I would like to respond to you individually, but there's no name attached to any of these comments so I am unable to do so. I will take them chronologically:
#1. No, this post is not in reference specifically to the apartments, but to development in general. Property owners have rights - the same rights you do as a property owner. Among those rights is the right to develop. Your property may have a house on it, but other properties are different based on geography, proximity to goods/services/transit routes, etc. that makes the property more conducive to certain uses. Logic dictates that businesses locate where access is easy and convenient. I am not trying to change people's minds about how they feel about apartments. I am trying to educate people so that we can all understand the effects of apartments on our community. We (as a City) are required by federal statute to allow apartments in our City. That's the law. There is no legal way for a City to prohibit apartments/multi-family housing. Private developers make their decisions based on money and need (marketability). So if you don't want apartments, I would suggest that you buy all of the available property in town. Then you will have that control. That control, however, lies with the property owner, not the City. And I have always advocated a diverse tax base. Earlier posts have pointed out our reliance on industry (with all it's vagaries and rapid turns - boom and bust cycles) for our revenue. Broadening our tax base will ensure stability in the future. Unfortunately, the size of our City has not yet reached the point where the market is conducive to such development. Yet. It's headed that way, which is encouraging.
#2. See above about changing people's minds. Property owners are always concerned about the value of their property - it represents a real investment by them in the community. 20 acres under ag. protection does nothing for our tax base. 20 acres with 150+ unit apartment complex adds a value of $15 Million to the tax coffers (lowering the average tax burden borne by individual property owners) while creating all kinds of residual tax benefits (sales tax, hotel/motel tax, etc). So yes, they're motivated by money. But they've also learned that they can get higher rents if they do better projects that are well maintained and secure.
#3. I don't see where anyone has disagreed with me. Your comment made it, so please feel free to continue to comment! I am not always at liberty to check my blog as often as I'd like. The last few months have been particularly busy - I've been trying to line up some funding for various projects in the City, funding that will help keep the taxes low and make our community more resilient in the event of natural disasters. Right now, I have grant proposals in for nearly $10 Million for various projects...
#4. The Grand Parkway will not have any accesses/feeder roads. It will be more like the Hardy Toll Road, not like Beltway 8 or I-10. Thus, businesses will not build off the road unless they build their own frontages (which would not make practical sense as there is no access off 99 anyway). This was done on purpose to limit the number of interchanges on the highway to keep speeds up. Development will come (is coming!) to the area, and Mont Belvieu is not being left behind. The City can do little more than make the area attractive through appropriate regulation. We don't own an Olive Garden or HEB franchise, for example... We would certainly welcome those into our community, though...
#5. See my comments above regarding changing people's minds. Your evidence is (if you'll forgive me) anecdotal and unsubstantiated. We are NOT Baytown. We are also NOT going to fall victim to the practices and problems that have contributed to the development of these slums. We have ordinances in place that will help to ensure that. We are taking proactive steps to rectify problems that exist and reduce the potential for problems in the future. Is it perfect? No. But we have learned from mistakes of others and have implemented strategies to eliminate our own. All I can say is wait and see. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
PS - If you would like to talk on a one on one basis please feel free to come by City Hall. I am almost always here. I would look forward to hearing from you directly if you wish. If not, please continue to comment anonymously if you wish.
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