Kathy Morrow's Territory News

BLACK FRIDAY HOLIDAY CAMP AT DANCE DU COEUR!

2011-11-24T17:27:00.002-06:00

Parents, drop off the kids at Dance Du Coeur for a fun filled day while you shop or decorate for the holidays on Friday, November 25.
Leave a message to register: (281) 565-0005. Drop off is anytime after 7:00 and pick up is by 4:00 p.m. $25 per child, ages 5-12, and bring a lunch. Light snacks and drinks will be provided.
We will have rooms dedicated to line dancing and hip hop instruction, gym games, and movies! If you haven't checked out our new studio, now is the time to experience what we have to offer.
Located at 19875 Southwest Frwy. #210, Sugar Land, in the building just past the Greatwood entrance on the 59 feeder with Shipleys Donuts and Pepperonis Pizza.

4539 Casey Circle

2011-10-16T21:24:00.001-05:00

3 Amberstone Drive in Greystone Place of New Territory

2011-09-10T18:34:00.000-05:00

6511 Brobeck Court in Blakely Bend of New Territory

2011-09-10T17:57:00.001-05:00

67 Grassy Knolls in Preston Forest of New Territory

2011-09-10T16:32:00.000-05:00

38 Rivercoach Lane in Preston Forest New Territory

2011-08-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

LAKE POINTE HOMEOWNER FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST NEIGHBOR AND NTRCA

2011-08-04T21:13:00.001-05:00

A Lake Pointe couple has filed a lawsuit against a neighbor, the NTRCA Board of Directors and
the Modifications Committee on grounds that the Board breached their fiduciary duty by allowing
the neighbor to construct an addition above their detached, three car garage which now alters
the backyard view and allegedly depreciates the value of their Lake Pointe home.
On the advice of legal counsel, the Board would not discuss the pending lawsuit at their June
meeting but allowed homeowners to address other topics of concern, including property values,
deed restrictions, and modifications committee procedures.
Homeowners questioned the Board’s decision to allow Charles and Carolyn Pickle to construct
a garage addition against the objections of Jeffrey and Barbara Myerson who share backyard
views. Both neighbors are original homeowners who have resided in their homes for close to 20
years.
The Pickles said they had obtained approval from the modifications committee last year but
were then denied by the Board because the Myersons protested. When the Pickles presented
more information about the plans, the Board reportedly approved it, he said.
The Myersons allege that the Board failed to notify them of the subsequent meeting in which
the plan was approved and that the matter should have been handled more openly. “I have a
serious problem with the way the NTRCA board is doing business and this is not the type of
thing that should be handled in executive session,” he said. “There should be an open hearing
involving all interested parties, with advanced public notice,” he said.
Board President, Michael Pincomb, stated at the June meeting that the board carries out
business according to their CC&Rs and it would require approval by 67% of the voting
members to change practices.

“We are talking about an interior lot which backs up to other people’s homes. Their addition
changes the aesthetics of our home and the neighborhood,” said Jeffrey Myerson. “Look in
your backyard and imagine your neighbor with a second story over their garage. If everyone
had that, we would be living in a canyon of homes. That would drive the property values down
over time,” he said. The Myersons argue that the main duty of the homeowners association
is to uphold standards for the sake of property values. “Otherwise, homeowners associations
would not need to exist. They exist to ensure the original intent of the community remains
consistent,” he said.

Garage additions are not an anomaly in New Territory, however, and the NTRCA has approved
a dozen such projects over the years, said Pickle. They had been thinking about building
one for several years - ever since other neighbors on the street constructed living quarters
over their garage. Garage additions are allowed per the Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions
(CC&Rs) as long as they meet specific criteria.

The Pickles said they met with the Myersons and the neighbors on either side of them to show
them a drawing of the project, prior to seeking modification approval, and only the Myersons

objected. The other neighbors said they did not mind, said Charles Pickle.

“We wish no ill will to them. We tried to be as neighborly as possible. We wanted to make it as
pretty as possible with landscaping,” said Carolyn Pickle. The three transom style windows
overlooking the Myersons backyard are frosted to maximize privacy and there is no visibility
from the garage addition, pointed out Charles Pickle. “We were very sensitive to that issue,” he
said.

“This is our property. We haven’t sidestepped anything. Everything has been in the open and
we have followed the process. The HOA gave us full approval and we did everything we were
asked to do,” said Pickle.

The parties are now engaged in settlement negotiations, and the August 16 trial date

will be postponed pending final settlement, said the Myersons attorney.

Dance Du Coeur Sugar Land Dance Studio Company Auditions July 15th!

2011-06-20T10:42:00.000-05:00

Dance du Coeur Sugar Land Dance Studio will hold open auditions for competitive teams Friday July 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at a Sugar Creek Dance 14019 Southwest Freeway #303. We look forward to meeting you. For audition information call 281-565-0005 or email Mallorie@SugarLandDance.com.

Open Dance Audition for Dance Du Coeur Competitive Teams Friday 6-8PM

2011-06-14T13:22:00.000-05:00

Dance du Coeur Sugar Land Dance Studio will hold open auditions for competitive teams this Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at a Sugar Creek Dance 14019 Southwest Freeway #303. We look forward to meeting you. For audition information call 281-565-0005 or email Mallorie@SugarLandDance.com.

1006 Walkers School Rd in Walkers Station New Territory

2011-05-10T06:32:00.004-05:00

7019 Hearthside in Greatwood

2011-05-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

6011 Mound Airy Court in Walkers Station New Territory

2011-04-20T07:11:00.000-05:00

5607 Cottonmist Court in Clayton's Bend New Territory

2011-04-07T21:59:00.007-05:00

PECAN PARK ESTATES OPEN HOUSES SATURDAY 2-5pm

2011-04-07T15:17:00.001-05:00

Saturday, April 9th from 2-5pm
You're invited to take a tour of 16 Bailey's Court Place as well as 35 Hannah's Way. Both of these homes are located in the gated community of Pecan Park Estates in New Territory, Sugar Land. Refreshments will be served. See their video tours below for a sneak preview of these gorgeous homes.

16 Bailey's Place Court in Pecan Park Estates

2011-04-04T07:36:00.002-05:00

1315 Cedar Terrace in Pecan Pointe

2011-04-01T23:31:00.001-05:00

6203 Dew Bridge in Sterling Heights of New Territory

2011-03-20T22:24:00.000-05:00

906 Burchton in Stone Creek

2011-03-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

35 Hannah's Way in Pecan Park Estates of New Territory

2011-03-01T15:44:00.003-06:00

6118 Walkers Park Drive in Walkers Station, New Territory

2011-01-30T13:51:00.001-06:00

FBISD Announces Dates for Public Hearings on Zoning

2011-01-27T20:39:00.000-06:00

FBISD is conducting three Public Hearings on zoning to
listen to community comments regarding proposed changes to district
attendance boundaries that will take effect at the beginning of the
2011-2012 school year. All meetings will take place from 7:00 – 8:30
pm in the cafeterias of the campuses listed below. The FBISD Board of
Trustees plans to take action on the proposed zones at the March 7
Board meeting.

Thursday - February 3, 7:00-8:30 pm – Crockett Middle School
19001 Beechnut, Richmond 77407

Wednesday – February 9, 7:00-8:30 pm – Kempner High School
14777 Voss Road, Sugar Land 77498

Thursday – February 10, 7:00-8:30 pm – Elkins High School
7007 Knights Court, Missouri City 77459

For detailed information regarding the proposed zoning
recommendations, visit the district website at fortbendisd.com

FBISD Board Favors 4C Edited Zoning Plan Which Keeps All New Territory at Sartartia MS

2010-12-01T09:47:00.000-06:00

FBISD FAVORS ZONING OPTION THAT KEEPS ALL NEW TERRITORY STUDENTS AT SARTARTIA MS
It was good news at an FBISD workshop last night for New Territory residents who have been lobbying the board for a new rezoning plan that would allow students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to stay at Sartartia rather than being bused to Middle School 14 on Harlem Road next year when it opens. Although they did not take a formal vote, the board agreed they were “in consensus” to adopt the 4C edited option that keeps all New Territory students at Sartartia Middle School. 4C Edited also keeps Telfair at Sartartia and zones Pecan Grove, Waterside Estates, Fieldstone, Waterview, Aliana, Chelsea Harbour and the apartments on FM 1464 to Middle School 14.
“Are we of the consensus that 4C edited is something we are all comfortable with?” asked Board President Sonal Buchar at the November 30 workshop. “Yes”, they all replied. Parents in the audience were surprised but pleased by the statement. “We are cautiously optimistic and think it’s a positive sign that the board has provided guidance to the administration to move forward with 4C edited. We need to keep the pressure up in a positive way,” commented Jon Sturgis who has been leading the New Territory effort in objecting to a previously presented option that divides the community by sending students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to Middle School 14.
The 2.5 hour workshop started with a prologue by Buchar about the financial cuts the board will have to make next year in the face of a $6 billion deficit in the state’s education budget. Depending on the budget adopted by the Texas Legislature next year, FBISD would receive $15 to $27 million less from the state, said Buchar. “We will be faced with passing a budget where there is a deficit,” she said. “When we look at zoning….the board is trying very hard to not break up communities. You have to understand that’s the framework we are operating in. We may have to look at cutting programs and we don’t want to do that. We just became a Recognized District and we are very proud of that. These are not random, malicious lines we are drawing, “ she said of the zoning process.
“Education is not the priority for the State Legislator. They already said Redistricting is their priority and that has nothing to do with children,” said Trustee Marilyn Glover. “We need to look at what we are going to do, facing severe cuts.”
Not only does this mean that the district may not be able to move forward with the construction of new schools, like Middle School 15 in Rosaharon that was approved in the 2007 bond referendum, it also means closing schools, according to board discussions. “Middle School 15 cannot be a reality” for the forseeable future, said Buchar. “Not until the Texas Legislators pass a balanced budget and impose their cuts on us and we see what we are left with,” she said. Middle School 15 is necessary to alleviate severe overcrowding of Baines Middle School in the Sienna Plantation area. The 4C edited plan sends a portion of Sienna Plantation to First Colony Middle School. Superintendent Tim Jenney took the opportunity during the workshop to remind the public that the district planned for growth in this area with the construction of Middle School 15 but the economic downturn and loss of state revenue does not leave them with enough funds to open the school. “We could build it but we can’t operate it,” he said, noting that middle schools cost about $1.5 million a year to run.
The board also discussed closing Colony Bend Elementary School in First Colony which has low enrollment and rezoning students to either Highlands or Commonwealth Elementary Schools. Eliminating one elementary school campus will save the district about $750,000 a year, said Ben Copeland who is the district’s Chief Auxiliary Officer.
Additionally, they may dissolve either McAuliffe Middle or Willowridge High School. In lieu of closing McAuliffe Middle, they could make it into a Technical Education Center or Administrative building for the district, said Copeland.
If they close Willowridge High School, they would send those students to Marshall High School which has the capacity to absorb extra students, said Copeland. Then, they would also have to add a grade level to Missouri City and McAuliffe Middle Schools. Currently, these campuses are only 7th and 8th grades but they would add 9th grades, he said.
Those campuses were housing just two grade levels as a way to reduce class sizes and provide more instructional support to the students who were not performing well, said Superintendent of Middle Schools, Lance Hindt. Scores on recent standardized tests have improved, indicating a positive result, he noted.
“When you have schools that have capacities for 1227 and they are under enrolled by 500 students, it’s time to make some tough decisions and cost is going to be a prevailing factor,” said Glover. “We need to take some bold steps…” she said.
The next workshop will be on December 13, before the regular board meeting. Public Input sessions regarding the recommended zoning options will follow – probably in January, said Jenney. The board will vote on the zoning plans in either their second meeting of January or in February, he said.

New Territory Resident Meeting on Sunday, November 7

2010-11-05T08:03:00.002-05:00

BBEZONE/NEW TERRITORY COMMUNITY MEETING
Sunday, November 7th
3 p.m.
Sports Complex
PAVILION

PLease submit your questions IN ADVANCE to: bbezone@googlegroups.com -- ***Make sure you enter "QUESTIONS" in the Subject line so it is not missed!!!

