OK, here's the story, as best I understand it from a reader named Roberta and my own trawling through the Chron's archives. A couple of years ago, the city of Houston went forward with a plan to widen a street in Spring Branch called Pech, over the objections to many residents who complained that doing so would endanger schoolchildren and cost them a lot of green space. Here's a piece from 2004 that covers the basics:
A large group turned out at a Spring Branch East Super Neighborhood meeting Feb. 19 to ask the question - Why is the project moving forward when so many property owners are against it?The city plans to widen Pech Road from two to four lanes between Westview and Long Point roads starting in late summer. City officials say Pech Road needs to be reconstructed because it has been overlaid several times and is in rough shape.
"If you'll leave Pech Road two lanes, take care of our sidewalks, and cover our ditches, we will have a safe comfortable community to live in," said Cynthia Tuma, a long-time resident at The Glens Apartment Homes complex, 1502 Pech Road.
"We challenge the city, Mayor White and Councilmember Lawrence to look differently at this project because the neighborhood wants something different."
City of Houston public works officials said the project conforms to city criteria. John Sakolosky, senior assistant director for public works' engineering, construction and right-of-way division, said city criteria mandates a road like Pech be widened from 28 to 42 feet during a street reconstruction project.
[...]
Sakolosky said the $2 million project will improve the road to a 42-foot wide, concrete street with curbs and gutters. There will be sidewalks along both sides with wheelchair ramps, and street lights.
"The final decision has been made. We are here to try to understand constituents' concerns, questions and objections, and go back and answer them as best we can," said Sakolosky.
[...]
Doug Anderson, part-owner of the 68-unit Glens apartment complex, said a wider road will encourage cut-through traffic on the quiet street, which has two school zones, several churches, a small apartment complex and townhome community, a senior center, a rehabilitation center, a Harris County annex building, a residential neighborhood and a few small businesses.
Also, several older trees will have to be removed to make way for more concrete, which could worsen flooding conditions and take away from his property's curb appeal.
"If you destroy my curb appeal, you destroy my ability to rent to good tenants," Anderson said. "If you make it an obstacle course for my residents to get to the property's gate, then I have to take down the gate. We will suffocate. We will become one of those properties other residents want to run out of the neighborhood."
Nine of the 16 property owners in the affected area signed a petition in January asking the city to stop the project. Anderson delivered copies to Mayor Bill White's office and all 15 councilmembers' offices.
Some property owners have posted signs proclaiming "Stop 4 Lanes on Pech Road."
Spring Branch School District officials have not taken a stand against the project, but the school board did delay selling a corner of land at Valley Oaks Elementary School to the city. The school is at the corner of Pech and Westview roads.
Theresa Kosmoski, Spring Branch School District Board of Trustees' secretary, told city officials last week the school district is not against progress, but is concerned about students' safety.
"We have two schools on the street, which children cross daily," Kosmoski said. "We know you have a 42-foot rule, but since there is not a lot of traffic on this road, and people don't want more, can't we reach a compromise?"
The two main players in this drama are the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) board of trustees, and City Council member Toni Lawrence, who represents the area. As you can see from the penultimate article linked above, things got a bit testy:
"We asked the city officials repeatedly for any documentation they have to justify the need for this right turn lane," said Trustee Theresa Kosmoski, a former Valley Oaks PTA president. "They still have not shown us anything that shows it's necessary, nor anything to show they have planned for the safety of the children."Adding a turn lane would give students a fifth lane to cross when leaving the school, Kosmoski said.
Several letters from the school district to the city have gone unanswered, she said, directing most of her criticism at City Council Member Toni Lawrence, who represents the area.
Lawrence was out of the office Monday and could not be reached for comment, said her chief assistant, Mike Howard.
"It's really hard to figure out what's going on in their heads," Kosmoski said. "The lack of responsiveness to the school board has been mind boggling."
Now there's another road-widening project in the works, this time for Bunker Hill. And SBISD is gearing up for another fight.
Spring Branch Independent School District board members adopted a resolution Monday opposing the city of Houston's proposal to widen Bunker Hill Road, but one trustee questioned its effectiveness."I'm having deja vu here," board member Susan Kellner said.
Kellner said board members went down the same path more than a year ago when they objected to the widening of Pech Road and wondered if this resolution would once again fall on deaf ears.
"We fought Pech Road, and the road was widened," Kellner said.
Kellner and other trustees said they supported residents who expressed concerns Monday about expanding Bunker Hill to four lanes from two.
Residents who live around Bunker Hill, north of the Katy Freeway, said they were concerned about the safety of students at nearby Woodview Elementary School, the loss of dozens of trees, increase in traffic and air pollution.
As an elected member of the Houston City Council, I spend 100% of my time and energy focusing on city related issues and am astounded, given the numerous tasks that your organization has before it, that this board finds enough time to weigh in on City of Houston matters. I promise to never send you a resolution on how to run SBISD.
Turns out that Council Member Lawrence will be holding a public meeting on Thursday evening at 7 PM at Spring Woods High School to "discuss proposed improvements to Long Point and Bunker Hill roads."
In an e-mail to constituents, Lawrence said it is important "as these projects enter the design phase for your views to be known and for these important improvements to have the support of the entire community."It is my sincerest goal to see Long Point and Bunker Hill reconstructed in a manner that reflects the values of the good neighborhoods and businesses along it. However, I intend to advocate a design which does so in the most cost effective manner on behalf of District A taxpayers. I cannot and will not promote any plan which needlessly drives up the cost and soaks the taxpayers of our district."
Lawrence conducted a public meeting on Bunker Hill Road issues several weeks ago and promised to recommend that Bunker Hill not be widened to more than three lanes in residential areas, a move that was generally applauded by residents.
One last point to highlight: As noted in this earlier Chron piece, there's another player involved in the Bunker Hill project:
Robert Fiederlein, executive director of the Memorial City Redevelopment Authority/Tax Increment Redevelopment Zone, said the entity would work with the city to widen Bunker Hill from Interstate 10 to Long Point Road in District A.
Anyway. It's a fascinating story. Who knew road widening could be this exciting?
Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 12, 2006 to Local politics | TrackBack