Hamblen Rd City Sidewalk Program

• Letter to Residents along Hamblen Rd and pedestrians (walkers/joggers/bikers) on Hamblen
• Proposal
• Survey
• Survey results and comments
• Letter supporting CoH program (Sam Caldwell)
• FCPOA meeting - Sept 24, 1998
• FCPOA meeting - March 25, 1999 - CoH Representative
• 1999 Annual Report

September 5, 1998

Dear Forest Cove Neighbor,

The City of Houston is planning to construct city sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen Rd. I don't think that property owners been provided with a sufficient opportunity to voice their opinion concerning this construction. I am conducting a survey of Hamblen Rd. residents and pedestrians, so that the interests of property owners can be promoted.

The Forest Cove Property Owners Association (FCPOA) board of directors has been making a diligent effort to improve our subdivision by participating in City of Houston (CoH) programs. According to the FCPOA 1998 Annual Report; "The City of Houston has a sidewalk program Forest Cove is looking into. Hamblen Road has been approved. Both sides of Hamblen, from Northshore to Rustic Bridge will have sidewalks. Walkers and Bicycle Riders will be safer."

Since the FCPOA has applied to the CoH sidewalk program requesting construction of sidewalks on Hamblen Road, the CoH contracted with Brown & Gay Engineers (281.558.8700, Sean Marsden, engineer) to determine the need for sidewalks on Hamblen Road. The city has decided that we need a sidewalk on the North side of Hamblen from Forest Cove Dr. to Lisa Lane, and on the South side of Hamblen from Forest Cove Dr. to Northshore.

The sidewalks are now in the design stage. Brown & Gay Engineers are doing the design work. They told me that they usually design four-foot wide concrete sidewalks that are about three feet from the road, on the road side of the ditch.

George Bravenek, the CoH assistant director of sidewalks (713.754.9840), indicated that the sidewalk program requires concrete sidewalks that comply with federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards. He said that the sidewalk program is for main thoroughfares only, and he thought that Hamblen connected to Woodland Hills. He also said that he was proceeding with the design and construction because the FCPOA had requested these sidewalks, but that if residents are unhappy with what is planned, the plans could be changed if the FCPOA notified him as soon as possible. He also suggested that if we would prefer jogging trails we should contact the CoH Parks and Recreation Department.

I observe the pedestrian traffic on Hamblen every day, and there is very little. I have discussed the sidewalk plan to several people who have been walking by. The consensus of these pedestrians is that we don't need sidewalks, and that we definitely don't need sidewalks on both sides of the street. One person commented that he would not walk on a sidewalk due to the added shock stress to his legs. Residents along Hamblen Road that I have discussed it with also agree that we don't need sidewalks on both sides of the street.

Only one student rides his bike to the Christian school on Hamblen; everyone else is dropped off by car. There is a small amount of bike traffic periodically. My own kids safely ride their bikes on Hamblen. There are several people that jog or walk on Hamblen on their way to River Grove Park. A bike and pedestrian path would make it safer for these people. But constructing city sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen is overkill, and a waste of public resources. Neighbors have suggested other potential uses of these resources, including; "greenbelt" type paths, school bus stop shelters, or sidewalks where they are truly needed in other parts of the city. Kingwood Drive does not even have sidewalks on both sides.

If a safer area to walk and ride bikes is desired for Hamblen Road, a cinder jogging trail would be more appropriate for the purpose, and would be more in keeping with the character of Forest Cove. In any case, FCPOA should determine the desires of Forest Cove residents before going forward with projects that have significant impact on the neighborhood.

Therefore, because:

• There is insufficient pedestrian and bicycle traffic to justify sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen Road.
• Sidewalks are not the best surface for jogging, which is the main pedestrian activity.
• Sidewalk construction will disrupt the neighborhood.
• Sidewalks will preclude all other current uses of easement areas by property owners.
• City sidewalks are not in keeping with the character of this community.
• The installation of sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen is wasteful of community resources.
• Adding sidewalks will provide justification to increase the speed limit on Hamblen Rd.
• Property owners have not been provided with a sufficient opportunity to voice their opinion concerning the decision to construct these sidewalks,

I propose that the current sidewalk plans be suspended until the interests of the property owners that will be impacted by this construction have been ascertained and can be honored.

Since this construction directly affects you, please take a moment to fill out and return this survey. Results of the survey will be returned to you and presented to the FCPOA on your behalf.