A few guidelines:
1. Questions should be clear & detailed, but concise.
Also, consider whether it has already been addressed on the site!

2. Bring a PEN & PAPER to take notes on HOW YOU CAN HELP!

3. Come with solutions in hand to the problems YOU see and meet with our CORE TEAM LEADERS to VOLUNTEER!

4. Most IMPORTANTLY, Please remember we are all Moms & Dads volunteering in this effort! Please be respectful when
addressing volunteers and other parents, even if you don't agree with them.

5. Show your support by getting involved in our petition drive! - We have foot soldiers out going door to door, but not ENOUGH! If you can help with petitions, let me or Becky Zaffuta know ASAP! JoeandBecky21@comcast.net Conniejwc@earthlink.net Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER.

6. We are working on possibly selling community t-shirts! $10.00 each. If we can get them done, they will be available for sale at the meeting. Please bring cash!

Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...
MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER!

Don't forget our Community slogan,
"FBISD, Don't Divide New Territory!"
on your rear windshield!

WE CAN WIN THIS THING TOGETHER!

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

FBISD: Changing It's Tune on Busing?

2010-11-03T16:43:00.000-05:00

In March, FBISD announced the need to cut bus routes as well as the need for students to walk greater distances to bus stops in order to reduce the deficit. New Territory is a master-planned community whose kids can already conveniently walk or bike to it's elementary schools and middle school. Now FBISD is changing it's tune. In 2011, middle schoolers from the west half of New Territory could be bused out of the neighborhood (between 5- 9 miles away) to middle school #14 in Pecan Grove. So now, how is increasing busing throughout the district going to reduce the FBISD deficit?

This article was posted on the Ultimate Fort Bend site on March 13, 2010.
Less bus service, more walking in FBISD?

by Zen T.C. Zheng, published March 13, 2010 6:34 am

It seems innovation and creativity is needed now more than ever in the financially distressed Fort Bend school district.
As officials scramble to look for fat to trim to remedy a $21 million budget deficit, they have discovered a 2.2 million potential savings in transportation operations if they cut back on routes, size up the bus load, let kids take longer walks, and get rid of paid transportation services.
District Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hoke said the state's funding for school transportation has remained flat since 1984.
Chief Auxiliary Services Officer Ben Copeland said low school bus ridership, designation of more hazardous routes than necessary, as well as a heavy task to transport students to and from after-school activities are among the costly concerns.
Proposal to eliminate routes
He proposed eliminating 42 of the 331 regular bus routes those that don't include the 86 routes for special education students to save $1.6 million.
The route reduction could be achieved by ending bus service in areas within two miles of schools, which are designated as hazardous but in fact not meeting hazardous criteria. Officials have identified safe walk paths in service areas for about 10 campuses.
Also, increasing average bus load to 50 secondary-level students per run and 60 elementary-level pupils per run also would result in fewer routes needed.
No more after-school activity runs?
In addition, Copeland proposed doing away with busing for general after-school activities, which currently requires 46 runs for 728 high school riders and 46 runs for middle school riders. Those eliminations would yield $622,000 in savings.
However, he recommended continuing bus service for after-school tutorial programs.
More saving could be attained by cutting back on route mileage while letting students walk longer to bus stops.
In Copeland's proposal, the maximum walking distance for secondary students would be increased from 1,000 feet to a half mile, or 2,640 feet, while elementary pupils would walk up to 1,000 feet to a stop, compared to the current limit of 500 feet.
Bell schedules could change
Another idea is to shift bell schedules - stretching the timeframe in which a driver is able to make trips to more campuses during each run.
Under the proposal, elementary schools will start 8:10 a.m. and terminates at 3:10 p.m. while middle schools' day runs from 8:55 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. High schools' schedule would remain unchanged.
Copeland also suggested canceling a paid transportation program service to students who don't qualify for free transportation but pay a $27 monthly fee to ride school buses.
He said the fee isn't enough to cover the cost of service. Doing away with the program would save the district $20,000, he said.
Some school board trustees expressed concerns about the proposed changes during a recent workshop.
Susan Hohnbaum said she is worried about pupils having to walk more.
Kids are riding the bus obviously they need a ride to the school," she said. If they don't, their neighbors will have to take them or their mom and dad have to take them if their schedule allows that."
Trustee Sonal Bhuchar said safety is a concern.
Hoke suggested enhance campus education on safe walking and practice safe walking.
But trustee Marilyn Glover urged parental involvement.
Parents have the same role in teaching safety. Schools can not do everything," she said.
Copeland said more crossing guards would have to be enlisted if his proposal is adopted.

New Territory Rallies Against Proposed FBISD Zoning Plan

2010-10-27T22:05:00.000-05:00

New Territory residents have geared up for a community wide initiative to try to keep Brazos Bend Elementary students zoned to Sartartia Middle School instead of a new middle school that opens in Pecan Grove next year. That’s the plan proposed by Fort Bend Independent School District in their efforts to best utilize middle school #14 on Plantation Drive.
In an effort to persuade FBISD to consider another option to keep Brazos Bend zoned to Sartartia, residents have started a google group (http://groups.google.com/group/bbezone) and started a petition which can be found posted at the Club.
Also, they have planned a “Walk or Bike to School Day” for Friday, October 29 whereby students from the west side of New Territory will forego riding the bus to and from school that day to demonstrate how close they live to Sartartia. Students will start walking at 8 a.m. and converge at the underpass at New Territory Blvd. on the east side of 99. To further emphasize their close proximity to the school, they will print and wear the number of miles they live from Sartartia on their t-shirts. All subdivisions in the southwest section of New Territory are less than 2 miles from Sartartia Middle School and all subdivisions in the northwest section are within 3 miles of the school.
At an FBISD workshop on October 25, FBISD’s Chief Auxiliary Services Officer Ben Copeland presented three “A” plans, all of which showed the west side of New Territory zoned to the new middle school. “We were blindsided,” commented New Territory Connie Chastain who lives in River Glen. “We really didn’t expect that there would be no options presented to keep Brazos Bend at Sartartia. It seems like they feel this part of New Territory is expendable,” she said.
When Trustee Laurie Caldwell acknowledged that students in New Territory are being displaced and “people are upset”, Copeland suggested that they could “go back and consider other options” if she wanted. The crowd yelled “yes!”, but Caldwell did not direct him to do so.
Of the six board members present, Daniel Menendez said he was in favor of considering another plan that keep Sartartia’s zone “closer to where it is now”.
“I don’t see a choice,” said Trustee Susan Hohnbaum. “I feel strongly in going through this process this year that we equalize our campuses.”
The district staff said that the 471 students currently residing on the west side of New Territory are needed to help fill the new middle school which might be significantly underutilized if not. Plus, schools like Baines Middle School in Missouri City are currently overcrowded and rezoning is necessary to bring relief, said Copeland. “There are a dozen different ways to skin a cat...we attempted to balance the western side of the district,” he said. “If we start rezoning First Colony and Fort Settlement, this crowd will just be replaced by a different crowd,” he said of the New Territory residents who filled the board room.
Copeland’s main argument for rezoning the west side of New Territory to middle school #14 was that they already go to Travis High School which is off US 99 on Harlem Road. “This plan follows the high school path. Middle School 14 is a feeder for Travis,” he said. In addition, students on the west side of New Territory are already bused across 99, even though they are less than three miles away, because crossing the busy freeway is considered a hazard. “They would just be bused a little further than they are now. In the long term, this provides balance and meets our objectives for efficient use of our facilities,” said Copeland.
But some New Territory residents fiercely objected to that argument, pointing out that a pedestrian path exists from the west side of New Territory Blvd. to the east side.
Zoning Plan Option 2A, favored by most of the trustees, buses students from subdivisions several miles down Hwy. 90, including old Sugar Land (south of 90), Hall Lake, Venetian Estates and Alkire Lakes. Also included is the Lakes and Meadow Lakes along First Colony Blvd. and an apartment complex along Fluor Daniel Drive. Another apartment complex along FM 1464 would also go to Sartartia, according to the proposed plan. Chelsea Harbour, too, would be zoned to Sartartia.
“FBISD’s zoning plan A gets an F from New Territory parents,” says a flyer recently distributed by parents.
. The next FBISD meeting is November 8 at 4:30 at the administration building on Lexington. Watch the google group postings for constant updates on community meetings.

6327 Aspen Cove in Watermill

2010-10-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

Workshop to Discuss New Zones for Middle School #14

2010-10-21T12:13:00.000-05:00

FBISD Board of Trustees to hold a workshop to discuss the proposed new zones for Middle School #14 for the 2011-2012 school year
FORT BEND ISD ― The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees will hold a workshop to discuss the District’s plans for developing a new attendance zone for Middle School #14 for the 2011-2012 school year on Monday, October 25, at 4:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the FBISD Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd., in Sugar Land. Middle School #14 is located at 700 Plantation Dr., in Richmond near Pecan Grove, and will provide relief to middle schools on the west side of the District.
After the Board Workshop, the presentation and maps will be available for viewing on the District website at www.fortbendisd.com. An attendance zone recommendation will not be placed on a Board agenda for approval until after a public hearing is held, and the public has the opportunity to provide feedback. The date of the public hearing will be publicized once it has been confirmed.
© 2010 Fort Bend Independent School District

2 Twin Valley Drive in Greystone Place

2010-10-18T07:43:00.000-05:00

106 Huggin's Ferry in Wilkins Crossing

2010-10-06T07:33:00.003-05:00

635 Winston Lane in Clayton's Bend

2010-08-09T08:09:00.000-05:00

4426 Timber Hill in Summerhill of New Territory

2010-08-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

25 Bailey's Place Court in Pecan Park Estates

2010-07-28T07:39:00.003-05:00

2003 Thorncrest Ct. in Watermill

2010-07-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

New Territory 4th of July Fireworks

2010-07-05T08:50:00.000-05:00

Sugar Land Selects Preferred Site for Minor League Baseball Stadium

2010-06-28T16:35:00.000-05:00

Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Sugar Land, TX - Sugar Land City Council identified a preferred site near the northeast corner of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A for a minor league baseball stadium.

The preferred location is part of the Imperial Redevelopment/Tract 3 site proposed by Johnson Development Corporation, Cherokee Sugar Land LP and the Texas General Land Office.

The City will now begin a detailed process to confirm the site's development capabilities and suitability prior to a final decision by City Council that's expected by the end of the summer.

The preferred location for the stadium was made after careful consideration of four site options. An extensive site evaluation ensured the most cost effective and beneficial site to the community for the future professional minor league baseball stadium.

A comparative site analysis reviewed with City Council on June 22 provided an overview of the proposals submitted by interested developers, land purchase options and existing lease agreements held by the City.

The stadium is expected to result in nearby commercial development, so the City considered several locations to ensure the greatest quality of life and economic benefit to the community.

Other sites considered were near the intersections of U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard and State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A.

Another site that was explored was at U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard where the City leases land from the University of Houston System at Sugar Land. The City submitted a Facility Development Agreement (FDA) detailing the development of the baseball stadium per the terms of a ground lease with University of Houston System (UHS); however, UHS formally rejected the FDA to develop the stadium.

The City remains committed to selecting a final site that minimizes and/or eliminates any adverse impact to residents with respect to traffic, noise and safety. Protecting the quality of life for the residents of Sugar Land will be a critical component in the due diligence performed over the next 60 days and in the final site determination.

The initial vision for minor league baseball was developed by citizens serving on the Visioning Task Force, a group that established a goal to enhance entertainment and family-oriented opportunities within the community. Voters approved in November 2008 specific sales tax and venue taxes to fund the project -- no general fund tax dollars will be spent on the stadium.

Sugar Land City Council approved on May 18 an historic agreement with Opening Day Partners, LLC to bring professional minor league baseball to Sugar Land.

