe it would be well worth it. Again, let me stress emphatically that I am all for booming our local economy by bringing new businesses here. I am not an extremist that sees it one way or another. But there must be a healthy outlook and balance to bring both businesses to our area as well as protecting some of the gorgeous wooded areas that surround us. "£'here are many, many vacant buildings for lease in the twin cities. In fact, Briarcrest houses shopping centers that have never been occupied. Why can't new businesses be encouraged to occupy vacant buildings or perhaps tear down a current building and rebuild (such as they are doing at Villa Maria and Texas with Wal-Greens)? I know that sometimes businesses are given tax breaks for bringing their business to our community. It seems we can encourage them, in a similar way, to use already developed land when locating here. Furthermore, there is a ridiculous outpouring of unnecessary apartments and hotels locating here. I can understand bringing new businesses, but I don't understand building these when they aren't needed. I understand you have no control over that matter. That's just a thought. I am sending this letter to both the City Council members in Bryan and College Station, as well as to the Planning and Development sector. I feel it is crucial for these sister cities to work together. Moreover, I have been a resident of both cities and I currently work in one and reside in the other. So both cities affect my daily life, as well as hundreds of other people's. It is my hope that through thoughtful planning we can encourage economic growth and protect out local environment. We do not want to miss out on the small things (nature) in our busy lives. We do not want to harm nature or permanently damage our environment. Preserving nature within the cities helps the appearance of our surrounding area, improves the quality of life for all the citizens as well as bringing visitors to our area. Man-made landscaping cannot replace what natural vegetation has to offer to both animals and us. We have many species of wildlife here, large and small. If we keep going at this rate there won't be adequate habitats for these animals. So please, lets not take every single natural habitat they have. Please do something to prevent all of our undeveloped wooded land from being destroyed. I understand and encourage development to some extent, but not to the extent where every tract of land it built on. Please consider these ideas. We won't regret doing the right thing. There is always a solution that can benefit both sides. There JS a healthy solution to benefiting and protecting both our economy and nature. Thank you so much for your time. Sincerely,_ .,.A?~~~~ :::::::-~•C.....·~~-~ Lisa Alexander 11 J1_--,, 2807 Wildflower Nu. 27 1 • I ' Bryan, Texas 77802 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning & Development Services Name: -:L_ ~·? ,Jf #/?>c./(. Organization: '&ne,,.49-1ef hr--...e....s, /- Address: 8"71 8' /6 epr 7r..e_....e-- City: Q/5 State: T'f Zip: 7 7 W r Phone: (2l2} fa 9 c{ ? ~ i' ~ F~x: (;/&'/) S-7 ~ 7 .;i_ Y ..3 Email: Torn p-t-!o c..,;6 cefJ A-o L, CO.t-j Comments & Suggestions:_C __ o.._· U-___,_f ..... d_~,___,A._.._Z,~0--S'.£..,..__.<_:sr_c_h..._:..Jl __ k ____ ....._1._=. a=--__.fi-_____ -A-'r-'--::.e.---'-~-~-'-=--4'-'---~-~-,,c:; _____ _ ~tJ& H '1 14~0-l'l-d -&~s fen-RM9-id /-w:1~1-- . - COMM~ & SUGGESTIONS DATE: /~ g' , C ITY OF COLLEGE. STATION Planning & Development Services Comments & Suggestions:-----J~fP.~(..__,;~;a!...'-~~'--..£f..-'..~~~~~WL-WL.l__£2.'.....JC3~../LL~~~~ , . COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS DATE: ___ _ CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning & Development Services Name: Johrt. f ~bev~r 6(1 ;'~oY1 Organization: W ·; ~ t{ w " o d Add.ress: Z, lo[ 13 roo k.1.vo.'1 {:>r • City: C• lt-e..qe Sf-Af1'1 t1tState: rx Zip:_ 7 78 '1:5' Phone: c'b1 · ' Cf /, {. Z~ax: (_)_. _· ____ _ Email: e l Ii Son @t ~ c '1 h er . '" ~ ( ' -d COMMENTS &·SUGGESTIONS ~-DATE: _/ / L °I /Of! -·-,, _Name: cD \'c_t( ~ {cu~f ~M cMJ Organization: C ITY OF ~OLLEGE STATI<?N -Address: ---,-------------- Planmng & Development Services City: State: Zip: __ _ Phone: ~ G;, Ci S -L \)~-Fax: (_) Email: ~c... ~J"\"s ~ex...> @ ~ ~ i.-1-. -~-M--- Comments & Suggestions:_--=:::11........._.....:....__~=¥=---____::,,i,~"'-----!..::)..)(?_£~'~~:::::.....::...-~~-=---~~..:...._...L...___::J_ 0-u IJ /' b,'-~ ~ ~;:. Go.IJ /