W. Kurt Hilarides

1526 Hamblen Rd.

• Proposal Opinion

• Sidewalk Construction

• Community input

Name ____________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________

Phone _______________________ Email _______________________________

Additional comments ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Survey Results Summary
	Proposal to stop current construction		Sidewalk Preference					Need for Community Input to FCPOA
	Stop Construction	Continue	No Sidewalks	Jogging trail	Other	North Side	Both sides	Need More	Enough	Don't need any
Responses	18	2	9	7	0	2	2	17	2	1
% of returned surveys	90%	10%	45%	35%	0%	10%	10%	85%	10%	5%
Combined Results	90%	10%	90%				10%	85%	15%
Survey Distribution	total	wrong address	replies %		outstanding %
Hamblen Rd residents	37	3	15	44%	19	56%			results as of date: 9/24/98 time: 8:00 AM
Walkers/Joggers/Bikers	13	0	5	38%	8	62%
Total surveys	47	3	20	45%	24	55%

44% of Hamblen Rd. residents have responded

90% think the currently planned construction should be stopped.

90% think alternative solutions would be better than sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen.

85% think that the FCPOA should get more input from property owners.

"This community needs all the improvement it can get. I see no reasonable argument to support objecting to sidewalks." Dick McCall

"The "cinder" trails we see in other parts of Kingwood would be better that City plan…these trails/sidewalks are not on both sides of road elsewhere, why would Hamblen be the exception?" Greg & Alicia Grimes

"We should have jogging trails or nothing" Melissa C. Rike

"We need jogging trails all over forest Cove, and we should try to convince property owners to fund them." Kurt Hilarides

"I would dearly love a sidewalk. I am on oxygen and would like a sidewalk for my exercise. Most of the people I know on Forest Cove are not young anymore & need somewhere to walk." Lester & Gay Boswell

"Consider gate construction at the 3 entrances to subdivision and do away with speed bumps." Steve Grove

"Do not want speed bumps in Forest Cove. There are too many lights in the community now." William R. Wood

"I would like for the City of Houston to remove most of the lights they installed along Hamblen Rd. There is an excess of lights." Jim Shields

"I've lived on Hamblen Rd over 30 years and have not seen any pedestrian traffic at all. Occasional joggers" Margaret Lambert

"Keep up the good work" Alvin L. Eggleston

"Not to have someone come in and cut down all the underbrush on the vacant lots - WHERE IS OUR FOREST GOING?" Robert Davidson

"Not enough foot traffic to warrant a sidewalk. A bike lane throughout Forest Cove would serve more people - walkers included." Jim & Robin Seydowitz

"My son and I walk on Hamblen Road nearly every day. In order to avoid the Northeast Christian Academy traffic, we now walk thirty minutes earlier than we did before the school ear started. We strongly believe that sidewalks on Hamblen Road are absolutely unnecessary, and we would be very grateful if you would please consider canceling their construction." - Jackie Juneman

Sam Caldwell / 1656 Hamblen Road / Forest Cove, TX 77339 I 281-358-3203
September 15, 1998

Dear Hamblen Road and Forest Cove Neighbor:

The idea of sidewalks along Hamblen Road is a new idea to me. I liked it as soon as I heard about it from Vicky Flake.
Then, I received a letter from W. Kurt Hilarides, a neighbor on Hamblen. Among other good ideas, Kurt provided a survey, and suggested we suspend plans for the sidewalk(s) until more voices are heard.

I disagree with Kurt on most other points in his letter.

• First and foremost, I think sidewalk(s) would benefit kids, many of whom I see riding bikes or walking along the side of the street. Whether they're traveling to or from school or the civic center and pool and ballparks, or just traveling, they deserve more safety factor than they now get.
• Kurt wrote that he has observed only one kid who rides his bike to the Christian school, while others are dropped off by car. Observing the early morning traffic blasting along Hamblen, I understand the concern of parents. If we had sidewalks, a lot of kids could handle their own transportation along Hamblen (and not just the Christian School kids). While I have your attention, if you're a speeder, slow down.
• Sidewalk(s) would also benefit me and other drivers; I hate the problem of having to edge into the other lane in order to go around bike riders and joggers.
• I AM a jogger. I avoid Hamblen because even a good driver could have a hickup and run me down.
• Other types of trails or greenbelts or paths might be better, but where is the data, or the plans?
• The cost: I wouldn't want to pay for the stretch in front of my house, but we'll help pay for the sidewalk(s) if they're installed elsewhere.
• Construction of side walk(s) might disrupt the neighborhood, but as with any other project, not much and not for long, in relation to their value.
• Sidewalk(s) on a main thoroughfare would enhance the character of Forest Cove, not detract from it.

I hope you consider the above ideas, and in agreement with me and Mr. Hilarides, ask for a more informed decision. However, since his survey contained only negative comments about sidewalk(s), I hope you will consider these points, and return his survey, and also contact the Forest Cove Property Owner's Association by letter, or go to the next meeting.

Sincerely Yours for a better Forest Cove

Sam Caldwell

Forest Cove Property Owners Association Board of Directors meeting

Betty Norman brought up the subject of sidewalks from the floor at the monthly meeting of the Forest Cove Property Owners Association Board of Directors on Thursday, Sept 28, 1998. She had several questions about the sidewalks and deed restriction changes.