19 Rivercoach Lane in Preston Forest

2010-06-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

15 Stonecliff.mov

2010-06-09T23:03:00.000-05:00

Mary Ellen Edge named new principal of Austin High School

2010-05-27T16:01:00.000-05:00

From the FBISD website:

Mary Ellen Edge named new principal of Austin High School

At its May 24 Board Meeting, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees named Mary Ellen Edge as the new principal of Austin High School. Edge is an experienced educational leader and has served in public education for 20 years. She has been the Associate Principal at Clements High School since July 2006. Before serving at Clements, she was the Dean of Instruction and an assistant principal at Bush High School. She was also at Austin High School for seven years where she served as an assistant principal, a special education department head and a special education teacher. She began her educational career as a special education teacher and worked in Rice Consolidated ISD, Sealy ISD and Port Arthur ISD.

Edge received her Bachelor of Education degree from Mississippi State University and her Master of Education in Administration from Houston Baptist University. She is pursuing a Doctorate of Education at Texas A&M University and expects to graduate in the summer of 2011. Edge is a graduate of Fort Bend ISD's LEAD Principal's Academy and was part of the Academy's first cohort of aspiring administrators.

Current Austin High School Principal, Mike Leach, is retiring from Fort Bend ISD after 39 years in education with 34 of those in Fort Bend ISD. Leach has been the principal of Austin High School since it opened in 1995. In 2008-2009, Austin High School was named as one of the top high schools in the nation, state and Houston area.

4110 New Meadows Ct.

2010-05-27T07:43:00.000-05:00

206 West New Meadows in High Meadows

2010-05-19T22:38:00.000-05:00

May 8, 2010 Election Results for FBISD School Board and Mud 111

2010-05-09T16:10:00.000-05:00

Results are in for the May 8 election for FBISD school board and MUD 111.
For MUD 111, there were five candidates vying for three seats. Incumbents Matt Shepard and Louis Manuel were unseated by residents Charles Swihart and James Owen. Incumbent Rosemary Ruths held on to her position on the MUD 111 board. Manuel barely lost the election, with just three votes seperating him from James Owen. 348 people voted in the election.
Charles Swihart - 26.72% (93 votes)
Rosemary Ruths - 22.99% (80 votes)
James Owen - 18.97% (66 votes)
Louis Manuel - 18.10% (63 votes)
Matt Shepard - 13.22% (46 votes)

The MUD 111 terms are four years. No other New Territory MUD had an election as they were uncontested.

For FBISD Position 3, Jim Rice beat Clay Alumbaugh. Rice won 66% of the vote with Alumbaugh garnering 33.94%
For FBISD Position 7, Jim Babb won over Gerald Hawkins, with 63.59% of the vote vs. 36.41%.

See more details at fortbendcountygov.com

8006 Hollow Oak Ct. in Greatwood

2010-04-26T21:30:00.001-05:00

6118 Walker's Park Drive in Walkers Station

2010-04-10T12:44:00.002-05:00

919 Lakespur in Lake Pointe subdivision of New Territory

2010-04-08T10:08:00.004-05:00

ELLIS CREEK BLVD. SCHEDULED TO OPEN TUESDAY, MARCH 9

2010-03-05T08:52:00.000-06:00

After several months of lane closures on Ellis Creek Blvd. due to a LID 7 project which entailed raising the roadway to complete the levee system around New Territory, this New Territory entrance street is scheduled for opening on Tuesday, March 9. The lanes are expected to be open to traffic following final paving inspection by the City of Sugar Land on Tuesday, the LID 7 engineer reported to the board on March 4.
Raising Ellis Creek Blvd. was one of the final steps in the LID 7 project to raise the levee as required by FEMA. Costello Engineering will submit an appeal to Fort Bend County and FEMA by April 2 so that the final flood plain maps do not show New Territory to be in a 100 year floodplain.

ELLIS CREEK BLVD. SCHEDULED TO OPEN TUESDAY, MARCH 9

2010-03-05T08:50:00.000-06:00

VIDEO TOUR! 707 Spring Mist Ct. in Cias Ridge of New Territory

2010-03-01T07:59:00.009-06:00

5018 Hearth Hollow in River Park

2010-01-31T21:38:00.000-06:00

NTRCA Board Directors Elected

2010-01-21T20:35:00.000-06:00

In an unprecedented action at the NTRCA annual meeting on January 18, Neighborhood Representatives elected a nominee from the floor to serve as a new director on the Board. They also re-elected incumbents Marcel Theriot and Charles Swihart. Incumbent Evan Reindl was unseated and former Director Bart Hatfield also lost his bid for a position on the board.

Cindy Picazo, the new director, is a 12 year resident of Robinsons Landing in New Territory and works as a bank manager for Wells Fargo. She has a BA from University of Texas at Austin. Picazo, in her two minute speech, described herself as “fiscally conservative” and said her strengths include “making tough Human Resource and budget decisions.”

The results of the election were as follows:

Marcel Theriot—2800 votes

Charles Swihart—2420 votes

Cindy Picazo—2329 votes

The directors serve two year terms.

Theriot , who is serving his third term on the NTRCA board, said his main goals as director are maintaining fiscal responsibility, accountability, structure and transparency in regards to policies and resolutions set by the board.

Swihart has also served four years on the board and said he is encouraged by recent, positive changes which include improved customer service at the Club and an increase in participation in Club programs by residents. Swihart remarked that this election was “heated” and apologized if any of his statements offended others. “I have known Marcel, Bart, and Evan for several years and consider them to be my friends….I know they all want what’s best for New Territory,” he said.

707 Lorena Ridge in Walker's Station

2010-01-02T22:30:00.000-06:00

6813 Hidden Crest in Watermill

2010-01-02T10:13:00.000-06:00

TAX CREDIT EXTENDED TO HOME BUYERS THROUGH APRIL 30, 2010

2009-11-21T17:36:00.000-06:00

Good News for those looking to move in, up or around in New Territory as Congress recently voted to extend the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to April 30, 2010 and to allow credits to current homeowners who have lived in their homes for five of the last 8 years.
The credits are:
1)$8,000 for a couple or $4,000 for individuals who are purchasing their first home between January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010 and 2) $6500 for couples or $4,000 for individuals who currently own and have lived in their principal residence for five of the eight previous years and buy a new home between November 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
According to the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit which became effective on Noevember 7, 2009, income levels for eligibility are $125,000 a year for single buyers and $225,000 a year for married couples.
Tax credits are only given on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.
The rules also state that purchasers have until July 1, 2010 to close on their homes—as long as they have a written, binding contract executed on or before April 30, 2010.
This information as obtained from the National Association of Realtors, Government Affairs Division. Go to Realtor.com to ready more about it.

VIDEO TOUR! 4543 Casey Circle

2009-10-20T21:26:00.000-05:00

VIDEO TOUR! 807 Blakely Bend

2009-10-20T09:17:00.000-05:00

NEW TERRITORY SCHOOLS HONORED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

2009-09-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

Two of the four FBISD schools recognized this year as Honor Roll Schools by the Texas Business and Education Coalition were in New Territory: Sartartia Middle School and Walker Station Elementary School. Less than four percent of the 8,000 Texas public schools receive this designation. The 254 schools recognized by the TBEC were selected based on the percentage of students with commended performances on the state’s TAKS tests. “The 2009 standards were by far the toughest in the 10 year history of the award,” says the TBEC on their website. “All schools were expected to improve their commended performance for 2008 and every school was required to have a minimum of 20% of students tested performing at the commended level on ALL tests for 2009.”
This is the third consecutive year that Sartartia Middle School has been named a TBEC Honor Roll School and the second consecutive year for Walker Station Elementary School. Both schools, as well as Brazos Bend Elementary School, received “exemplary" ratings by the Texas Education Agency this year.
The other two FBISD schools to be honored were Fort Settlement Middle School and Commonwealth Elementary School, both in First Colony.
Katy ISD had two schools on the TBEC Honor Roll list, Kilpatrick and Roosevelt Alexander Elementary Schools. Lamar CISD had one: Wessendorf Middle School.
“Being named a TBEC Honor Roll school is the most prestigious academic award given in Texas,” says their website.
The TBEC analyzes three years’ of performance data for every public school in Texas. Those schools chosen as Honor Roll Schools have the highest percentage of students meeting state standards on every TAKS test for three consecutive years, and have the highest percentage of students performing at the commended level in every subject. The selection criteria also considers the school's demographics, number of subjects tested and grade levels.
To view the actual scores for each school, go to tbec.org.
The TBEC will recognize all Honor Roll Schools at an awards ceremony in San Antonio in November.

1207 Windover Ct. in River Glen

2009-08-19T22:25:00.000-05:00

VIDEO TOUR! 6007 Parkwood Place in Pecan Point

2009-08-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

Video Tour! 13 Treverstone in Fosters Green New Territory

2009-07-14T07:19:00.000-05:00

Video Tour! 4730 Torrington Ct. in Meadow Crest of New Territory

2009-07-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

Breaking News: Fort Bend County Bans Fireworks

2009-06-24T20:25:00.000-05:00

Fort Bend County officials have banned the sale, use, and possession of aerial fireworks in unincorporated areas like New Territory because drought conditions could increase the risk of fires, said County Attorney Roy Cordes. The emergency order, signed by County Judge Bob Hebert on June 24, was legally possible to enact because the Governor had already issued a disaster declaration warranted by the recent drought, said Cordes.
By state statute, the order can only cover a 60 hour period, but the county requested the Governor’s Office to extend the ban up to 30 days, said Cordes.
The order does not pertain to licensed pyrotechnics who are discharging fireworks for an approved event like the one at New Territory’s Sports Complex, clarified Cordes.
As a precaution, the fire department will be present at the fireworks show in New Territory, said Community Manager Dwayne Lowry.
And patrol deputies with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office will also be making the rounds in New Territory over the holiday weekend, said Chief Deputy Chad Norvell. “We will definitely be enforcing the ban”, he said.
Violators may be charged with Possession of Fireworks, a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, he said.
Fort Bend County has been experiencing a heat wave for the last few weeks, with temperatures in the 100’s. According to rain gauges at the Brazos River Bridge in Richmond, the last measurable precipitation (in total inches) was .03 on May 24. There was less than an inch of rain reported for the month of May and none in June.
Similarly, discharge rates at the Brazos River (how much cubic feet of water is moving downstream each second) is at record lows,
said a spokesperson with the Texas water Science Center in Galveston. On June 24, 2009, the discharge rate was 413 cfs. The lowest recorded rate for this date in history was 482 cfs in 1952. The median rate is 4690 for this time of year.
If water usage increases in New Territory as a result of the lack of rainfall and extreme, hot weather, the MUDs may have to implement their drought contingency plan. Currently, the wells are operating below 70% of capacity. If they run at 85% of their capacity for three consecutive days, the MUDs will initiate Stage One which is voluntary conservation, said the Operator. According to the plan, participating residents would alternate watering their lawns based on an even numbered or odd numbered house number. The next stage, mandatory conservation, kicks in when the wells are running at 90% capacity, said the Operator. Violators would face significant fines if their water usage exceeds stipulated limits, she said.
Signs will be posted throughout the community if the drought contingency plan is implemented, she said. “Of course, we are encouraging conservation at all times. By conserving now, we may be able to keep water usage low enough to avoid the drought contingency plan,” she commented.

HWY 90 Improvement Meeting May 26th

2009-05-24T10:27:00.000-05:00

TXDOT is conducting a public meeting at Brazos Bend Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 to discuss proposed improvements to US 90A from Hwy. 6 to Loop 762 in Richmond. One of the proposed design changes includes a multi level interchange at US 90A and SH 99 (the Grand Parkway). These Direct Ramps would allow traffic to continue without stopping along 90A and SH99. Additional right-of-way would be required for the proposed design change.
All interested citizens are invited to the meeting which will be an “open house” format for the two hour period. Exhibits will be displayed and representatives from TXDOT will be on hand to answer questions and to gather public input.

4415 Sophie Ct. in New Territory

2009-03-31T10:16:00.000-05:00

4415 Sophie Ct. in New Territory from MoveToMorrow on Vimeo.

VIDEO TOUR! 6830 Arborwood in Telfair, Sugar Land, TX

2009-01-24T10:08:00.000-06:00

FBISD--not making up school days lost to Hurricane Ike?

