Showing posts with label New Territory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Territory. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
LAKE POINTE HOMEOWNER FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST NEIGHBOR AND NTRCA
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.
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.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
New Territory Rallies Against Proposed FBISD Zoning Plan
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.
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.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sugar Land Selects Preferred Site for Minor League Baseball Stadium
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.
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.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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