The FCPOA president Vicki Flake stated that she had "looked into" the City of Houston sidewalk program, and that she had put together a survey that would be published in the next Beacon. Although I had informed her of the results of the existing survey on the phone, and she had recieved copies of the survey from residents opposed to stopping the sidewalks, she did not mention it at the meeting. It was not clear from her statements that the sidewalks were already being designed. She said that a City of Houston representative (George Bravenek) and the design engineer would provide information at the next board meeting.

Kurt Hilarides attempted to inform the meeting of the current status of the sidewalk program, based upon discussions this week with Sean Marsden and George Bravenek (who both said they had talked with Vicki Flake within the last two weeks, and that she had requested the sidewalks on Hamblen, Forest Cove, and St. Andrews on behalf of the FCPOA):

• A survey has been performed by Brown & Gay engineering which has determined that sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen would meet the criteria for the CoH sidewalk program for major thoroughfares.
• The sidewalks will be on the road side of the ditch, a minimum of three feet from the road. They will be four feet wide, and six inches thick with re-mesh so that vehicles can drive on them without cracking.
• They must meet federal Americans for Disability Act standards.
• Mailboxes would be moved if necessary to the residential side of the sidewalk (so cars won't hit the mailboxes).
• Any landscaping that is disrupted will be restored by the contractor to the resident's satisfaction.
• Solid sod (rather than hydromulch) would be used to replace any grass that is torn up by construction.
• No pedestrian bridges will be required.
• The cost estimate is $87,578.00
• The plans will be submitted to the City of Houston for preliminary review at the end of the week(9/25/98). Following two weeks for revisions, the plans will be submitted to the State for ADA review, which will take about two months.The CoH will then put it out for public bid. The winning contractor usually has 90 days to complete the project.
• George Bravenek (CoH Assistant director for sidewalks) has stated that if we want to stop the construction, he would like to know as soon as possible.

The following letter was submitted to the Board, along with the results of the survey, and a proposal to stop the sidewalk construction.

Marrion Burrows stated emphatically that to her knowledge, the board had never voted on requesting sidewalks from the City of Houston, and that she would not support requesting sidewalks if the residents adjacent to them did not want them.

After a great deal of discussion from the floor and the Board, a motion was made by Raphael Hernandez to submit a written request to the City of Houston to stop the sidewalk construction. The motion passed by a vote or 4-2, with Billie Wray, Marrion Burrows, Raphael Hernandez, and Ben Neiman voting for the motion, and Jerry Safarik, Mark Hovencamp, and Vicki Flake (President) voted against it (the President's vote only counts to break ties). Steve Atchison and Jack Harran were absent.

To: The Forest Cove Property Owners Association Board of Directors
From: W. Kurt Hilarides
Re: Hamblen Road sidewalk proposals

First, I support improvements to our community. I am in favor of high quality improvements that are needed, well thought out, debated, responsible, and in keeping with the rustic character of Forest Cove.

Second, I commend the board's intentions to improve our community, and I appreciate that it has taken a great deal of effort. I am not here to accuse anyone of intentionally harmful actions. However, I do not support actions of board members or the board that are taken without first establishing and documenting that those actions are supported by the property owners. And due to the far too common unintended consequences of requesting programs from the City of Houston, I believe we have to think long and hard before we proceed with requests of them.

I came to the board meeting last month and spoke of my concerns about the plan to construct City of Houston sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen road. I said that I felt that the interests of the property owners on Hamblen Road should be considered before proceeding with the project. I was told that I was only one person, and that the board had made its judgment based upon the best interest of the community.

I did not believe that the board was aware of the desires of those residents affected by the program. The president of the board made it clear to me that the board felt they had solicited enough input on the subject. Since I was not convinced, I wrote a letter on the subject, and mailed a survey to all of the property owners on Hamblen, and passed it out to all of the joggers, walkers, skaters, and bikers I could find on Hamblen Road. I included a self addressed, stamped reply form in order to make it as easy as possible for people to voice their opinion.

Although I am prepared to argue the pros and cons of city sidewalks on both sides of Hamblen, that's not why I came here tonight. Rather, I came here to relate the results of the survey to the board, and ask them to act in accordance with those results.

• Review the results of survey, and citizen comments.
• Request documentation of the board's action concerning the request for sidewalks from the City of Houston.

Proposals:

1. That the board advise the CoH to discontinue plans for Hamblen Road sidewalk construction, because a majority of affected residents are not in favor of the program.
2. That individual board members and the board as a whole refrain from requesting any further programs from the City until all affected parties have been polled and given a reasonable opportunity to comment on such programs.
3. That the board only proceed with programs when it can be documented that they are favored by a majority of affected property owners.

This issue was addressed at the March FCPOA meeting. George Bravenek (CoH Assistant director for sidewalks) gave a presentation of the CoH sidewalk program.