2008-09-24T10:16:00.000-05:00

Fort Bend ISD plans to submit a waiver request to the Texas Education Agency to excuse lost instructional days due to Hurricane Ike.
At the September 22 business meeting of the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees, Dr. Timothy Jenney, superintendent, recommended, and the Board concurred, that the district not make up the six official days when the district was forced to be closed due to Hurricane Ike. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is not requiring districts to make up those days, and is leaving the decision up to each individual school district as to how it will proceed. The recommendation will be formally acted upon at the October 13th Board Meeting. A formal waiver request will then be submitted to the TEA.

New Territory Blvd. Traffic Alert

2008-04-16T10:57:00.000-05:00

New Territory residents will face increased traffic coming and going into the community for up to six weeks starting May 1 while LID 17 builds a flood gate on New Territory Blvd. at the Telfair border. New Territory Blvd. entering New Territory will be narrowed to two lanes for inbound and outbound traffic during that period. Once completed, the road will be back to four lanes of the same original width, said an engineer with LID 17's engineering firm, LJA. LID 17 will add Magnolias, Oleanders and low shrubs to mask the cement walls in the median and on either side of the boulevard that are necessary to support the floodgate. The gate is designed to rise up and act as a levee if activated by rising waters during a 100 year event. When LID 7 raises the levee around New Territory, the internal levee between New Territory and Telfair and the floodgate will become redundant, said the engineer. Telfair has essentially completed raising their levees and this is the final component necessary to meet new FEMA criteria. "We realize the road is heavily used and we want to cause as little impact as possible to residents," said the engineer of the floodgate project. LID 17 is paying approximately $400,000 on the floodgate project.

Stephen F. Austin H.S. ranks in the top 10

2008-04-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

Children At Risk, a non-profit organization and a watchdog group that looks out for our children has released their 2008 rankings for 145 Houston area high schools based on the following 14 indicators that you can read at the following link provided. http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/Methodology%202008%20FINAL2%20no%20sublists.pdf
The short of it is, New Territory parents can be quite proud of the quality of education in our neighborhood. Particularly, Stephen F. Austin High School is now ranked in the top 10. William B. Travis High School does not make this list because there is no data available prior to 2006-2007 academic year. The data is required for calculating a 4-year graduation rate. Overall, the F.B.I.S.D. High Schools are arguably the highest ranked ghroup of all districts in the Houston area.

Here are the rankings for the 145 high schools in our area.

1 YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS YES PREP SOUTHEAST CAMPUS
2 HOUSTON ISD
DEBAKEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE HEALTH
PROFESSIONS
3 HOUSTON ISD
HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING &
VISUAL ARTS
3 FORT BEND ISD CLEMENTS H S
5 KATY ISD CINCO RANCH H S
6 SPRING BRANCH ISD MEMORIAL H S
7 KATY ISD TAYLOR H S
8 SPRING BRANCH ISD
WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
9 HOUSTON ISD
HIGH SCHOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
10 FORT BEND ISD STEPHEN F AUSTIN H S
11 FORT BEND ISD LAWRENCE E ELKINS H S
12 FORT BEND ISD DULLES H S
13 CLEAR CREEK ISD CLEAR LAKE H S
14 SPRING BRANCH ISD STRATFORD H S
15 HOUSTON ISD EASTWOOD ACADEMY
16 HOUSTON ISD LAMAR H S
17 FORT BEND ISD KEMPNER H S
18 KLEIN ISD KLEIN H S
19 ALIEF ISD KERR H S
20 HOUSTON ISD BELLAIRE H S
21 HOUSTON ISD CARNEGIE VANGUARD HS
22 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD CY-FAIR H S
22 FORT BEND ISD GEORGE BUSH HIGH SCHOOL
24 HUMBLE ISD KINGWOOD H S
25 FRIENDSWOOD ISD FRIENDSWOOD H S
26 CHARTER SCHOOL HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY
27 FORT BEND ISD HIGHTOWER H S
28 CLEAR CREEK ISD CLEAR BROOK H S
29 BARBERS HILL ISD BARBERS HILL H S
30 ROYAL ISD ROYAL H S
31 NEEDVILLE ISD NEEDVILLE H S
32 KATY ISD KATY H S
33 MONTGOMERY ISD MONTGOMERY HS
34 GALENA PARK ISD GALENA PARK H S
35 HOUSTON ISD WESTSIDE H S
36 DEER PARK ISD DEER PARK HS
37 LAMAR CISD FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
37 CONROE ISD OAKRIDGE H S
37 HUFFMAN ISD HARGRAVE H S
40 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD CYPRESS FALLS H S
40 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD CYPRESS CREEK H S
42 SPRING ISD WESTFIELD H S
43 SWEENY ISD SWEENY H S
44 BRAZOSPORT ISD BRAZOSWOOD H S
44 SPRING ISD SPRING H S
46 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD JERSEY VILLAGE H S
47 KLEIN ISD KLEIN COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL
48 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD LANGHAM CREEK H S
48 CONROE ISD CANKEY CREEK HS
50 HUMBLE ISD HUMBLE H S
51 SPRING BRANCH ISD SPRING WOODS H S
51 KATY ISD MAYDE CREEK H S
53 CLEAR CREEK ISD CLEAR CREEK H S
54 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD CYPRESS SPRINGS H S
54 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD CYPRESS RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
54 LAMAR CISD LAMAR CONS H S
57 WILLIS ISD WILLIS H S
58 TOMBALL ISD TOMBALL H S
59 MAGNOLIA ISD MAGNOLIA HS
59 HEMPSTEAD ISD HEMPSTEAD H S
61 LAMAR CISD B F TERRY H S
62 CROSBY ISD CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL
63 ANAHUAC ISD ANAHUAC H S
64 WALLER ISD WALLER H S
65 LA PORTE ISD LA PORTE HIGH SCHOOL
65 HOUSTON ISD BARBARA JORDAN H S
65 GALVESTON ISD BALL H S
68 DANBURY ISD DANBURY H S
69 HOUSTON ISD WASHINGTON B T H S
70 ALIEF ISD HASTINGS H S
71 TARKINGTON ISD TARKINGTON H S
72 HOUSTON ISD MILBY H S
73 LIBERTY ISD LIBERTY H S
74 KLEIN ISD KLEIN OAK H S
75 CONROE ISD CONROE HS
76 HOUSTON ISD CHAVEZ H S
77 HARDIN ISD HARDIN H S
78 ALDINE ISD CARVER H S FOR APPLIED TECH/ENGI
78 BRAZOSPORT ISD BRAZOSPORT H S
80 GOOSE CREEK CISD STERLING H S
80 EAST CHAMBERS ISD EAST CHAMBERS H S
82 DAYTON ISD DAYTON H S
83 HOUSTON ISD DAVIS H S
84 ANGLETON ISD ANGLETON H S
85 NORTH FOREST ISD FOREST BROOK H S
86 HOUSTON ISD AUSTIN H S
86 HOUSTON ISD SCARBOROUGH H S
86 ALIEF ISD TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL
89 FORT BEND ISD THURGOOD MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL
90 SPRING BRANCH ISD NORTHBROOK H S
91 HOUSTON ISD WALTRIP H S
92 TEXAS CITY ISD TEXAS CITY H S
93 HOUSTON ISD ALTA ACADEMY
94 PASADENA ISD PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL
94 SANTA FE ISD SANTA FE H S
96 PASADENA ISD DOBIE HIGH SCHOOL
96 GOOSE CREEK CISD LEE H S
98 HULL-DAISETTA ISD HULL-DAISETTA H S
99 HOUSTON ISD SHARPSTOWN H S
99 STAFFORD MSD STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL
101 CHANNELVIEW ISD CHANNELVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
102 HOUSTON ISD REAGAN H S
103 ALVIN ISD ALVIN HIGH SCHOOL
104 HOUSTON ISD FURR H S
104 NORTH FOREST ISD SMILEY H S
106 GALENA PARK ISD NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH
106 SHELDON ISD C E KING H S
108 CLEVELAND ISD CLEVELAND H S
109 ALIEF ISD ELSIK H S
110 CHARTER SCHOOL JESSE JACKSON ACADEMY
111 HITCHCOCK ISD HITCHCOCK H S
112 CHARTER SCHOOL CALVIN NELMS HIGH SCHOOL
113 KLEIN ISD KLEIN FOREST H S
114 COLUMBIA-BRAZORIA ISD COLUMBIA H S
114 HOUSTON ISD WORTHING H S
116 HOUSTON ISD YATES H S
117 HOUSTON ISD SAM HOUSTON H S
118 HOUSTON ISD MADISON H S
119 FORT BEND ISD WILLOWRIDGE H S
120 HOUSTON ISD JONES H S
121 NEW CANEY ISD NEW CANEY H S
122 HOUSTON ISD LEE H S
123 DICKINSON ISD DICKINSON H S
124 SPLENDORA ISD SPLENDORA H S
124 CHARTER SCHOOL COMQUEST ACADEMY
126 PASADENA ISD SOUTH HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL
127 PASADENA ISD SAM RAYBURN H S
128 LA MARQUE ISD LA MARQUE H S
129 CHARTER SCHOOL RAUL YZAGUIRRE SCHOOL FOR SUCCESS
130 CHARTER SCHOOL SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL
131 CHARTER SCHOOL GIRLS & BOYS PREP ACADEMY
132 HOUSTON ISD H P CARTER CAREER CENTER
133 CHARTER SCHOOL GEORGE I SANCHEZ H S
134 HOUSTON ISD WESTBURY H S
135 HOUSTON ISD KASHMERE H S
136 HOUSTON ISD WHEATLEY H S
137 HOUSTON ISD STERLING H S
138 CLEAR CREEK ISD CLEAR VIEW EDUCATION CENTER
139 HOUSTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
140 HUMBLE ISD QUEST H S
141 HOUSTON ISD CONTEMPORARY LEARNING CENTER H S
142 CHARTER SCHOOL
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE
CHARTER SCHOOL
143 CHARTER SCHOOL NORTH HOUSTON H S FOR BUSINESS
144 CHARTER SCHOOL
HOUSTON CAN! ACADEMY CHARTER
SCHOOL
145 CHARTER SCHOOL
ALPHONSO CRUTCH'S-LIFE SUPPORT
CENTER

Here’s a link to their complete news release on the school rankings http://www.childrenatrisk.org/childrenatrisk.cfm?a=cms,c,449

New Territory Reaches Out to Soldiers

2007-11-27T16:19:00.000-06:00

There's only a few days left to get your holiday item out to our overseas troops as Mary Scantilin will soon be mailing out her care packages as part of her "Good News for Soldiers" outreach project.

Mary Scantlin is a Pointe Royale resident who created "Good News for Soldiers" a few years ago as a way to support overseas troops. She and her growing volunteer base work to send out as many packages as possible—mostly at key holidays but randomly throughout the year as well.

For the December holiday season, Scantlin wants to send special gifts to the soldiers rather than the ordinary (although necessary) items like aspirin and wet wipes. If you are wishing to make a donation for the holiday care packages, use your imagination and think of something that would brighten the season, she suggested. Some examples are Christmas lights, candles, hot cocoa and marshmellows, afghans, Santa hats, CDs or DVDs, games, puzzles and chocolate. "They really crave chocolate and we can send it now that it's cooler and won't melt," she said. Gift donations are due by Friday, November 30.
Katrina Chapman, owner of the Book Nook on Hwy 90-A in the McDonald's center, is running a similar project this holiday season by offering cards for a reduced price of $1 to customers to write their own message to "any soldier." She has packaged up 52 cards so far but there is still time to add to the box! Chapman will mail out the boxes by December 4.

A flat rate box costs $9 to send so Chapman sells chocolate to raise mail money while Scantlin says donations are helpful. You can show your support by stopping by Chapman's store to pick out a card or by donating items, money, or your time to Scantlin's "Good News for Soldiers" outreach program.
And, if you know a New Territory resident serving in the military overseas, please pass on their name and information to Scantlin, she said. Scantlin's group recently met a soldier from New Territory who had received their packages and was on a short leave from a tour of duty in Iraq. "He brought cakes for us and I tell you it was hard to keep a dry eye as he thanked us profusely…" she said of their meeting with Michael Dinh Truong.

