HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondenceJUL -14 -2004 14 :36
1 #
BROWN REYNOLDS WATFORD
979 694 8293 P.01
ARC:H;TF.CTS,INC
2700 EARL RUDDER FRWY SOUTH
SUITE %00
COLLEGE STATION. TEKAS 77645
409694.1791
FAX 69+6293
www.6rwarch.c
FAX TRANSMITTAL
Attention: Response
name: Molly Hitchock Required:
company. City of College Station
fax number: 979- 764 -3496
From:
Tom Parker
Date:
July 13, 2004
Project:
2310.00
Job Number:
Subject:
Request for Zoning change
Package.
No. of Pages (including this
page): -T
Yes No
These are transmitted as checked below:
For approval
X For your use
For your file
As requested
For review and comment
Rejected
For bids due
Remarks:
Copies to:
1\BRWIISYS\ADMIMTEMPLATEIBRW FAX.DOT
BRW ARCHITECTS, INC.
d , I(D4?,7
JUL -14 -2004 14:37 BRW ARCHITECTS, INC. 979 694 8293 P.03i07
BROWN REYNOLDS WATFORD
MEMO
DATE: July 14, 2004
TO: Molly Hitchcock, Project Manager
City of College Station
FROM: Tom Parker, AIA
Director
RE: Request for Zoning change Package
PROJECT: Gamma Phi Bate Sorority
BRW Project No.: 2310.00
CC: t=ile
ARCHITECTS
2700 EARL RUDDER FREEWAY
SUITE 4000
COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845
979 -694 -1791
FAX 979 -694 -8293
WWW.BRWARCH.COM
MESSAGE:
Please remove the request for modification of the comprehensive plan and the rezoning
of the land intended for a sorority house
Thank you.
The fee may be returned to:
Karen Kline
14007 Barrington F.
Houston, Texas 77069
JUL -14 -2004 14:3? BRW ARCHITECTS, INC. 979 694 8293 P.02i07
BROWN REYNOLDS WATFORD
ARCH) TEC'Ts,1Nc
7700 EARL RUOVtx OKWT SOUTH
SUITE 5600
MIKE STATION, TEXAS 77645
409.694.1 M
FAX 694 -6793
w brwarcb.wm
FAX TRANSMITTAL
Attention: Response
name: Molly Hitchock Required:
company: City of College Station
fax number_ 979 - 764 -3496
From:
Date:
Project:
Job Number:
Subject:
Tom Parker
July 13, 2004
2310.00
Request for Zoning change
Package.
No. of Pages (including this
page); 9
Yes No
These are transmitted as checked below:
For approval
X For your use
For your file
As requested
For review and comment
Rejected
For bids due
Remarks:
Copies to:
\\BRWI\.SYS\ADMN\TEMPLATE\BRW FAX.DOT
Page 1 of 2
Switzer Deason
From: "Switzer Deason" <switzerdeason @msn.com>
To: "Natalie Ruiz" < nruiz @ ci.college - station.tx.us>
Cc: "Harvey Cargill" <hcargill @ci.college- station.tx.us>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 6:42 PM
Subject: Proposed Construction of Sorority House On Dominik In A Designated Moratorium Area
Natalie
A month or so ago, I received a letter from BRW Architects inviting me to a meeting at
their office to discuss the construction of a sorority house adjacent to University Preserve on Dominick
(property bought from T. O. Walton). I went to one of the BRW meetings and was advised that I was
only one of three people to whom numerous invitations had been sent that bothered to attend one of
BRW's three discussion meeting — which is not surprising, because I recall all too well that Munson -
area residents did not attend the meetings I held prior to each of the three P &Z meetings at which our
replat requests were considered — the same Munson -area residents to whom I had sent meeting
invitations, however, showed up in force at all three P &Z meetings ... as I am sure you also recall.
