CITY& COUNTY
News from Bellaire, Houston, Harris County & West University Place
Did you know that watering your tree trunks can lead to root decay? Be sure to check your sprinklers this month! March - Tip of the Month Scan for more tips Firmly Rooted in the Houston Area for 25 Years Bellaire City Council Will meet at 6 p.m. March 7 at 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire. Meetings are streamed at www.bellairetx.gov. West University Place City Council Will meet at 6:30 p.m. March 14 at 3800 University Blvd., Houston. Meetings are available via teleconference. Find details at www.westutx.gov. Houston City Council Will meet at 1:30 p.m. March 8 for public comment and 9 a.m. March 9 for regular business at 901 Bagby St., Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv. MEETINGSWE COVER OTHER HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia announced Feb. 9 the creation of a Houston-Harris Special Events Task Force with the goal of ensuring consistent operations for future events. The task force will review communication, protocols and permit requirements within the city and county. The task force was formed in response to the Nov. 5 Astroworld music festival, during which 10 people died. HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner unveiled a new digital interactive kiosk Feb. 7 at Walker Street and Avenida de las Americas in Houston. City o cials said they hope to install 75 kiosks through 2023. The kiosks—part of a partnership with IKE Smart City—feature touchscreens that can provide maps, real-time public transportation data and free public Wi-Fi. HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners approved a $1.3 billion budget Feb. 8 for the next seven months and a preliminary $2.15 billion budget for the following 12 months. The county is changing its scal year to run from Oct. 1-Sept. 30. The scal year 2022-23 budget and tax rates are expected to be nalized in September.
Vote delayedon special development permits
610
GLENMONT DR.
CHEVRON CAMPUS
FOURNACE PL.
BY GEORGE WIEBE
N
BELLAIRE Debate continued at a Feb. 21 Bellaire City Council meeting over the best plan for a former Chevron campus at 4800 Fournace Place, Houston, with the vote ultimately being pushed to March. The council approved the North Bellaire Special Develop- ment District at the site last May in a 4-3 vote, but debates are ongoing over three development applications that have been led by SLS West Loop LP, which owns the property. The district has been divided into three proposed sec- tions. The rst, dubbed the “Fournace portion,” concerns three single-story buildings for retail purposes, a two-story building for multipurpose use and an 18,000-square-foot park area in between. Section two, the “Rice portion,” includes one two-story building and one three-story building along Rice Avenue for retail and entertainment, a four-story building along the northern boundary for similar purposes, a 775-stall garage, and 230 parking spaces along Rice and Fournace Place. Section three, the “Freeway portion,” contains a ve-story building in the interior and a six-story building along the Loop 610 frontage road, both for retail and entertainment use, as well as an 805-stall commercial parking garage. During the meeting, some of the council members brought up several concerns regarding the plans, including
the e ects on tra c. However, Council Members Winfred Frazier, Ross Gordon and Brian Witt largely supported the development proposals. Ultimately, a decision was pushed back to allow the city to make additional plans, including restrictions on drive- thrus and a potential road widening of South Rice Avenue to alleviate expected increases in tra c. Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg expressed a desire to vote on the plans during a March council meeting. Debate continued at a Feb. 21 Bellaire City Council meeting over the best plan for a former Chevron campus at 4800 Fournace Place, Houston, with the vote ultimately being pushed to March. HUNTER MARROW COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
City parks department presents plans for Judson Park
BY GEORGE WIEBE
improvements—which will be funded entirely by the nonpro t Friends of West U Parks—has work starting in June and nishing in August. Susan White, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, described the changes as a “facelift” to the existing amenities. “You’re going to go over there and go, ‘Man, this place is great,’” White said.
JUDSON AVE.
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE During the Feb. 14 meeting of the West University Place City Council, parks and recreation sta presented plans for Judson Park improvements. Additions include a gaga ball pit, pickleball lines on the tennis court, and upgrades to the park’s water fountain and grill. A timeline for the
JUDSON PARK
N
Chaco Season is Upon Us.
T R E E S E R V I C E
281-469-0458
Schedule time with an ISA Certified Arborist TODAY!
www.JonesRoadTreeService.com
WholeEarthProvision.com
11
BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • MARCH 2022
Powered by FlippingBook