You can contact Scantlin at: spgndy@yahoo.com and Chapman at: nckj@alltel.net .

New Territory Residents Voice Concerns Over Development Project

2007-11-12T20:24:00.000-06:00

RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS OVER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Some Greystone Place residents have threatened to sue the NTRCA if the board allows a financial investor to develop property behind their homes, on the south side of the levee, said homeowner Paul Hillegeist in an October 19 email to board members. “Please be aware that Greystone Place residents living along the Brazos River levee will pursue litigation as necessary to the full extent of the law to prevent any activity behind Greystone Place that would significantly change or restrict the current landscape and privacy as this is directly opposite to the spirit of the original developer, Markborough, and subsequently Coventry Homes and Newmark (sic, who sold homes in Greystone),” wrote Hillegeist.
In a subsequent phone conversation, Hillegesit said the threatened litigation does not refer to plans by LID 7 to raise the levee (see story, page 6 ).
Rather, residents are concerned about the construction of any recreational or commercial facilities in the NTRCA owned property behind their homes because the NTRCA entered into a contract in 2006 with financial investor Frank Marx that gave him an exclusive, five year option on the land and which gave the NTRCA the unconditional right to approve or reject any proposed project by him. The land includes two tracts south of the levee. One tract, 66 acres, exists west of U.S. 99 and south of the Sports Complex, parking lot, and Brandons Point subdivision. The other tract, 96 acres, is east of US 99, south of Greystone Place, Watermill, and runs all the way down to US 59. Because Markborough, the developer of New Territory, attached restrictions for future use and development on that land, the NTRCA would have to remove those restrictions in order for Marx to proceed with plans . Marx is reportedly expected to hire an attorney, at his expense, to negotiate with Markborough for the release of the restrictions, said NTRCA Community Manager Dwayne Lowry. While Marx has not proposed anything specific for the land behind Greystone Place or Watermill, he has considered building a hotel and/or shopping center in the land adjacent to US 59, said Lowry. The NTRCA could retain ownership of the land and control over what is built there, he said. But they could lease it to a developer and possibly even share in the revenues, he said. “New Territory could benefit, year after year, and get full say on what is developed there,” commented Lowry.
Even if the restrictions were lifted, the land comes with another problem: it’s in a floodway. In order to build a commercial structure, the developer would have to obtain a permit which entails a mitigation plan and a drainage detention plan, said a representative in the Fort Bend County Engineering Department. “I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it sounds like it would be really
challenging and tremendously expensive to do something like that...to get (the land) adequately prepped and to get the right elevations,” said Doug Schomburg, Assistant Planning Director for the City of Sugar Land.
Hatfield noted that Marx indicated that “engineering solutions were available” and the project could be “economically feasible.”
However, “until... an answer on the restrictions is obtained, it is perfectly clear why Mr. Marx has not spent any money to start the necessary studies,” commented NTRCA President, Bart Hatfield in a letter to residents.
Hillegeist said he is “fine” with development in the section along US 59 but is opposed to any development south of the residential areas in New Territory. “We all paid premiums for our lots,” he said. “Please note that Greystone Place would be vigorously opposed to any NTRCA support of plans that would allow for any changes or alterations to the viewable green space and tranquility within the green space along the levee…” he said in the email.
Lowry said that Marx had discussed the construction of recreational facilities in that area, such as a nine-hole golf course, hiking trails, or relocating sports fields from the sports complex there but said, “nothing was fleshed out,” for any such projects.
“We recognize there are homes behind there and want to preserve the landscape, but there is another long strip near Telfair,” he said, referring to the land that extends down to US 59.
Greystone Resident Shari Chadderdon also voiced concern that the NTRCA may be considering a proposal to relocate the athletic fields to one of the two tracts and build a commercial center on the sports complex site. Lowry said there are no specific plans for the sports complex but acknowledged that Marx had proposed building bigger, better fields and a parking lot south of the levee system, at no charge to the NTRCA.
Lowry added that it was his understanding that Markborough had originally zoned the sports complex for commercial development, including another grocery store and a strip center. They bowed to opposition from another New Territory commercial developer, however, and built the Sports Complex instead, Lowry said.
Marx also has an option on the three drill sites in New Territory but there has been no substantive discussion on developments in those areas, said Lowry.
Hillegeist said the Greystone Place neighbors have not hired an attorney or taken steps towards filing legal action against the NTRCA. But it may come to that, he said. “I don’t know why they are so against green space...they are not a commercial development agency or a for-profit association and they should leave well enough alone,” he said.
“There seems to be a conflict of interest among those board members who think our community is in the business of making money with a developer who incidentally has ties to the landscaping company instead of protecting our property values,” Chadderdon wrote in an October 19 email to the board. Marx is married to the owner of HLS, the NTRCA’s contracted landscaper/groundskeeper, and that is how he learned of the NTRCA owned land, said Hatfield.
The NTRCA board has not publicly addressed the complaints. Lowry commented that the NTRCA would retain control of any developments authorized by the board. A significant and ongoing revenue stream could offer opportunities for financial stability and/or future improvements that would benefit the entire community, he said.
But, without an answer from Markborough on whether they are willing to lift the restrictions, “it makes no sense for us to spend any time evaluating potential ideas or answering detailed inquiries on what he might propose,” said Hatfield.

No Increase in New Territory HOA Dues for 2008

2007-11-12T20:21:00.000-06:00

There will be no assessment increase for 2008 and annual dues will remain at $870, the NTRCA board voted in their October meeting.
The board had considered raising assessments by a nominal amount to cover outstanding debt from 2007, but they plan to use $57,000 in the contingency line item to cover this debt. Although this leaves the NTRCA budget without any emergency funds for 2008, the board expects to re-establish a contingency fund when they sell a strip of land along to LID 7 for their levee elevation project, said Community Manager Dwayne Lowry.
Some residents at the October meeting expressed concerns that the $5.82 million budget is too tight and that the NTRCA could slip into debt, as they did in 2006, when they experienced what ended up being a $219,000 shortfall.
Unexpected increases in electricity costs and insurance premiums were partially to blame for the 2006 deficit, but Lowry said he believes estimates from vendors have been more accurately forecasted for 2008.
Program participation and a significant forecasting error are effecting the Club’s, 2007 year-end financials although, staff members are working to avoid these problems in 2008.
For 2007, the Club will be about $50,000 over budget in Adult Recreation expenses and about $91,000 behind in projected income.
“Moving forward, we need to consider cutting programs,” commented one resident at the October meeting.
Gymnastics was one area that did not generate income as projected because the coaching staff and several participants left the program this Spring, said the Club director. Plus, a $60,000 mathematical, forecasting error showed Gymnastics to be superficially low in income for 2007, she said. Gymnastics is forecasted to end the year with a $95,000 loss. But with the increase in fees next year and continued re-building of the program, Gymnastics is projected to bring in about $100,000, expend $85,000, and net $15,000 in 2008, said Lowry.
The Early Learning Program at the Club, the Club’s biggest money-maker, will also increase fees for 2008 after generating about $30,000 less than what was projected. This was due to the loss of several enrolled students and to an unexpectedly late start in the school year for 2007, said Lowry. The ELP is budgeted to bring in $230,000, spend $167,000, and net $63,000 in 2008.
Youth Recreation, which consists of Volleyball, Basketball, and Soccer, generated about $9,000 more than what was projected in 2007 due to higher participation and the 2008 budget reflects that expectation.
Adult Recreation, which consists of Adult Softball and Adult Soccer, is forecasted for a $18,000 loss in 2007 because of increased referee fees and because of a line-item change to the budget which moves field lighting costs from the general fund to the Club.
Babysitting operated at a $7,000 loss in 2007 because participation dropped when higher fees were implemented, said Lowry. Budgeted income for Babysitting has been lowered to $16,300 for 2008 which is in line with 2007, year-end projections.
Some residents complained that the Club should cut Babysitting and any such program that are “subsidized” by other, profitable programs or by resident assessments. “Babysitting is strictly a service. It has been never been budgeted to make an income,” said Club Director Robin McGuire.
“There’s always been a debate on whether the Club should be partially subsidized or remain revenue neutral,” said NTRCA President Bart Hatfield. “Different people have different opinions...some people believe the Club offers a valuable service and helps with Resale. Others say they don’t use the Club and don’t want to pay for it,” he said. “We’ve tried to strike a balance.”
The only other budget item discussed by residents in the October meeting was a $76,000 increase in Patrol Services which is to cover a 10% salary increase for officers, required by Fort Bend County. The pay increase actually starts in October,

2007, leaving Patrol Services with a $17,500 shortfall for that year and a $30,000 increase for 2008.
Residents asked if there was documentation supporting any reduction in criminal activity within New Territory since the NTRCA hired a fourth deputy last year. Hatfield responded that there were no records of such. A Safety Committee had been charged with the task of compiling records but they did not meet in 2007, he said.
Correction from October, 2007 issue: Annual Assessments were not raised from $750 to $870 in 2006. They were raised from $800.

Video Tour! New Territory Community, Sugar Land, TX

2007-10-17T13:34:00.000-05:00

Strategic Partnership Agreements meetings scheduled for each MUD

2007-10-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

The public is invited to attend public input sessions for their particular MUDs this month. By law, the MUDs must hold their meetings within the boundaries of their district. They meetings are as follows:

MUD 111 - October 22, 7:00 p.m., at Sartartia Middle School
MUD 69 - October 23, 6:00 p.m., at the Pecan Park gazebo.
MUD 112 - October 23, 5:30 p.m. at the Sports Complex covered pavillion
MUD 67 - October 29, 6:30 p.m., at the Club
MUD 68 - October 30, 7:00 p.m., at Brazos Bend Elementary School

The MUD boards may take action on the Strategic Partnership Agreements following their scheduled meetings.