As an aside, you also may recall that I made a concerted effort at the City's request to purchase the
Walton property on which the proposed sorority house is to be built, in order to have a "Dominick
entrance" to University Preserve; but Mr. Walton became incensed at unsolicited contacts made with
him at his place of employment by Bob and Millie Jones (Mr. Walton is a pharmacist at Albertsons);
and as a result, he informed me that his Dominick property was not for sale at any price — so I can't
help but suspect that Mr. Walton's sale of the property for the construction of a sorority house may
well be retaliatory.
In any case, I had planned to wait until I received a public- hearing notice from the City that a
replat/variance request had been submitted before communicating objection to the proposed
construction of a sorority house in an R -1 "Moratorium" area, adjacent to a development in which
I have invested more than $1.5 million — a development that has 50% fewer lots than costs justify in
order to favorably respond to the City's desire to protect the character and integrity of the surrounding
neighborhood.
With more than a month having passed since meeting at BRW's office, and still not receiving a public -
hearing notice from the City for the project, I considered it an appropriate courtesy to inform you of
our opposition.
As you are aware, following the June 2003 P &Z denial of our request to increase the number of lots in
University Preserve by more than 50 %, extensive discussions took place between Harvey Cargill and
Larry Fowler of the Dallas-area law firm retained by me, concerning the expiration of the Moratorium
Ordinance during January 2002 when our original replat request was submitted — effectively
exempting University Preserve from the Moratorium Ordinance. At the conclusion of these
discussions, Mr. Cargill implored us in his 1/29/04 letter to my attorney that we not request the
"wholesale divisions ofproperty into smaller lots, not in character with the neighborhood". As a
result, we asked to add only "two" lots, instead of the 12 additional lots originally requested. It was
costly for us to do so, but we honored Mr. Cargill's request that we not do something (in his opinion)
that would impugn the character of the neighborhood.
5/25/2004
Page 2 of 2
It is our fervent conviction that the construction of the proposed sorority house on Dominick adjacent
to University Preserve, squarely in the area covered by the City's Moratorium Ordinance, will be
highly detrimental to the "character and integrity of the surrounding neighborhood" — an occurrence
the Moratorium Ordinance specifically was designed to prevent. The construction of the proposed
sorority house will not only impugn the character of the neighborhood, but it also will have a highly
detrimental impact on the property values and residential use of the surrounding neighborhood
(including University Preserve) — effectively reducing the value of residences and lots in the area to
"rental property" values and use (because only rental landlords will buy or build residences in near
proximity to a sorority house).
There are other objections and actions that I am prepared to take in connection with the proposed
construction of a sorority house on the Walton - Dominick property, but the above should suffice to let
yo�w�iy we vehemently oppose the construction of a sorority house adjacent to University Preserve;
and ironically (as fate would have it), now find myself supporting (rather than opposing) the same
Munson -area residents who opposed University Preserve — proving (with a sense of humor) that ...
life is what happens when you are making plans.
When you have a minute, please give me an update me on the status of the proposed sorority house.
Switzer
5/25/2004
II
9 1,9 6 fli
Switzer Deason
Page I of I .
From: "Switzer Deason" <switzerdeason @msn.com>
To: "Natalie Ruiz" < nruiz @ci.college - station.tx.us>
Cc: "Harvey Cargill" < hcargill @ci.college- station.tx.us>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 11:45 AM
Attach: ATT00065.dat; Proposed Construction of Sorority House On Dominik In A Designated Moratorium
Area.email
Subject: Fw: Delivery Status Notification (Delay)
Please give me a call if you receive this and /or if you did not receive the original email. If I don't
hear from you by tomorrow, I will send you a "hard copy" of the email.
Switzer
- - -- Original Message - - --
From: postmaster @mail.hotmail.com
To: switzerdeason(&- msn.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 6:44 AM
Subject: Delivery Status Notification (Delay)
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
THIS IS A WARNING MESSAGE ONLY.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESEND YOUR MESSAGE.
Delivery to the following recipients has been delayed.
nruiz ci.colleye- statiori.tx.us
hear ilg l @c i, co llege - station.tx.us
5/25/2004