New Territory MUDs and City of Sugar Land Reach Agreement for Annexation

2007-09-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

Annexation negotiations between the City of Sugar Land and the five New Territory MUDs nearly fell apart following a September 25 joint, MUD meeting but a last-minute concession by the MUD 112 board resulted in an agreement by all parties.
The draft Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), which has been in the works for five years, will be presented this month at various City and MUD public hearings and brought before City Council at their November 6 meeting.
The item of extreme controversy related to the City’s proposed expansion of the wastewater treatment plant at the far west end of New Territory Blvd. as MUD 112 directors fought to limit the size of the site.
Ultimately, the board reportedly conceded to the City’s terms on this issue as long as the City agreed, in the SPA, to preserve existing landscaping and natural vegetation on the north site of the site and to construct any necessary berms or walls on our inside the boundary line.
Because an SPA with the City can only be adopted if all five MUDs sign it, the expansion site controversy created a rift between MUD 112 and the other four districts who expressed support for the proposed agreement.
MUD 112 wanted to negotiate further on the wastewater treatment plant expansion site, saying they didn’t believe the City would walk away from the opportunity to annex New Territory. “We are a pretty good prize for the City. They want us to participate in the expense of the fire station (to be built in Telfair) and their ground water reduction plan,” said MUD 112 Director Jim Grotte. “We’ve negotiated a pretty decent agreement, the best we could...but I am not satisfied,” he said in the meeting.
But the City’s representative at the meeting, Director of Utilities SuEllen Staggs, said the City’s proposed SPA is their best and final offer and that city officials had not expressed a willingness to negotiate further on the issue.
“The decision is yours, whether you are comfortable with this agreement or not...and whether or not you want to be part of the City,” she told the 22 MUD directors present at the meeting.
Several years ago, the City purchased the land surrounding the New Territory wastewater treatment plant with the long-term plan to increase treatment capacity in order to serve future development in their ETJ. These developments include what has become Telfair and two other tracts north of US 90A.
The current plan is to expand the New Territory plant, now 2.5 million gallons per day capacity, to 6.5 mgd by 2012, and to 7.5 mgd in 2019. The most they would expand it would be 10.5 mgd when their north plant behind Target on US 59 reaches the end of its useful life (perhaps around 2025), Staggs said.
The City also agreed to certain terms in their proposed expansion, including minimizing noise pollution by installing blowers inside the buildings, complete odor control mitigation, minimizing light pollution, providing landscape screening, and building the expansion facilities as far west and south as possible, she said. “You’ll just see the trees, you won’t know the plant is there,” said Staggs referring to heavy landscaping that she promised would not be removed during the expansion process.
While these terms were acceptable to MUD 112, they expressed concern that the SPA ties the treatment capacity of 10.5 mgd to the City’s master plan, a document that can be amended in as few as two city council meetings. “They are a City, they are bureaucratic. There is no telling what will happen five or ten years from now,” said Grotte. “They are unwilling to give us a binding commitment on capacity so the only way is
to bind the size of the site,” explained MUD 112 President Carl Dase.
At their regular board meeting in September and at the joint MUD meeting, MUD 112 said they would sign the SPA if the City restricts land usage to an area south and east of the existing facility for a 35-year period. The rest of their acreage would be designated parkland and placed under the control of the NTRCA.
Staggs said the City would agree to MUD 112’s preferred site, but only if certain contingencies were attached to agreement. The City needs the flexibility to expand into an additional 250-feet of property east of the site if necessary, Staggs explained. These contingencies include: equipment failure at the existing plant which would necessitate the construction of new treatment structures, future regulatory changes that would require additional treatment and facilities, and an increase in the flood hazard area determined by FEMA which would eliminate use of some their land.
Staggs said if the MUDs didn’t agree to the contingencies, the City would build their own 8 mgd facility adjacent to New Territory’s plant. Referring to a diagram presented by Staggs showing an example of an 8 mgd facility on the city-owned property, Dase said, “I really don’t think that what they have laid out is useable. But that’s the $68,000 question.”
“The question is, is it reasonable for the City to build a plant in an area that is very limited and where they would have to deal with, possibly, a very messy permitting process. Can they, will they? Nobody really knows,” commented the MUD attorney.
“You may be willing to call their bluff, but we are not,” commented MUD 111 Director Jennifer Weinecke. Matt Shepard, also a MUD 111 Director, said he supports the proposed SPA because it establishes a site for a fire station near the New Territory border. If the proposed SPA is not approved, the City could elect to move the fire station to a more central location within Telfair—further east from New Territory. “We are talking about life safety, response time, and human life,” he said. That wastewater treatment plant isn’t going to kill anyone. But response time is critical,” he said.
Directors with MUD 68, the district furthest from the proposed fire station site, said they are not happy with all the terms of the SPA but want to “stick with New Territory as a whole.”
MUD 67 concurred. “You have more power working from within rather than being the rebel district,” advised Director Leanne Pfister. “For the good of the whole team, it is in our interest that 112 signs the SPA,” she urged.
“We’ve got no aces,” said MUD 69 Director Bart Hatfield. “It comes down to trust and there is no way to answer that,” he said. “Going away from this agreement will cost us a lot,” he said, referring to the possible loss of opportunity for annexation.
The attorneys said that the four districts could possibly negotiate an SPA with the City, without MUD 112, but advised that it would be in the best interest of residents to maintain unity within the community. “The appeal of a master planned community is the uniformity it offers,” said the attorney.
Hatfield, who is also on the NTRCA board, said splitting New Territory into “city” and “non-city” units would be a disaster for the homeowner’s association. “Almost everything in the NTRCA’s structure is consistent with us existing as one political entity," he said.
Following the meeting, MUD 112 directed their attorney to contact the City and express their willingness to accept the SPA as long as no landscaping or vegetation in front of the plant site is removed without their permission and that any flood plain protective barriers are located on or within the proposed boundary line.

Sugar Land Housing Remains Strong

2007-09-11T17:02:00.000-05:00

Texas housing remains strong, with risk scores below 140, which means that there's less than a 14% chance that our markets will decline over the next two years, vs. California, Arizona, Florida and Nevada metros that predict at least a 50% or more chance that their housing prices will decline over the next two years. This may help buyers understand that Texas is the place to buy. According to the scale, the risk factor for Houston is about 8% according.
The top 50 major metros rated by their risk of a decline in the next two years , by Marilyn Lewis
PMI Mortgage Insurance Co.'s new U.S. Market Risk Index tries to assess the future direction of markets across the U.S. by looking at recent price volatility, affordability (including per-capita income, appreciation and mortgage rates) and employment, among other factors.
On average, there's a 34.6% chance that home prices will drop in the nation's top 50 markets in the next couple years, with many of the riskiest markets falling in areas that saw steep run-ups in prices in recent years, followed by decreased affordability and drops in the rate of appreciation.
The risk scores for the top 50 major metros are listed as whole numbers in the table below. A score of 652 means there is a 65.2% chance that market will decline over the next two years.
Metropolitan statistical area
*Risk score
Annual house price appreciation

1st qtr 2007 (in %)
1st qtr 2006 (in %)
% change
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.
652
4.14
21.64
-17.49
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottdale, Ariz.
646
4.52
37.33
-32.81
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.
614
1.69
16.08
-14.39
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Fla.
607
-2.16
28.12
-30.28
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.
586
4.82
23.57
-18.76
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif.
577
0.85
19.85
-19.01
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, Calif.
572
-0.90
18.63
-19.53
Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.
563
7.94
32.52
-24.59
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif.
560
-4.41
12.98
-17.39
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.
555
-1.92
8.20
-10.12
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, Fla.
542
2.68
29.38
-26.70
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.
524
11.44
28.70
-17.26
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
506
5.11
26.74
-21.64
Boston-Quincy, Mass.
501
-1.32
5.45
-6.76
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.
500
3.65
21.67
-18.03
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
491
2.28
17.56
-15.28
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C.
476
7.88
22.01
-14.14
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.
445
2.25
12.91
-10.66
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif.
411
1.32
14.83
-13.51
Baltimore-Towson, Md.
400
6.64
19.94
-13.30
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, R.I.-Mass.
397
0.85
9.13
-8.27
Jacksonville, Fla.
394
7.46
21.95
-14.49
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
389
11.00
21.46
-10.46
Edison, N.J.
362
2.21
14.97
-12.76
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.
343
12.56
18.62
-6.06
Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, Mass.
336
-0.50
4.41
-4.90
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wisc.
322
1.69
6.59
-4.90
New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J.
322
3.93
16.07
-12.15
Newark-Union, N.J.-Pa.
314
3.63
13.65
-10.02
Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.
284
-2.98
1.20
-4.18
Philadelphia
237
5.63
13.72
-8.08
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.
236
-1.75
1.36
-3.12
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.
212
4.02
4.85
-0.83
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wis.
189
3.42
7.83
-4.41
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.
182
4.22
7.17
-2.95
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, Tenn.
177
8.32
9.02
-0.69
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.
175
5.07
10.66
-5.59
Denver-Aurora, Colo.
156
1.09
3.12
-2.03
Austin-Round Rock, Texas
136
10.94
7.63
3.32
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.
136
2.51
4.71
-2.20
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.
125
8.47
6.06
2.41
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio
121
-0.31
2.29
-2.60
San Antonio, Texas
102
10.53
9.31
1.22
Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ken.-Ind.
97
2.27
3.99
-1.72
Columbus, Ohio
93
0.97
3.61
-2.63
Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
84
2.31
3.07
-0.76
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
79
5.93
5.52
0.41
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas
75
3.66
3.80
-0.14
Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
74
4.02
3.43
0.59
Pittsburgh
64
2.66
5.22
-2.57
NOTES: *For the first quarter 2007; **Scores show risk of home values falling in 2009 in all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and divisions. Risk index scores are whole numbers. By moving the decimal one point to the left, they are expressed as the % chance of dropping prices. For example, Riverside has a risk score of 652 --- a 65.2% chance home values will fall in two years. Also shown: appreciation in first quarters of 2006 and 2007. Source: PMI Mortgage Insurance Co.

New Territory & Telfair Raising Levees

2007-07-03T09:11:00.000-05:00

Telfair’s LID 17 and New Territory’s LID 7 are working full steam ahead to raise their levees to levels recommended by a Fort Bend County Technical Review Committee before FEMA releases preliminary flood maps in early 2008 which are expected to show many areas of the county to be in the 100-year flood plain. Although the maps wouldn’t become effective for perhaps another two years and the area wouldn’t be classified to be in a 100-year flood plain until that time, the two communities are taking proactive measures to avoid potential complications.
LID 17 is concerned that home sales in Newland Communities’ Telfair development could be effected by even an unofficial, floodplain designation. “We are shooting to get the recertification package to FEMA before the preliminary maps are released,” said the engineer for LID 17. They are also working on the levees to raise them six inches in order to meet the recommendations of the technical review committee which said that local levees should be four feet above the 100-year flood level. The west levee borders New Territory and is shared with LID 7. The New Territory LID agreed to give LID 17 the necessary easement to raise the levee and LID17 is incurring the construction costs, said the attorney. “We agreed to work together to reduce construction hours and noise,” she said.
It should take about four months to complete the west levee project, said the engineer.
That levee between the two communities will become redundant and unnecessary once LID 7 raises and completes the New Territory levee and once LID 17 ties into it at the southwestern corner, said the LID 7 engineer. However, LID 17 is working on raising the internal levee anyway because the preliminary flood maps will be released before the New Territory LID is able to raise their levees and they don’t want it noted that Telfair is in a 100-year flood plain.
According to the technical review recommendations, New Territory’s LID 7 will have to raise their south (along the river) and west (from Cambridge Park to High Meadows) about four feet. There is no levee behind High Meadows and in order to complete a U-shape, as required by FEMA, LID 7 is proposing to build an eight foot concrete wall from the point where the levee ends to 90-A. They prefer this type of levee over a dirt one because limited right-of-way in that area due to a power line and road would make it more expensive to build.
There is also work to be done to US 90-A where the levee will end. LID 7 will need to raise the east bound side and median of US 90A to a level that will match or exceed the level of the west bound side. TxDOT will construct the improvements, but at the LID’s expense, said LID 7 engineer.
In order to raise the dirt levee four feet, LID 7 will have to acquire from the NTRCA a 2.1 mile stretch of right-of-way along the south levee, said the engineer. In the June board meeting, the NTRCA directed Community Manager Dwayne Lowry to determine fair market value for the land and propose a sales price to LID 7.
The LID 7 attorney said the district has enough bonds authorized to fund the project, estimated to cost $8 million, and that they probably won’t have to raise LID taxes to do so. The engineer estimates it will take 12 to 18 months to raise the levees, which will probably leave them enough time to get the preliminary FEMA maps recertified before the final maps become effective.
LID 7 will likely schedule a public meeting on the subject of the FEMA maps and raising the levees, said the LID 7 attorney.

What Fort Bend Residents Need to Know about Flooding, Remapping, and Insurance

2007-07-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

Why is FEMA re-mapping Fort Bend County? Is it because of Hurricane Katrina?
FEMA is revising the flood maps for Fort Bend County as part of their National Map Modernization Program which was started several years ago, said a FEMA representative. “The initiative is to update outdated maps for flood plain management purposes,” she said. “The issue of whether the levee provides base flood protection needs to be addressed” in the map modernization process, it says on the FEMA website.
Based on population growth and other criteria, Fort Bend County was selected to undergo map revisions about three years ago, said an employee with the Fort Bend Drainage District, well before Hurricane Katrina struck southwest Louisiana and Mississippi on August 29, 2005.
When was the last time FEMA mapped Fort Bend County?
The last floodplain study done for Fort Bend County was thirty years ago and utilized less accurate methods and technology. New Lidar data provides true ground elevations so the new maps will be very accurate.
Is the Brazos River getting higher and is New Territitory at more risk of flooding?
According to the Brazos River Authority’s measurements taken of the river height, river levels at Richmond have been stable over the last ten years, said a BRA representative. Flood stage at the Richmond location (the Brazos River Bridge) is 48 feet gage height. A 50-foot height is considered a major flood stage. The last time the Brazos River reached a 50 foot level was in 1994, said the spokesperson. The levees were not breeched during that event, she said. “There’s only been a handful of times in the last forty years that it has reached these stages,” she said.
Why do the levees have to be raised?
A study by FEMA contractor Michael Baker finds that the levees, designed to protect against a 100-year storm event, would be unable to do so. In other words, the levees must protect against a 1% annual chance of flood. So, in the 1% chance that we experience an extreme event, our area might flood.
What safety mechanisms are launched when the River approaches 48 feet?
The LID’s Operator, ECO Resources, implements emergency measures such as ensuring that the generators are well fueled in case of power outages so that the pumps can continue to work pumping water out of lakes and Ellis Creek. They make sure the flood gates are closed to prevent high water levels in the Brazos River from filling up Ellis Creek.
Should I get flood insurance?
FEMA does not require homeowners in New Territory to have flood insurance at this time but it is the only policy which will provide you with coverage (up to $250,000 for building repairs and $100,000 for contents) in the unlikely event that the area floods. Your basic homeowner’s policy does not provide coverage for damage due to flooding. It takes 30 days for flood insurance to go into effect so your home will not be covered if you purchase it shortly before a major storm event that results in flooding.
How can I get information about river levels?
For a 31-day graph and statistics of river levels and precipitation, as well as real-time data, measured at the Richmond site, go to:www.brazos.org and click on water levels and then river levels. Click on the part of the river in the lower basin.
This last month, the Brazos River at Richmond reached a maximum height of 42.5 feet for a few days in early June. Based on the last four years of records, the median height at the Richmond location is 12.66 feet.

New Territory and Telfair Raising Levees

2007-07-03T09:05:00.000-05:00

Lane Closure Affects Sweetwater Boulevard

2007-06-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

(Source: Fort Bend Now)
The Texas Department of Transportation will close lanes and change traffic patterns on Sweetwater and First Colony boulevards at U.S. 59, according to information from the City of Sugar Land.
For about the next month, beginning Friday, motorists driving north on Sweetwater will be shifted to what is now some of the southbound lanes. “The traveling lanes will be reduced to one through lane and a designated left-turn lane,” the city said in a statement. Right turns still will be allowed, for motorists entering the northbound U.S. 59 frontage road.
Motorists driving south on First Colony will be shifted to the outside lane only, the city said. “The traveling lanes will be reduced to one through lane and a designated right-turn lane. Left turns will be permissible to travel northbound on the U.S. 59 frontage road.”
The city said the lane closures are necessary for the completion of the frontage roads on both sides of U.S. 59.

SH 99 Grand Parkway Expansion Proposed

2007-05-31T11:16:00.000-05:00

Expansion of SH 99 (the Grand Parkway) through New Territory may start as early as 2010 with a new proposal by TxDot to fund the project through toll revenues collected at various electronic gantries (not booths).
The project , which consists of constructing 4 lanes (two lanes in each direction) and 12 overpasses from Franz Road to U.S. 59 in Sugar Land, is roughly estimated to cost $200 million.
“Without tolling, construction would be delayed considerably while we wait for state funds,” said a TxDot spokesperson. “Traffic demands have outpaced traditional finance mechanisms.”
The Grand Parkway was planned as a means to provide an additional evacuation route, an alternative route around the city, and to accommodate traffic increases and growth, said the spokesperson. It was originally designed for six lanes in 1987 when they conducted a traffic study of the area, and although Tx Dot plans to build four lanes in this next phase, they may build two more lanes (one in each direction) if warranted in the future, they said. TxDot completed construction of the existing frontage roads in 1995.
According to a preliminary schedule, TxDot may complete their environmental assessment next year, finalize their design in 2009, begin construction in 2010, and complete the project in 2014.
Most of the existing lanes will serve as frontage roads or ramps onto the new main lanes. Only the new main lanes and overpasses will have tolls and motorists will be able to travel the frontage roads at no cost, said the spokesperson. There will be overpasses at West River Park Drive, New Territory Blvd. and a very long one for Sandhill, US 90-A, and FM 1464. The overpasses will be built one level higher than grade level, so the one at 90-A will go over the railroad track.
TxDot will do a noise analysis as part of their environmental assessment. Sound walls may not be warranted or feasible, they said.
TxDot is receiving public input on the proposal until June 8. Please send your comments to hou-piowebmail@dot.state.tx.us

New Territory Annexation Negotiations with City of Sugar Land in Question

2007-05-21T14:20:00.000-05:00

It’s been one step forward and two steps back for the New Territory MUDs in their recent attempts to negotiate an annexation agreement with the City of Sugar Land.
The MUDs received three drafts from the City between April 9 and May 7, 2007 but only the first one presented terms previously negotiated by the MUDs. The last two drafts, mailed to the MUDs just a week apart, conflicted with the first draft and rescinded many of the terms. Those two drafts are similar except the second one attaches a preliminary groundwater reduction plan never before released by the City.
MUD attorneys were not able to explain why the City came up with new terms as they had met twice with City representatives in recent months and thought the parties were very close to reaching a final annexation agreement.
The MUD 112 attorney has asked for another meeting with City staff to discuss the surprise drafts.
The City and the MUDs face a January 1, 2008 deadline by the Fort Bend Subsidence District to submit a plan that shows how they will reduce groundwater usage to 70% of total water usage by 2013 and to 40% of total water usage by 2025. This is due to ground subsidence in Fort Bend County which could lead to flooding and other problems if groundwater usage is not reduced. A significant reason to enter into a strategic partnership agreement for annexation is to join the City of Sugar Land’s Groundwater Reduction Plan and avoid other, costly means of meeting the mandates.
The MUD 112 attorney advised the boards that they could possibly seek an extension to the January 1, 2008 deadline from the Subsidence District or that they could approach another water authority to join their groundwater reduction plan. Some directors also discussed approaching Sugar Land City Council about a proposed strategic partnership agreement instead of continuing communications with the staff.
MUD 67 Director David Gornet said that the New Territory MUDs could satisfy the 70% mandate by reducing community irrigation (with an updated system that uses rain gauges) and by using effluent from the wastewater treatment plant to fill the amenity lakes (see related story on page 3). “We can meet this first threshold ourselves, internally, and put together a GRP plan very quickly...They (the city) don’t have us over a barrel,” he said.
Another significant issue in the strategic partnership agreement is for fire protection service for New Territory. According to the current contract, the City can terminate fire protection service to New Territory with one year’s notice.
The MUDs, as part of their due diligence in studying the City’s proposed strategic partnership agreement, have already explored the possibility of leaving the City of Sugar Land’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and providing residents with the necessary services.
“This has been a long process and we are four years down the road,” commented the MUD 112 attorney. “You’ve spent a lot of money studying this—through attorney fees and other consultants,” he said. “But we are no further today than we were four years ago. We (the attorneys) have made the recommendations and hammered out an agreement ….now we are at the brink of walking away. I can’t believe that is what the city wants.”
“I think you should meet with them one more time and if things don’t work out, we should go it alone,” a MUD 68 director responded.
Pending the outcome of that meeting, the MUD directors will set a course of action.

Police Chase Ends in New Territory

2007-04-24T16:04:00.000-05:00

A father from River Park who was apparently distraught after accidentally smothering his 4-week-old baby in a lounge chair. After threatening to kill himself with a knife, police were called by his relatives in Louisianna. Authorities arrived at his home in River Park and tried to take the suicidal man into custody. He refused and then led police on a chase which ended in the Morningside subdivision of New Territory.
Here's a link to the story which aired on abc13 Tuesday April 24th.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5239177

Proposed Roadway Projects to Benefit New Territory

2007-04-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

Pct. 4 Commissioner James Patterson, in the NTRCA’s April meeting, presented information about a proposed, $156 million mobility bond referendum that includes several projects that would benefit New Territory commuters. The bond referendum goes before voters on May 12.
New Territory resident Alicja Siwek, a member of citizen advocacy group, “Keep Fort Bend Moving,” told residents that the bond referendum would result in a maximum, two-cent increase on the County’s current $0.51674 rate. “For the owner of a $200,000 house, that’s about $40 a year,” she said. “You might save this much in your gasoline costs by reducing traffic jams.”
Siwek said that the tax increase will likely be less than two-cents as the County will sell the bonds gradually—over the span of the five-year projects. “The last of the bonds approved in 2000 were only sold a few weeks ago,” she said.
Of interest to New Territory motorists are projects relating to the extension of University Blvd. and Lexington Blvd. as they would provide non-freeway access to and from Sugar Land. Both projects are sponsored by the City of Sugar Land so will be partially funded by the City. Newland Communities, the developer of Telfair, will fund the extension of University Blvd. through Telfair to Hwy. 6 and the County and City will fund the extension across Ditch H to 90-A at Nalco, said Patterson. Newland will also fund the extension of Lexington Blvd. from University Blvd. near the University of Houston to Oxbow Drive near Crescent Lakes subdivision as it is in their Tract 5. But the City and County will kick in funds to bring it across Ditch H and tie into the existing Lexington Blvd.
Patterson said that City and Developer contributions bring the total to nearly $500 million in road projects throughout Fort Bend.
Not included in the 2007 bond referendum but “earmarked” for future consideration by TxDot is a $41 million overpass from FM 1464 to Sandhill Blvd. off the Grand Parkway. This overpass would carry traffic over Sandhill, 90-A, and to the FM 1464 intersection. Preliminary engineering plans and schematics have been completed so if and when the project is approved, the overpass could be completed in 28 months, he said. If the project is not approved for state funding, the County is considering building the overpass as a toll bridge, he said.
A short-term, proposed improvement to FM 1464 mobility is the addition of turn lanes at and near the 90-A and 99 intersection. TxDot has tentatively approved this project and it will begin as soon as money becomes available, said Patterson. It includes:
- Adding a right turn lane for traffic going North on 99 (Grand Pkwy.) onto FM 1464 (from New Territory going to Austin High School)
- Adding a right turn lane for west-bound traffic on 90-A to turn north on 99. Widening 90-A to create the extra right-turn lane onto 99 North will also enable TxDot to create another left-turn lane for west-bound traffic on 90-A to enter 99 South ( and go into New Territory).
- Adding a right-turn lane on 99 South going to 90A West. Currently, traffic slows down and bottlenecks on 99 at the 90A intersection because the traffic light cannot accommodate the number of cars waiting to turn. “We’ve adjusted the timing on that signal as much as we can and there isn’t anything more we can do that will help,” he commented.
Patterson said traffic on 90-A will move much faster once the Hwy. 6 overpass is completed in September or October. “The lack of movement on 90 at Ellis Creek Blvd. is related to the slow down of traffic turning right onto Hwy 6,” he said. The commute on 90A will be much improved when the overpass opens, he predicted.

Swans Return to Lake Clayton

2007-04-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

The mysterious arrival of three swans on Lake Clayton this week surprised neighbors who bid farewell to six such visitors in early April. Claytons Bend Neighborhood Representative Robin Rettew said that she spotted two swans on the lake a few days ago and then a third appeared the next morning. "They seem pretty happy, people are feeding them as usual," she said. The birds' origin is unknown.

NTRCA Community Manager Dwayne Lowry had previously reported that the six swans were seen flying south off the lake in early April and that the Association had not removed them.

Stephen F. Austin HS - 10th ranked Houston Area High School

2007-04-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

CHILDREN AT RISK UNVEILS HOUSTON'S TOP TEN HIGH SCHOOLS
At a press conference held on Monday, April 2, 2007, CHILDREN AT RISK awarded the Top 5 High Schools in the Greater Houston Area with a certificate commending their schools' performance. Hosted at the #1 high school, HISD's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, five proud Principals accepted the honor and praised the hard work of their staff, parents, and students.Below are the 2007 top 10 High Schools:
1 High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston ISD)
2 YES College Prep (State Charter)
3 Cinco Ranch High School (Katy ISD)
4 DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD)
5 Memorial High School (Spring Branch ISD)
6 Clements High School (Fort Bend ISD)
7 Taylor High School (Katy ISD)
8 Friendswood High School (Friendswood ISD)
9 Clear Lake High School (Clear Creek ISD)
10 Stephen F Austin High School (Fort Bend ISD)

other FBISD High School noteables:

12 Elkins High School
17 Kempner
21 Dulles
43 Bush
67 Hightower
81 Willowridge
The study was based on a methodology developed from several interviews with Houston-area researchers and educators. CHILDREN AT RISK evaluated variables such as graduation rates, SAT and Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test scores, percentage of students who took and met passing criteria for advanced-placement courses, percentage of students who completed the Texas Recommended High School Plan, and the percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Last year, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions was recognized as the number one high school in the Greater Houston Area.
Please find CHILDREN AT RISK's methodology http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/2007%20Methodology.pdf & a complete list of the 97 High Schools http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/2007%20H.S.%20Rankings.pdf . You can also find a list of high schools that were excluded from this year's study and the explanation as to why. http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/H.S.%20Omit%20List.pdf

Lisa Rickert Seeks Second Term on FBISD Board

2007-03-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

New Territory resident Lisa Rickert will seek a second term on the FBISD board May 12 in order to continue working towards goals that will improve the quality of education for students in the district. “I have seen much progress in the past three years within Fort Bend ISD, but there is still much to be done,” said Rickert.
New Territory voters turned out in record numbers in 2003 to help elect Rickert, the first New Territory resident to hold a political office in Fort Bend. Rickert, who served as board president in 2006, has taken a strong stance on issues of fiscal and administrative efficiency, long range planning, and professional leadership. As an at-large representative and a newcomer to the board, she examined existing practices carefully and challenged them when necessary.
“Ms. Rickert began to shake things up for the better. Eventually, a majority of Board members (who also live outside the sacred First Colony/ Commonwealth cloister) have come around to the same viewpoint — FBISD has languished for too long in nostalgia about “the good old days” when Ft. Bend was a sleepy suburban district. Reality has long left that picture in the dust but the District is having to catch up with it. An exploding population is only part of the problem….It’s been a painful change in some respects and the fight to get some change going was not pretty. Those entrenched in the ‘old ways’ fought hard to keep change from coming….” wrote an anonymous blogger in a March 6 post on Fort Bend Now.
Rickert continues to challenge “status quo” thinking but is also pleased to note that the board has worked as a team on important projects such as rezoning and hiring new Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney. “Dr. Jenney is a tremendous asset bringing in personnel with higher level management skills and experience that will help increase the overall efficiency of the district on all levels,” she said. Rickert was also instrumental in improving the student-teacher ratio so that there are more teachers in the classroom and smaller average class sizes. She supported internal audits that revealed areas in which the district could improve efficiency of operations.
And perhaps most significantly, Rickert has and will continue to work towards implementing innovative policies and programs to improve academic achievement for all students in the district. “No learning takes place without good teachers. As a board member, I will help ensure we have policies in place that allow us to hire and recruit quality teachers and improve the retention rate of our experienced teachers. I will support programs to encourage our best teachers to seek administrative education, promote from within the organization, and improve employee morale,” she said.
Classroom safety and discipline is another issue that will soon receive the district’s attention as Dr. Jenney’s new Chief Academic Officer John Frossard heads up a commission to recommend new policies. Rickert said she will “look to ensure rules are enforced in a fair and consistent manner with consideration for “common sense”, not zero tolerance.
Rickert aims to continue working on ways to reduce overcrowding in the growing district. She supports ideas that will make efficient use of existing campuses and facilities, as well as the construction of new schools in high-growth areas.
Rickert will be at the NTRCA candidate forum on April 19. The forum is at 7:30 p.m. at the Club.
Rickert and her husband, Bill, have lived in New Territory for 15 years and have daughters attending Sartartia Middle School and Austin High School. She has previously served on the NTRCA board, the MUD 111 board, The Brazos Bend PTO, and has been a Girl Scout leader for nine years.

NEW TERRITORY RESIDENT REACHING OUT TO SOLDIERS

2007-03-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

When Mary Scantlin’s neighbor’s 19-year-old son was called to serve in Iraq last year, she was shocked to hear that the U.S. Marines suggested he bring his pillow.
She was struck by the irony of the request—realizing that soldiers are missing basic supplies but also the warmth and comfort of home.
Scantlin, a New Territory resident, was instantly moved to create an outreach Program called “Good News for Soldiers” which consists of sending care packages with personal notes or letters to specific soldiers.
“It’s a little box of love from home. Regardless of the contents, it holds the good news that there are people at home that care about them,” she said of her care packages. Each one includes a note from Scantlin (signed by a “Grandma in Texas”), volunteers, or local children. “The marines wrote me that they are especially touched by the letters they receive from children,” she said. The flat-rate boxes (provided by the Post Office for free) are carefully and efficiently packed with magazines, books, personal hygiene items, cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, and pocket-sized snack packs. She fits as much into them as possible as the post office charges $8.10 regardless of weight or destination.
One sergeant with a medical police unit out of Boston suggested sending pre-packed backpacks with wash cloths, personal hygiene items, Bibles and other inspiring literature, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pajamas and home-made afghans. One very popular request is for baby wipes in the small, packable packages. Scantlin says she likes to send snack items that the soldiers can carry in their pockets because they sometimes go on 12 hour-long missions .
Although she sends out packages regularly, she hits the holidays hard. Her next mass mailing is scheduled for Easter, a season that “speaks of new life and hope,” she said.
Scantlin sent out 270 packages last year and wants to send out hundreds more this year. She needs volunteers, though. “People in New Territory don’t even know there is an outreach right here,” she said. Scantlin has a room set aside in her Pointe Royale' house for sorting and packaging. Donations of money and supplies are also welcome although she is still waiting for approval of her application for tax-exempt status. The packages cost $8.10 each to mail, and that doesn’t include their contents. And of course, she could use letter-writers too to bring “Good News to Soldiers”!
“Whatever your views on the war, we need to support our military. I am very patriotic,” she said.
To volunteer your time or resources, contact Mary Scantlin at spgndy@yahoo.com and write “GNFS” in the subject line.

NEW TERRITORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS REZONING PLAN

2007-03-02T16:26:00.000-06:00

BRAZOS BEND AND WALKER STATION REZONING PLAN TO BALANCE STUDENT POPULATION

As expected, FBISD approved a zoning plan for 2007-2008 in their February 26 meeting that includes sending Telfair children to Sartartia Middle School instead of First Colony Middle School and officially shifting four New Territory neighborhoods from Brazos Bend Elementary to Walker Station Elementary. In a surprise move, however, the board also decided to re-zone the Broadstone Apartments on New Territory Blvd. to Walker Station as well. Doing so will likely result in about 100 less students for Brazos Bend next year, said
Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Planning, Lee Petros. Brazos Bend, with a design capacity for 795 students and a functional capacity for 716 students, has about 952 students this year. Walker Station, with a slightly larger design capacity (908), is better equipped to handle the students from the apartments because of its size, lesser students, and “greying” population. Walker Station Principal Chris Morgan said enrollment numbers are projected to decline over the next several years as kids get older and move on to middle and high schools and as fewer families with young children move into the community. “We have fewer and fewer kindergartners each year,” he noted.
Morgan also expressed no concern with the increased numbers for next year. With the rezoning, Walker Station will go from 804 to about 900 students. “We’ll be fine. Our teachers are excellent and will provide the same level as education no matter what. This is not going to change things for us.” He also said he does not think they will need an extra portable as they have one vacant one on site.
Brazos Bend Principal Beverly Croucher expressed the same confidence as Morgan. “We manage very well over here and will continue to do the same for our kids as we’ve always done,” she said. The rezoning will provide some relief, she said, but they will still require portables. There are 8 portables, or 16 classes, on campus now. This is the entire fourth and fifth grades.
The rezoning results in both schools being equally overcrowded so that Brazos Bend is not overly burdened, said Petros. “It just evens the population and makes it more evenly distributed,” he said.

FBISD approves calendar "B" for 2007-2008

2007-03-02T15:12:00.000-06:00

The FBISD school board has approved calendar "B" for the 2007-2008 school year, a schedule that includes longer holiday vacations but a June 4 end date. Both calendars considered by the school board and presented to the public for input had an August 27 start-date due to changes in state law which no longer allow districts to start school earlier with an approved waiver. According to FBISD officials, 2545 out of 3011 respondents favored calendar B over calendar A (84.5%) in their website survey. The main differences between the two proposed calendars were that Calendar A showed two days off at Thanksgiving instead of 5, 8 days off at Winter Break instead of 10, a May 28 end-date, and a slightly longer first semester.

District personnel stated that the shortened Thanksgiving break in 2006 resulted in 4083 student absences on Monday, November 20 and 6757 on Tuesday, November 21. The absenteeism on those two days cost the district $164,000. For this reason, the district supported a full week off for Thanksgiving break.

Although many students, parents, and staff members expressed their preference to take semester exams before the Winter Break, the Calendar Committee determined the grading periods would be too unbalanced in that arrangement, district personnel said. Students will have ten days after returning from Winter Break before the first semester ends when they take final exams.

Many parents also suggested through the survey that they would support eliminating Fort Bend County Fair Day, a holiday on the fourth Friday of September. The district said they would consider this for the 2008-2009 calendar.

Another parent proposal was to consider moving Spring Break to another week so that Good Friday stands alone as a holiday. "The proposed schedule for Spring Break is consistent with the time other districts in the area are scheduling Spring Break. It was a coincidence that Good Friday fell during this week for 2008. This will not be a consistent issue, as Good Friday falls on different dates each year," said the district.

Dates for 2007-2008 Calendar

August 27 - school starts
September 3 - Labor Day holiday
September 28 - Fort Bend County Fair Day holiday
November 9 - staff development
November 19 - 13 - Thanksgiving break
December 20 - January 2 - Winter Break
February 29 - staff development
March 17 - 21 - Spring Break
May 2 - staff development
May 26 - Memorial Day holiday
June 5 - last day of school
June 6, 7 - graduation

FBISD CONSIDERS REZONING NEW TERRITORY SCHOOLS

2007-02-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

A newly proposed middle school rezoning plan by the school district’s contracted demographer shows Telfair zoned to Sartartia Middle School instead of First Colony Middle School. This second plan emerged in a January 8 rezoning workshop. Board members had expressed concerns with a previously proposed plan to send Telfair children to First Colony Middle School because the commute would involve crossing US 59. That first plan also showed subdivisions off FM 1464 (Chelsea Harbour, Orchard Lakes, and Stratford Park) re-zoned from Garcia Middle School to Sartartia Middle School. In the second proposal, those neighborhoods would stay at Garcia. Absorbing Telfair into their zones would have a fairly equal impact on either Sartartia or First Colony Middle Schools as both campuses have about the same current enrollment and are built with similar capacities. Telfair is projected to have approximately 3000 homes when fully built-out in an estimated six years, and Demographer Dr. Dennis Harner is showing a resulting attendance increase of about 330 students for either Sartartia or First Colony Middle Schools by 2011. FBISD’s Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Planning, Lee Petros, speculates that another middle school may be needed in the central part of the district to accommodate projected growth. The two proposed sites for new middle schools in a 2008 bond referendum are in the east and west portions of the district. Middle School #13 just north of Travis High School will open in Fall, 2007 but will soon need relief if residential growth in surrounding developments continues to explode. In other rezoning proposal changes, a revised attendance projection for Brazos Bend Elementary School shows minimal relief of overcrowding there, even by rezoning Watermill, Greystone Place, Tessa Lakes, and Easton Lakes to Walker Station Elementary. These four subdivisions, currently zoned to Brazos Bend, have a large number of children attending Walker Station through intradistrict transfers and therefore rezoning them to Walker Station may reduce Brazos Bend’s attendance by as little as 25 students. Petros said the board will review zoning for these two schools at the January 22 meeting. “We’ll have to decide if is feasible to have 900 students or more at Brazos Bend for the next several years,” said Petros. Walker Station’s attendance is projected to decline in coming years as the neighborhood “greys” and produces fewer elementary school age children, said Harner. The board may consider other, new zoning proposals at their next workshop. They are expected to adopt a new, district-wide rezoning plan by February 26. A public meeting is scheduled for February 22 at Austin High School.